ACES Weekly Buzz !
19 November 2025 - Term 4 Week 7 Special Edition
Connecting the dots with keynote speaker Dr Adrian Schoone
Kia ora! Parents, Caregivers & Whanau.
Welcome to the latest ACES Weekly Buzz! 🥳
The ACES End of Year Prizegiving/25 Years of Alternative Education Celebration in Auckland is almost upon us (10 December). We have important information attached for parents, whanau and caregivers attending this very special celebration.
We introduced you to our special guest speaker - Dr Adrian Schoone in an earlier issue, and here we dive in deeper, to explore and reveal that he is no stranger to ACES and the world of Alternative Education.
Adrian most recently managed the AE Action Research project, we reported on two weeks ago, which Damien Fogarty presented findings for. We hope that you enjoy Dr Schoone's message for Rangatahi and our audience at Prize giving.
Mauri Ora
Getting to Know Dr Adrian Schoone
Dr Adrian Schoone, the Head of School for Education at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT), is an expert in Alternative Education (AE). He's deeply committed to making education accessible and better for students who have been let down or pushed out of traditional schooling.
Adrian's journey started as a registered primary school teacher in New Zealand, but he spent a big part of his early career working directly in Alternative Education and Youth Justice settings. This hands-on experience led him to become the first principal of the school within the Oranga Tamariki Residences—Korowai Manaaki and Whakatakapokai.
This rich background is the foundation for Dr Schoone's academic work, which focuses on improving educational opportunities for our increasingly diverse student population.
💡 Bridging Practice and Policy
Adrian's work beautifully connects real-world practice with policy decisions. He's been involved in the AE sector since 2001 and has previously served as the chairperson for and is currently an Advisor to the Alternative Education National Body (AENB).
His book, 'The Tutor: Transformational Educators for 21st Century Learners', grew out of his doctoral research and his early support for AE tutors. Academically, he zeroes in on understanding the tough moments AE students face in mainstream education, often using creative, arts-based approaches like poetic inquiry to really dig into education policy.
In showing dedication to a broader education workforce, Adrian was key in creating Australasia's first academic program in Social Pedagogy—the BA Social Education minor—at AUT.
💖 Championing Alternative Education
At the heart of Adrian's contribution is his strong belief in and advocacy for the alternative education system. His research clearly shows that young people in AE often much prefer this setting to mainstream schools. They report feeling safer, receiving help, feeling cared for, and having their culture respected.
He powerfully argues that this system is often the "last, best opportunity" for young people who have become disconnected from formal education due to various hurdles. Adrian continues to push for major systemic changes, better funding, and more qualified teachers in the AE sector. He stresses the crucial need to support students as they move both into and out of the system to guarantee positive, long-lasting success.
We're absolutely honoured to have Adrian as our keynote speaker at our ACES Prize giving and 25 Year Celebrations!
"Ehara taku toa i te toa takitaha, engari, he toa takitini".
My successes are not mine alone, but the successes of the collective.
