We are delighted to announce that Zaretta Hammond will be a keynote speaker at researchED New Zealand 2027, hosted at Long Bay College on 8 May 2027.
Zaretta Hammond is a U.S. teacher educator, international education consultant, and one of the most influential voices in contemporary education. She is the bestselling author ofCulturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain (2015) and Rebuilding Students’ Learning Power (2025), works that have shaped educational thinking around the world.
A former classroom teacher specialising in expository writing, Zaretta’s work sits at the intersection of learning science, literacy, culturally responsive teaching, and instructional improvement. For more than two decades she has worked alongside schools, districts, and education organisations to strengthen the instructional core and improve outcomes for historically underserved learners.
What has made Zaretta’s work so influential is her ability to connect research with classroom reality.
Drawing on insights from neuroscience, cognitive science, and culturally responsive practice, she challenges educators to move beyond engagement alone and focus on developing students’ capacity for rigorous, independent, and effortful thinking.
Her work on cognitive capacity, the science of reading, and instructional equity continues to influence teachers, school leaders, and education systems internationally. Through her writing, consulting, and leadership, she has helped thousands of educators better understand how effective teaching can accelerate learning while ensuring all students have access to intellectually challenging and meaningful educational experiences.
We are especially excited to welcome Zaretta to Aotearoa New Zealand for what will be her first visit. Her keynote will offer delegates a unique opportunity to engage directly with one of the most important educational thinkers of our time and to explore how learning science and culturally responsive practice can work together to build powerful learning environments for all students.
We are thrilled to have Zaretta join us for what promises to be a landmark researchED New Zealand event.