Sandi McCutcheon

Dr. Sandi McCutcheon is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Education, Victoria University of Wellington, where she has established herself as a dedicated educator and researcher. Her work spans across teacher education, primary mathematics instruction, and the social-emotional aspects of learning environments. She maintains an active presence in both national and international educational communities, contributing to scholarly discourse through publications, conference presentations, and professional service.

Dr. McCutcheon's research interests focus on several interconnected areas:

• Social and emotional well-being of teachers and learners
• Primary mathematics teaching and learning, particularly self-efficacy
• Pre-service teacher personal and professional identity development
• Pedagogy of kindness and care in higher education
• Whanaungatanga (Māori concept of kinship and caring relationships) in educational contexts

Her recent scholarly work demonstrates a strong commitment to understanding how caring relationships and supportive environments impact educational outcomes. Through her research on tutors' experiences with student disclosures and the development of pedagogies of care, she has contributed significantly to conversations about emotional labor in teaching and the importance of relational approaches to education. Her work often bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications for educators.

Dr. McCutcheon has received recognition for her teaching excellence, including the Victoria University of Wellington Teaching Excellence Award and being named Runner-Up for Lecturer of the Year. These awards reflect her commitment to innovative and student-centered approaches in teacher education.

• Victoria University of Wellington Teaching Excellence Award (2016)
• Victoria University of Wellington Lecturer of the Year: Runner-Up (2016)
• Post-Graduate Student Association Victoria Awards: Third Place (2015)

She actively supervises doctoral students working on diverse topics including teacher wellbeing in Vietnamese private schools, children's perceptions of play-based learning, and experiences of inclusion for children with Dravet Syndrome. Her grant history shows sustained engagement with educational research projects, particularly those focused on innovative pedagogies and mathematics education.