Afamasaga Tofilau Niulēvāea Dr Siliva Gaugatao

Dr Siliva is an experienced facilitator with sixteen years of experience leading school-wide Professional Learning Development (PLD). He specialises in schooling improvement through collaborative problem-solving, curriculum design and culturally sustaining practices. Siliva takes an appreciative inquiry approach that empowers teachers and leaders to achieve transformational outcomes for learners, parents and families.

As languages facilitator, Siliva coordinated the writing of the Senior Secondary Guides for Cook Islands Māori, Lea Faka-Tonga, Gagana Sāmoa, and Vagahau Niue. He was also part of a research team of four that reviewed and redesigned the inaugural Samoan Reading Assessment Tool (Anofale) for an Auckland Samoan Bilingual Cluster. Siliva’s doctoral thesis explores the engagement of Samoan fathers and male caregivers at parent-teacher conferences (PSTs) in New Zealand secondary schools.

From 2018 to 2020, Siliva worked with over 100 education leaders and teachers from Saudi Arabia through face to face and online coaching to transform education back home in Saudi Arabia. He has also co-led a support programme for Provisionally Registered Teachers (PCTs) at the University of Auckland for four years. Siliva is also connected with his Samoan, Pacific and various communities. He is the chair for Fotu o Mālama (Association for teachers of Samoan language in NZ for secondary and tertiary) and worked closely with the Ministry of Pacific Peoples (MPP) and church communities. Siliva has also worked and toured with the National Youth Choir of NZ.

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