We’re a professional team of educators and administrators that are passionate about lifting literacy outcomes in New Zealand.

Being an approved institution of the New Zealand Teaching Council means our level of expertise and appraisal systems are second to none.

Greg McNeil

Chief Executive Officer

Greg McNeil serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Learning MATTERS, bringing a diverse and extensive background to the role. His career spans financial services, sales, herd improvement, animal health, farm systems, dairy production, new product development, project management, software development, and governance.

Prior to joining Learning MATTERS, Greg held various leadership positions across multiple industries, which equipped him with a robust foundation in strategy development, goal setting, and team management. His expertise in these areas has been pivotal in shaping the strategic direction of Learning MATTERS and ensuring the organisation achieves its goals.

Greg’s commitment to literacy education is deeply personal. His dedication to Learning MATTERS is driven by his experiences with his own family, particularly in supporting his son, who has dyslexia. This personal journey has provided Greg with a unique perspective and a fervent commitment to ensuring effective literacy support is available to all students, especially those with learning differences such as dyslexia.

Greg collaborates closely with his wife, Carla McNeil, the founder of Learning MATTERS. Together, they are devoted to providing evidence-based literacy education and professional development for educators, with the aim of fostering inclusive and effective learning environments across New Zealand.

Carla McNeil

Founder and General Manager

Carla McNeil is a leading figure in New Zealand’s education sector, renowned for her commitment to enhancing literacy outcomes through evidence-based methods. As the founder and managing director of Learning MATTERS, established in 2016, Carla has dedicated her career to supporting literacy education, with a particular focus on students with learning differences such as dyslexia.

Her extensive career in education includes roles as a classroom teacher, school principal, and university advisor. Carla’s advocacy for literacy was profoundly shaped by her experiences with her son, who faced challenges related to dyslexia, auditory processing disorder (APD), and attention deficit disorder (ADD). This personal journey ignited her passion for developing effective educational interventions.

Carla is the creator of the iDeaL Approach, a Structured Literacy framework that emphasises explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction. This framework is designed to address the needs of all students, including those with learning differences, by employing diagnostic teaching methods to tailor instruction according to individual requirements. The iDeaL Approach has gained widespread adoption across New Zealand, revolutionising literacy practices in numerous schools.

Under Carla’s leadership, Learning MATTERS offers comprehensive professional development for educators, providing them with the expertise and tools needed to implement Structured Literacy effectively. Her organisation also delivers the Learning MATTERS Intervention Teaching Certification (LMIT), accredited by the International Dyslexia Association, ensuring high standards in literacy intervention training.

Carla is a proactive advocate for literacy education, having previously appeared on television and radio to discuss literacy issues and promote Structured Literacy. Carla’s work is dedicated to fostering a more inclusive and effective educational environment, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to excel in literacy. Her dedication to evidence-based teaching and her efforts to influence educational practices have significantly impacted New Zealand’s literacy landscape.

Learning MATTERS Consultants

Fiona Wilder

Learning MATTERS Consultancy Manager

Read Fiona's bio

Fiona brings a wealth of expertise to her role as the Learning MATTERS Consultancy Manager, backed by extensive classroom teaching experience and a deep understanding of writing instruction and curriculum implementation. She is trained in LETRS through Voyager Sopris/Lexia and facilitated the Literacy/Communication Trial 2022 with Learning MATTERS.

Fiona's career includes leadership roles such as Lead of Literacy, Deputy Principal, and a Within School Kahui Ako position, where she has demonstrated her commitment to advancing literacy education. Her hands-on experience and leadership skills make her a valuable facilitator of Structured Literacy, ensuring effective literacy instruction across diverse educational settings.

As a Professionally Registered Teacher, Fiona’s blend of practical experience and specialised training positions her to provide exceptional support and guidance to educators seeking to enhance their literacy programs.

Pam Weir

Learning MATTERS Consultant

- Northland

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Pam brings nearly three decades of dedicated experience in education, with a strong focus on middle and junior school levels. She holds specialised training in Learning MATTERS Intervention Teaching (LMIT) and Structured Literacy through In School Consultancy with Learning MATTERS. Pam's extensive background includes roles as a classroom teacher, Literacy Lead, and Consultant, where she has consistently demonstrated her commitment to advancing literacy education.

As an Accelerating Learning in Literacy (PfS ALL) facilitator, Pam supports kaiako in accelerating learning for ākonga across years 1-10 who require targeted assistance in reading and writing. Her expertise in Structured Literacy and intervention strategies positions her as a valuable resource for educators striving to enhance student outcomes.

Pam’s unwavering dedication to education is reflected in her ongoing efforts to support and mentor educators. She is a Professionally Registered Teacher, bringing both passion and professionalism to every aspect of her work.

Bethany Donnell

Learning MATTERS Consultant

- Auckland

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Bethany has spent the last six years working in Auckland as a Within-School Kāhui Ako Leader, Digital Technologies Curriculum Leader, and Team Leader. She’s seen the profound impact that a Structured Literacy approach has on all students.

Bethany’s expertise in Structured Literacy includes whole class reading and writing instruction, focusing on the senior end of the school. In her consultancy role, she is involved in the development of writing Professional Learning and Development, creation of modules to teach Structured Literacy basics, planning using the Understanding by Design framework and explicit instruction, and working on content creation to support whole class reading modeling in schools.

