Kairangahau Matua | Senior Researcher
- Postgraduate Diploma in Social Sector Evaluation (Distinction)
- MA in Education (first class)
- Diploma of Teaching (Primary)
- BA-Sociology
Jo has a keen interest and expertise in policy and programme evaluation and is one of NZCER’s lead evaluators. She currently leads NZCER's long-standing Uiuinga ā-Motu o ngā Kura, National Survey of Schools. These 3-yearly surveys of principals and teachers give a timely and useful picture of what is happening in our schools.
Jo is experienced with using diverse evaluation methodologies,and applying evaluative reasoning to reach evaluative judgements. In either research or evaluation contexts, she particularly enjoys building strong, productive relationships with clients. Jo is an active member of the Aotearoa New Zealand Evaluation Association (ANZEA) and currently sits on the Wellington branch committee.
Jo's research interests are wide-ranging, and her ability to quickly adapt to new contexts is a strength. At NZCER she has worked on projects across multiple areas including financial capabiity, professional learning and development, school leadership, early career teachers, NCEA, special education, and student health and wellbeing. In recent years she led NZCER's portfolio of evaluation focused on financial capability programmes for Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission. For many years, Jo also led NZCER's coordination of the Teaching and Learning Research Initiative, a contestable research fund that NZCER manages for the Ministry of Education.
Jo has 30 years’ experience in education and educational research, including a decade working in research and evaluation in the government sector in New Zealand and Scotland.