High acclaim for local teacher

TOP GRADES: Teacher Dirk Smyth graduates with first class honours.

South African born Dirk Smyth emerged from his early University studies with a BA with Honours in Maths, leading, one would think, to a long and successful career in banking, a path he initially adopted. 

But eight years ago, married and domiciled in New Zealand, he decided on a career change in favour of teaching. 

Last week he graduated from the University of Auckland (Whangarei campus) with a Master of Educational Leadership with First Class Honours – the highest grade possible in this course and Dirk was the top graduate. 

Taking full study leave last year Smyth was able to devote his time fully to his task completing his dissertation and two masters level papers. 

His dissertation was written on the National Standards policy in NZ schools for which he received an A-plus grade.

As a result of the quality of his dissertation, he has been asked to co-author two academic papers based on his work, along with his supervisor Georgina Stewart. 

He also received two awards from the University of Auckland for coming top in the two Masters papers he completed last year in educational policy and developing professional expertise.

This was also a triumph for the Whangarei campus as supervisor Stewart, already highly-rated, had five students and all graduated.

There is something of a vein that runs through the family as Dirk’s wife Megan is a teacher at Maungaturoto Primary school and his two sons both performed extremely well in last year’s inter-school Mathex competitions.

For Dirk, his family and the Maungaturoto community this is quite an achievement and reward for effort for this well-loved teacher and member of the senior leadership team at Otamatea High School.