Resource Teacher of the Deaf - Melipa Peato

Her background

Melipa Peato, Samoan, is a full time Resource Teacher of the Deaf, working in early childhood and school settings throughout the South Island.

She is employed by and based out of the Van Asch Deaf Education Centre in Christchurch, but travels widely to visit the children and young people on her case load.

Melipa is a registered secondary school art teacher who retrained to work with deaf students by completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Special Education (Hearing Impairment).

Her story

Melipa didn’t realise it at the time. But her first day of teaching became one of the most significant in her career.

"I had four deaf students in my art class. I was immediately intrigued about their experience of life and really wanted to know more about their perspective on the world," she says, looking back.

Melipa personally introduced herself to everyone in the class that day. But she had to communicate with her deaf students through a sign-language interpreter.

"I really wanted to communicate with them directly and find out about their lives and develop those one on one relationships."

It wasn’t long before Melipa was able to do just that. After two years’ teaching, she decided to retrain as a Resource Teacher of the Deaf, quickly becoming fluent in sign and eventually catching up with her four deaf students.

"It was fantastic. Sign meant we could communicate easily – and even share a few jokes.

It was huge for them to see their former art teacher, a Pacific Islander like them, sign. It was huge for me, too."

Today, her main aim is to improve a child’s ability to learn within their classroom. That can involve working closely with teachers to adapt the way they teach and identify and set up the tools and resources to make the classroom work well for a deaf child.

At other times, it involves planning and liaising with the range of specialists such as an adviser on deaf children or a physiotherapist to provide a child with all the support they need.

Melipa also works with children and young people one on one to ensure their language and literacy is on track.

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The rewards and challenges

It’s rewarding to work with such a variety of age groups – from very young children through to teenagers, says Melipa.

"There’s certainly never a dull moment that’s for sure."

Her future aspirations

Melipa says there are plenty of career opportunities available to Resource Teachers of the Deaf. Specialising in audiology and literacy are two. Becoming a speech-language therapist is another.

"To be honest, I’m very happy with what I’m doing. Mine is a career with plenty of possibilities and change. I take every day as it comes and enjoy waking up and being of service. I’m satisfied I’ve found the career that suits me."

Want to speak to someone like Melipa about a career as a Resource Teacher of the Deaf? Give us a call on 0800 622 222 or send us an email special.education@minedu.govt.nz [no spam]