Academic Staff
Ngā Kaimahi Mātauranga

Claire Wilson
Senior Lecturer
Pūkenga Matua
Palmerston North | PapaioeaRole
Claire’s main role is to teach growing leaders and teachers in the PostGraduate Leadership and Graduate Diploma (Early childhood education) programmes
Education Background
Claire has over fifteen years of experience teaching in the early childhood education sector (pre-dominantly in kindergartens in the Manawatū area and Te Awahou - Foxton). Before starting her career as a lecturer, she has held many roles including kaiako, head teacher, and relief teacher in primary schools. Recently, Claire worked for the Ministry of Education under Te Mahau Learning Support as an Early Intervention Teacher in 2022.
Research Background
Claire’s master’s research was focused on ‘the invited space’ where associate teachers explore how they share with tauira during the teaching practicum, their respective intimate and social practices needed to connect with tamariki and whānau.
Teaching Interests
Claire brings a realistic and ‘grass roots grounded’ view and vision to teaching, learning, and leading within the teaching paradigm. She believes in practice-based learning where students get a chance to experience what theory and philosophy look like in advocation, practice within early childhood education and wider educations sector.
Recent Publications
Woolston, D., & Wilson, C. (2024). Growing associate teachers’ capacity to be leaders: Recognising effective leadership during practicum. In T. Carlyon and R. Merry (Eds). Effective leadership in early childhood and primary school education in Aotearoa New Zealand (pp. 99–111). NZCER. ISBN 978-1-99-004096-2
Wilson, C. (2020). Ko wai au? Through embracing te reo Māori I am beginning to know who I am. In A. Card & J. Carroll-Lind (Eds.), Tōku anō reo Māori: My very own language. Occasional Paper Series 3 (pp. 47-50). Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand.
Wilson, C. (2018). Anchoring and invited space on prac. Learning to teach in low socioeconomic EC settings. Early Education, 63, 11-14.
Wilson, C. (2017). NZARE Blog (December, 2017). Walking into the ‘Spider’s Parlour’: Effective spaces for student teacher – associate teacher relationships.
Payne, V., Wilson, C., Corley, N., & Jordan, B. (2010). Transforming curriculum: Seeking hard and soft knowledge in a kindergarten’s community of learners. Early Education, 47, 6-9.