Our People

How long have you been working in this sector?

I started in the sector in 2002.

What do you love most about what you do?

I love not only watching the children learn and grown but as a centre manager I coach and mentor my team to be the best that they can be; promoting quality learning outcomes for all children.

What are three things that make your centre special?

I love Little Wonders Pegasus because we have such a homely environment in the peaceful Pegasus town. We have a diverse culture of children in the centre and the feeling of community is so strong here. We have a beautiful centre with a wide range of resources and equipment making teaching exciting each and every day. The teaching team here are professional and knowledgeable whilst having a lot of fun learning with and alongside the children.

What is your favourite time of the year at the centre?

There is always something new and exciting going on at the centre so every day is a wonderful new experience for me.

What is your personal ECE philosophy?

I have a strong belief that unhurried play is essential in ECE centres; the team are here to support and provide the tools for children to extend on their learning. Relationships are at the heart of every centre; parents are trusting in us to care and educate their children and I take that role very seriously.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I have two children so my husband and I spend a lot of time outdoors with our children. We go boating, fishing and exploring most weekends and holidays. We live rurally so we are often found out with the animals.

Diploma ECE, Fully registered teacher

I am a very passionate teacher and like to empower children to guide their own learning by getting to know them and what makes them tick so I can use their own knowledge and strengths to drive their learning forward. I am also passionate about being stainable and using lots of recycled equipment and loose parts play that the children can use to make and create anything they want. This lets them make sense of the world around them, use their imagination and be able to communicate and express their ideas and thoughts with others. I believe that respectful reciprocal relationships are the key to successful learning outcomes for all children.

I have three adult children with my oldest two children Hannah and Brent living and working in London. My youngest daughter Rowena lives and works as a relief teacher for Best Start and has a 9 month old son who attends the Nursery here at Little Wonders.

In my spare time when I am not with my grandson Roddy, I love to do hand crafts. I knit, crochet and sew. I also love to cook and spend lots of time in my garden, growing my own vegetables and enjoying my roses and my many lilies. In the summer I love to support monarch butterflies by growing swan plants.

We are so fortunate as a centre to have an enquiry room specific to drama to allow the children to explore curiosity and creativity. Our outdoor area is an attribute to our preschool with wide open spaces for children to be kids and a gorgeous view of the lake! Our teaching team are dedicated to providing an exciting space with provocations to extend on learning and interests.

My own teaching philosophy is forever evolving but my approach to teaching is to be warm and nurturing and give the children a home away from home environment. I love all things creative and arty so it’s really important that children can explore all the textures and have opportunities to be creative in our learning space. In my free time I spend my time with my husband and our four children. We live locally so we are usually attending children’s sport and local activities in our area. 

Since then, I have taught at private and public schools before deciding to migrate to this beautiful country with my family in 2009. I have also gained my degree in Bachelor of Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood from University of Canterbury in 2015.  I feel very fortunate to be part of your child’s learning and development, and giving them the opportunity to evolve in their early years here at Little Wonders Pegasus.

I work in the nursery room with our youngest children. I believe infants require reciprocal relationships which develop a sense of security and independence. Children need to feel loved, valued, and respected in every way possible. I will support and encourage our children to be themselves, allowing them to learn in their own way in a respectful environment. I will support them on their journey to self-regulation and self-help, preparing a foundation for whatever path they take in life. I will make a difference and always be here for the children in our care and our parents/whanau to support them on a daily basis at Little Wonders Pegasus.

In my free time, I make sure that I spend quality time with my family – my husband our 3 children, my daughter-in-law and granddaughter.

I have a passion for being apart of children’s learning journeys and love inviting the children into new and exciting experiences that spark their curiosity and wonder of the world. I believe that the environment plays an important part in our learning and enjoy getting out in nature, exploring all it has to offer. At Little Wonders I love that we support this and get to do this often by taking the children out on excursions, whether it be the forest, a walk around the lake or a trip to the local library.

In my spare time I enjoy taking my own children out to explore the world, whether we are scooting biking or walking, it is fun watching them discover new things and find joy in the simple things in life. I also enjoy baking and spending time with family and friends.

I spent time traveling with my partner, then I worked for the 'What Now'  tv show and then in the Healthcare sector. I got married and had my son, and once he went to preschool I decided to pursue a career in the ECE sector. I decided teaching is what I wanted to be a part of. 

I've been working in this field since 2016. I love assisting children with their learning and watching them grow and develop as individuals and forming friendships. It is such a pleasure to be part of this special time in their lives. I believe in a play based philosophy, where children are encouraged to initiate their own learning and being creative. We have an amazing art room giving the children as much access to art resources as possible, which is my one of my favorite things. Throughout our centre, we provide fun and exciting experiences. I am happy to be part of the Little Wonders team. 

Working with children has always been something that has interested me. I love seeing the development they go through and seeing their excitement when they learn something new. I have a love for the outdoors myself and really value the importance of children being outside and discovering their environment. We are so lucky at Little Wonders to have the opportunity for tamariki to be able to go on trips, to the forest, beach and even the library. These trips are where we can really help the children explore and learn from their environment.

Cooking and interacting with the children, watching their confidence grown and experimenting with new flavours and meals is what inspires me. 

Being responsible for the role here and putting together healthy nutritious meals for the children brings me great joy. I love working at this centre as we have a lovely work environment, a great team and it ‘s a home away from home.

In my free time I enjoy gardening and the outdoors. Restoring furniture, abstract painting and listening to music.

My Children are grown up with families of their own. I come from a farming background and have spent time working in Christchurch and am pleased to have moved back home to North Canterbury.

My hobbies include gardening, walking, biking and spending time with my whanau.

Tena koutou katoa, 

Ko Mataatua te waka 

Ko Ngāti Wai te iwi 

Ko Kawa te Marae 

Ko Wai-te-Puia te awa 

Ko Hirakimata te maunga 

Ko Rehua te tangata 

No te moutere o Aotea ahau 

I have been a Centre Administrator across several centres since 2014 when my husband and I first moved to Christchurch. We now live in Woodend with our two children and our pug Bruce. 

I have enjoyed previous roles in Hospitality, Retail and Corporate settings, but I have well and truly found my niche in my current role which allows me to explore all aspects of my background while also supporting your whanau in your ECE experience. 

My passions for family, all cultures, and creativity is truly celebrated within ECE and I look forward to working alongside your whanau in the years to come.  

Ngā mihi nui!