I hereby wish to write this testimony for Mrs Susi Shaw, who is contracted by our Punavai ole Gagana Samoa Early Childhood Trust Board as an Interim Centre Manager.

Our POGS Trust Board is going through a new restructuring hence one of the reason why we are contracting Susi to help the board implement new structure of the POGS Early Childhood Centre from the governance to the all level of staff.

As the chairperson of the board I am so happy to say that Susi has and is continuing to put these new changes in place within the Punavai ole Gagana Samoa Early Childhood Centre by :-

Changes we have made as the Board since we have been working with Susi:-

• The board had decided to restructure, from the governance to the staff on the forefront. This is almost completed with the great guidance and support from Susi Shaw.
• We have new and young members on the board who are very enthusiastic about our mission through the Punavai ole Gagana Samoa.
• The leadership within the staff has changed, and this was all done in a professional manner.
• New changes always comes with its challenges especially when staff or people who has been involved are so use to the old style the organisation had been run, but this transition has been done in a very sensitive and professional style. Pricess was all transparent and inclusive of the all staff, governance body, parents, families and the parish as the umbrella group.
• Susi has been very instrumental in working with some difficult staff behaviour due to the new structural changes of the POS ECC.
• There has been a very positive response and feedback from parent and aiga of children of Punavai, especially with the curriculum programme.
• Susi has worked really hard to set updated IT and administration systems in place to assist the staff with their work especially the implementing of the curriculum and meeting the MOE regulations tec.
• Signs of good and close relationships with children’s parents and aiga, and encouraging parents’ contribution and participation in some children’s curriculum activities. The parents have noticed the positive changes in their children’s learning and their behaviour. They are so keen and excited to go to school everyday.
• Teaching staff are enjoying their teaching profession and are showing a strong team bonding and team work.
• Empowering and Supporting the team leader in the everyday running of the Punavai ECC.

Impact/affect on our organisation/business

These new changes have great positive impact on our organisation from governance to the children and their aiga/families.

Susi has been so instrumental in looking at other ways of getting resources for other most needed systems for staff to be able to teach our tamaiti.

The new board are also learning and are working on the reviewed Trust Deed, so the board members are active in their role and working very closely with Susi.

I would be so happy to recommend Susi to another Early Childhood Centre who really need a good makeover.

Susi is a real enabler who is so gifted in the way she works with people especially people/staff going through new changes in their profession and their work.

Working with Susi is a great help for organisations like us who have limited understanding of the MOE system. Susi being a SELO contractor working with us is a real benefit as she could see both sides, the MOE system and the community.

Susi is able to turn a negative response/ behaviour into a respectful in a professional and calm approach.