Strengthen your confidence in managing staff issues and navigating employment law in the school setting in this practical, leadership-focused session designed for new school leaders, those needing a refresher and aspiring school leaders. Gain clear guidance from an experienced school principal and employment law specialist experienced in the education space, on handling common employment challenges from performance concerns to disciplinary processes. Acquire the knowledge and practical tools to make informed decisions, meet your legal obligations and lead your team with professionalism and confidence.
Wednesday, 29 July 2026
Learning objective:
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Confidently manage staff issues and apply key employment law obligations in the school context
Chair:
Denise Johnson, Principal, Hut Valley High School
Description
Attend and earn 1 CLD/CPD/PLD hour
3.30pm to 4.30pm Employment Law Essentials for Managing Staff
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Key legislation, the Collective Agreements, and core legal concepts
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Common employment issues: poor performance and conduct
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Case law round up
Presented by Jessica Higgins, Senior Associate, Anderson Llyod; Employment Law Specialist; Board Member Knox and Salmond College
Presenters
Jessica Higgins, Senior Associate, Anderson Lloyd
Jessica is a Senior Associate in the Anderson Lloyd Employment Team. Jessica has almost a decade of experience advising on employment law matters. Her practice covers preparing and advising on employment agreements and policies, disciplinary and performance processes, restructures and redundancies, and personal grievance claims. She has represented clients at mediation, in the Employment Relations Authority and the Employment Court. Jessica has a particular interest in education law within the employment context and regularly advises principals and school boards.
Denise Johnson, Principal, Hutt Valley High School
Denise Johnson is the principal of Hutt Valley High School, a large co-educational secondary school with a roll of 1730 students. Denise started her teaching career in Southland at Menzies College. She then taught for 3 years at various schools in London before returning to New Zealand in 1990. Denise was a Deputy Principal at Wellington Girls’ College and Wellington High School before joining the leadership team at HVHS as an Associate Principal in 2012. She co-led the school with the late Ross Sinclair for 8 years. Denise is a trustee and founding member of the Wellington Loop. She is interested in the transformative power of collaboration between educators and schools in order to build teacher capability and to develop innovative thinking and practice.
This seminar is part of a series
Education Law and School Governance Fundamentals Series
Build confidence in your leadership and navigate the legal realities of the principal role with clarity through this practical three-part Education Law and Governance Fundamentals series. Designed for new and aspiring principals, each focused one-hour webinar delivers essential, real-world guidance on managing difficult parent interactions while upholding student rights, addressing staff issues within an employment law framework, and working effectively with your board to meet governance obligations while achieving the best outcomes. Led by experienced principals and legal experts who advise schools and boards within their practice, this series equips you with the knowledge, language, and practical strategies you need to make sound decisions, reduce risk, and lead your school community with confidence.
Description
Attend the entire series and earn 3 CLP/CPD/PLD Hours
Legalwise Seminars Education Law Programmes are included in the Principal Development Plan list of Courses and Programmes on the Education Workforce website
View series listing
