Jigna (Assistant Manager)
My name is Jigna Shah. I have joined as an assistant manager at BestStart Stoddard Road.

I hail from the beautiful and colourful land of India. After getting my early childhood qualifications and working with young children for eight years, I moved to New Zealand and gained my qualifications and teacher registration. I have done a Post Graduate Diploma of Education (level 8) and a Graduate Diploma of ECE (level 7). I have 9 years of experience working in the New Zealand early childhood sector.

I believe that children are capable and competent learners and are able to achieve using positive guidance and role modeling. I also believe that the environment is the third teacher which can provide many opportunities for learning. I love working with children and being part of their learning journey. 

Suebin (Pepi Teacher)
My name is Suebin Ha and I am from South Korea. I completed my Bachelor of Education (Tchg) in Early Childhood Education at the University of Auckland.

I am passionate about building respectful relationships with children. I believe that children's achievements, curiosity, and exploration should be respected and appreciated. As our children take their first careful steps into the world, I hope to stay with them every step of the way, guiding them and paving their way with fun and memories that they shall cherish all through their lives.

Kanza (Preschool Tahi Teacher)
My name is Kanza and I am one of the teachers in the preschool Tahi room. I graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and have worked with BestStart for almost 7 years. I have a commitment to providing exceptional care to children, as well as forming trustworthy relationships with families and whanau to create a positive and rich learning environment. 

I come from a very cultural background therefore I strongly believe that all children should be included and supported culturally, emotionally, and physically to encourage their sense of belonging and wellbeing. I want to encourage children to take leadership roles to support the development of the most essential self-help skills, this amazes me every time to see how much potential they have and how I can support them further

Hina (Centre Chef)
My Name is Hina Irfan Ali and I am a professional Chef for BestStart Stoddard Road. I am originally from Pakistan and came to New Zealand in 2006. I am a firm believer in continuous improvement in my personal and professional life.

I have done a Master of Arts in Sociology and an MBA (Marketing) to improve my knowledge in a business and social context as well as a Certificate in Professional Cookery from AUT. I am always keen to refine my art of cooking by exploring new recipes that are healthy & tasty. My experience has also included adjusting recipes to comply with the requirements of the kids with allergies or food intolerances and it goes without saying that I always maintain the highest standards of food hygiene.

Husna (Preschool Tahi Teacher)
My name is Husna Fatima and I am a permanent teacher in Preschool Tahi. I graduated from the University of Auckland’ with a Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education).

As an educator, I believe that every child is special and deserves to receive a caring, respectful, secure, and stimulating environment through which children are nurtured physically, emotionally, intellectually, and socially. I also believe that self-discovery is very important as it provides the opportunity for children to generate ideas, set goals for themselves, and create a quality learning environment for the community of diverse learners.

Dilpreet (Preschool Rua Teacher)
My name is Dilpreet, I have recently joined Best Start as a Teacher in Training.  I have studied Bachelor’s in Mathematics and a Bachelor’s in Education from the University of Delhi, India, and have 5 years of teaching experience. 

The excitement of working with the early learners makes me dedicated towards incorporating and encouraging intellectual and social development in the children. I believe that working in a positive environment will make a difference in my life. I will contribute as much as I can to shape a better world for the children and empower them with knowledge.