London calling passionate teacher

An Auckland teacher is off to study at Shakepeare's Globe theatre for her efforts in enthusing students about the Bard.
Lesley Shepherd is this years NZ-UK Link Foundation Discretionary Award winner, gaining $2000 towards her travel costs to London.
Lesley is director of teaching and learning at Macleans College and will travel this month as part of the Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ (SGCNZ) Teachers Go Global project.
She's looking forward to the opportunity to investigate original practices in Shakespearian theatre at the Globe Theatre and will also attend a range of intensive workshops in a professional development programme.
Lesley is passionate about Shakespeare's plays. Her students have on many occasions over the past 10 years been selected through the annual Sheilah Winn festival, run by the Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ, to attend workshops offered by the Globe Theatre. She will travel to the UK with the selected 2011 Sheilah Winn students.
Explaining her fascination with the Bard, Lesley says, "I believe we need to de-mystify studies in this amazing author and more New Zealand English and drama teachers should be encouraged to pursue a study of his works with our students, both on the page and on the stage.
"He holds a mirror up to our society and our humanity. So exploring the plays leads us to a better understanding of ourselves. We need to prepare 21st century learners to understand their lives through the lens of Shakespearean texts and Elizabethan Society.
"A perception exists that the study of Shakespeare's plays is too complex, both for teachers and students. Students should be exposed to his work in a meaningful way that links their lives to these dramas, to develop both a high level of appreciation and enjoyment."
Chairman of the UK-NZ Link Foundation Mark Horton says: "We are delighted to be able to help Lesley deepen her experience of Shakespeare's plays in performance. Through her teaching, it will help her students have a better appreciation of the language we speak and the history of a country that has such strong ties with us."
Treaty link

The NZ-UK Link Foundation - originally the Waitangi Foundation - was created in 1990 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty. It has organising committees and charitable trust status in both countries. It creates and promotes educational and cultural exchanges between New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
For more information, see: www.nzuklinkfoundation.org