Meet the team at St Albans

Piwakawaka/Nursery: 

• Tracee (2IC) – Qualified Years in childcare: 19 years including 2.5 years teaching overseas in Italy, Japan and England. Also a mum. 

Activity I like to do with the tamariki/value I like to teach: Supporting the tamariki to bring out their individual personality. Something I love to do outside of work: Traveling and skiing.

• Danielle (Danny) – Qualified Years in childcare: 9 years including 3 years working specifically with children with special needs and spent time volunteering in a Kindy in Fiji.

Activity I like to do with the tamariki/value I like to teach: Art and mini science experiments. Something I love to do outside of work: Camping/hiking and Judo. 

Pukeko/Preschool:

• Maria – Qualified Years in childcare: 30 years. Also a mum of 2.

Activity I like to do with the tamariki/value I like to teach: Supporting the tamariki with social/emotional development. Gardening with the tamariki. Something I love to do outside of work: Spending time with family and friends. 

• Kathryn – Qualified Years in childcare: 14 years. Also a mum of 4.

Activity I like to do with the tamariki/value I like to teach: Messy Play! Something I love to do outside of work: Going to the beach and reading books 

• Neen – Qualified Years in childcare: 9 years including 10months in Singapore and 5+ years in Japan.

Activity I like to do with the tamariki/value I like to teach: Singing and Dancing with the tamariki and art. Something I love to do outside of work: Photography, traveling and eating out. 

• Tina – Teacher in Training Years in childcare: 7 years in a preschool as well as a homecare setting. Also a mum.

Activity I like to do with the tamariki/value I like to teach: Reading stories. Something I love to do outside of work: Play music and gardening. 

Support Staff:

• Liss – Centre Manager - Qualified Years in childcare: 20 years, 7 as centre manager at BestStart St Albans and many years as a 2IC/room leader. Also a mum of 3.

Part of my role I love: Being able to support and mentor others. Activity I like to do with the tamariki/value I like to teach: Messy play! Something I love to do outside of work: Going on walks with my family and reading books.

• Jameela – Maternity Cover Years in childcare: 1.5 years as a reliever with BestStart. Also a mum.

Activity I like to do with the tamariki/value I like to teach: Art, playing games and dancing with the tamariki. Something I love to do outside of work: I spend a lot of time working on my thesis on diverse learners and inclusivity in New Zealand schools. I also enjoy reading, writing and traveling New Zealand with my family. 

• Kiran – Caregiver (Both Rooms) - On Maternity Leave Years in childcare: 7 years including 3 years teaching in a primary school in India. Also a mum.

Activity I like to do with the tamariki/value I like to teach: You will always find me outside with the tamariki doing activities. Something I love to do outside of work: Exploring New Zealand with my family.

• Sammie - Cook Years in my field: 12 years in the food industry, 10 years as a chef of different grades. Also a mum.

Part of my role I love: Hiding secret vegetables in the food/kai that the tamariki love. Also love being able to sit down and enjoy meals with the tamariki. Something I love to do outside of work: Not having to cook. 

• Sarah - Admin Years in my field: 29 years admin experience and 3.5 years of that was also teaching experience, supporting in the classrooms here. Also a mum of 3.

Part of my role I love: I enjoy building relationships with the families and bonding with the children/tamariki Something I love to do outside of work: Reading and gardening.