Rebecca
Meet
Warm, enthusiastic, and deeply committed to improving literacy outcomes, Rebecca Barrett is dedicated to translating the Science of Learning, Reading, and Writing into practical, accessible strategies for Years 7–13 teachers. With experience across diverse New Zealand classrooms, Rebecca brings energy, empathy, and evidence-informed strategies to every school she works with.
Rebecca Barrett is a secondary educator and literacy advocate who believes every student deserves access to high-quality literacy instruction — and every teacher deserves practical, evidence-informed support to make that possible.
Rebecca began teaching in Auckland in 2018 and has since worked across a range of schools reflecting the diverse communities of Aotearoa.
Through her experience teaching Years 9–13 students, she became increasingly aware that many learners were struggling to access the complex texts demanded of them. Rather than lowering expectations or placing responsibility back on students, Rebecca recognised that effective literacy instruction needed to be taught explicitly, and she simply needed to learn how.
Her introduction to Structured Literacy came through a primary teacher friend who described a Liz Kane Literacy workshop as “what we've always needed, but didn't know it.” From there, Rebecca immersed herself in the Science of Reading, learning from internationally respected educators and researchers including Tim Shanahan, Anita Archer, Zach Groshell, Nathaniel Swain, Natalie Wexler, and Doug Lemov.
Rebecca has since completed postgraduate study in Literacy through Massey University and continues to engage with current research and professional learning, continually refining her understanding of effective literacy instruction.
After returning home to Taranaki, Rebecca wanted to extend her impact beyond her own classroom. Having already implemented The Code, attended Sharing Best Practice events, and begun facilitating PLD independently, she reached out to Liz Kane Literacy to help strengthen literacy outcomes for secondary schools.
Rebecca specialises in helping Years 7–13 teachers make the Science of Learning, Reading, and Writing practical, achievable, and relevant within the realities of secondary classrooms. Her professional learning is engaging, down-to-earth, and grounded in evidence as well as everyday teaching practice.
"I believe every student deserves access to high-quality literacy instruction — and every teacher deserves practical, evidence-informed support to make that possible."
Rebecca's Career Milestones
2025: Literacy and Instructional Coach with Liz Kane Literacy
Partners with schools nationwide as a Literacy Coach for Liz Kane Literacy, building teacher capability and embedding evidence-based Structured Literacy practices grounded in the Science of Reading.
2022: Literacy Intervention Teacher (Secondary)
Transformed secondary literacy outcomes by delivering targeted interventions for adolescent learners, empowering struggling readers with critical decoding and comprehension skills, and fostering newfound academic confidence across the curriculum.
Rebecca developed a comprehensive, evidence-aligned approach to supporting struggling readers and writers in years 9-13.
2023: In-School PLD leader - Literacy
Successfully led school-wide transition to Structured Literacy as an In-School PLD Leader, mentoring educators and driving data-informed interventions that significantly raised student reading and writing achievement.