Bethany has a Master of Art in Teaching (Elementary Education) - Structured Literacy and has classroom teacher and facilitation experience as a Structured Literacy consultant. She is a Professionally Registered Teacher.

Paula Hastings

Learning MATTERS Consultant

- Waikato

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Paula brings over 25 years of educational experience, including leadership roles as Principal and Assistant Principal in the Waikato Region. Her passion for Structured Literacy was ignited during her Master of Education studies, which led her to become an experienced consultant in this field. Paula has extensive expertise in in-school consultancy for Structured Literacy and Learning MATTERS Intervention Teaching (LMIT).

Paula’s diverse background includes serving as a Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCO), classroom teacher, and Structured Literacy facilitator. She is also an Accelerating Learning in Literacy (PfS ALL) facilitator, supporting kaiako in accelerating learning for ākonga across years 1-10 who require targeted assistance in reading and writing. In her current role as a consultant, Paula leverages her deep knowledge to support educators in implementing effective literacy strategies.

A Professionally Registered Teacher, Paula continues to advance her skills, currently working towards her LMIT Certification with Learning MATTERS.

Marion Kirby

Learning MATTERS Consultant

- Bay of Plenty

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Marion has dedicated over thirty years to various facets of education, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to her role at Learning MATTERS. For the past five years, Marion has served as a literacy and numeracy intervention specialist, where she has made significant contributions to advancing student outcomes through targeted support and evidence-based practices.

Marion has completed MSL (Multi-sensory Structured Language) training through the Institute for Multisensory Language Education (ISMLE) in Australia, and she has further enhanced her skills with a Post Graduate Coaching course from Waikato University. As a Professionally Registered Teacher, Marion is also an experienced LMIT (Learning MATTERS Intervention Teaching) facilitator and coach, specialising in Structured Literacy. Her extensive background as an intervention specialist and consultant has equipped her with the knowledge and skills to effectively support educators and students alike.

Marion’s commitment to education and her deep understanding of Structured Literacy makes her a valuable asset to the team.

Esmee Elias Tito

Learning MATTERS Consultant

- ALL Project

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With 30 years of teaching experience, Esmee has served as Deputy Principal/SENCO at Waterloo School, where she led the school-wide Structured Literacy implementation. She has also worked as an RTLB in Lower Hutt, held the position of Head of Department for School Guidance Counsellors, and completed both a Specialist Education Post Grad and a Master's in Counselling.

Esmee has MSL Training with the Australia Dyslexia Association (IMSLE), in-school consultancy and Literacy/Communication Trial 2022 Training with Learning MATTERS and is currently studying for a PhD with a Structured Literacy focus at Massey University. Esmee is an Accelerating Learning in Literacy (PfS ALL) facilitator, supporting kaiako to accelerate learning for ākonga in years 1-10 who would benefit from targeted support in reading, writing, and/or mathematics. Esmee is a Professionally Registered Teacher.

Jill Symonds

Learning MATTERS Consultant

- Wellington

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With more than 30 years of primary education experience, including roles as syndicate team leader, Assistant Principal, Deputy Principal, and Literacy Leader, Jill has a passion for literacy and improving learning outcomes for all learners.

She has Literacy / Communication Trial 2022 Training and LMIT Training with Learning MATTERS, as well as experience as a classroom teacher and facilitation experience as a Structured Literacy consultant. Jill is a Professionally Registered Teacher.

Ruth Blair

Learning MATTERS Consultant

- Southland, Otago and Canterbury

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Ruth is a professionally registered teacher who has more than 20 years of experience teaching years 1–8 in New Zealand and overseas.

Ruth holds a SPELD NZ Certificate Course in Specific Learning Disabilities with SPELD NZ, MSL Training with the Australia Dyslexia Association (IMSLE), and LETRS Training with Dyslexia SPELD Foundation (DSF). She also has in-school consultancy Structured Literacy and Literacy/Communication Trial 2022 Training with Learning MATTERS, as well as TSD1 Teaching Students with Dyslexia Training with Hansberry Educational Consulting.

Ruth has experience as a classroom teacher, intervention teacher, SENCo, Literacy Lead and facilitation experience as a Structured Literacy consultant. Ruth's expertise includes working alongside schools across the South Island to support their implementation of whole school Structured Literacy (spelling, reading & writing), building consistent and evidence-based systems and delivery across Tier 1, 2 and 3 while building capacity in instructional coaching to embed and sustain this approach in schools.

Darnelle Darlison

Learning MATTERS Consultant

- Southland, Otago and Canterbury

Read Darnelle's bio

With a career in education spanning more than 20 years, including teaching overseas and across a variety of year levels, Darnelle has previous experience in management roles as a Deputy Principal, Syndicate Leader and Literacy Lead. She also has in-school consultancy Structured Literacy and LMIT Training with Learning MATTERS, along with facilitation experience as a Structured Literacy consultant. Darnelle is a Professionally Registered Teacher.

As a consultant for Learning MATTERS, Darnelle assists in building consistent evidenced based pathways for all students, increases leadership capabilities with Literacy Leads and wider Leadership Teams, supports teachers to increase their knowledge of Structured Literacy and implement a gold standard approach for all students, shares knowledge and understanding of Structured Literacy with stakeholders and the wider school community, and undertakes observations and coaching for teachers to reflect and improves practice for students.