Symon Armstrong

Dear Education Council,

Attached is my completed Mandatory Report form advising of the impact that a stroke has had on the
fitness of one of our recently resigned Teachers to continue to work as an ECE Registered Teacher.
One of the attached documents is a Specialist Medical Report from Dr Gil Newburn certifying this lady as
being unfit to teach at the time she was examined. Sam continues with admirable determination to work
hard on regaining as much of her lost function as she can.
With this in mind I wonder if there remains a possibility that at some date in the future Sam may again be
fit to teach. When processing this report please bear this possibility in mind.
Regards,
Symon Armstrong
Director
Syro Services
P.O. Box 412
Tauranga 3140
Ph 027 485 6660

<symon@syros.co.nz>

Hi Simon.
Can you please forward me a copy of this letter.
On 5/07/2016 6:14 pm, "Symon Armstrong" <symon@syros.co.nz> wrote:
Dear Sam,
I have been advised by the Education Council that I have a mandatory obligation to
inform them that you were recently certified medically unfit to work as an ECE Teacher.
As your recent employer I am obliged to notify the Education Council if there is any
uncertainty about the fitness of any of our current or recently employed ECE Registered
Teachers to teach.
My understanding is that over time as you continue to regain some of the functions you
lost with your stroke then a subsequent Medical Assessment may find you fit to resume
teaching. Sadly there is no guarantee that you will recover to this extent.
Sam I am very sorry that this situation has arisen and know that this situation has arisen
through no fault of yours. Although I have no choice but to notify The Education Council
I did not want to do so without first notifying you that this is being done.
Please advise me if you would like to discuss this further.
Best wishes,
Kindest regards,
Symon Armstrong
Director
Syro Services
P.O. Box 412
Tauranga 3140

Jun 30

\samantha emerson <samanthaemerson303@gmail.com>

to Symon

Kia ora Symon,

I'd like to say I am good and doing well. The Speech Language Therapy, Aphasia groups and
Literacy classes continue and making progress. As for fitness I have taken up Aqua Aerobic's and
I am loving it.
In my six months of rehabilitation I auditioned for a place in the production of Evita, and now I
am a backing vocalist and part of the team in the musical.
A power point presentation about me: Samantha Emerson, was taken place at the head office of
the Stroke Foundation in Wellington. Symon Bradwell a former One news reporter is the
manager in the Wellington region for the Stroke Foundation. He was one of many who listened,
and it inspired him to share with the Daily Post for other stroke survivor's that they can make it
happen for them too.
There is an attachment below: "Stroke survivor's journey to Evita stage"
Kia ora Symon