Our People

How long have you been working in the sector?

Eleven years.

What do you love most about what you do?

I’m passionate about forming relationships with tamariki and whanau and making a difference for them. I love watching children grow and learn and also enjoy inspiring our kaiako.

What makes Lollipops Tauranga special?

• The cultural diversity of our community of learners and teachers
• Our dedicated and passionate team of kaiako
• Our purpose built centre with large learning environments

What’s your favourite time of year at the centre?

I especially enjoy celebrating with our tamariki and their whanau, whether it’s a cultural event, a birthday, or any other special occasion.

Bachelor of Teaching – Early Childhood Education

Now I have been teaching for over 13 years with experience in all age groups.
My passion for teacher stems from my love of seeing children grow and giving them the right tools to be lifelong learners.
I feel truly blessed to be given this responsibility and look forward to getting to know all the upcoming whānau.

I believe in providing a safe, inclusive and entertaining environment for our tamariki. As when we feel safe and are included we can express our individuality and be free to learn at our own pace.
I believe in providing exciting and fun ways for tamariki to learn through play and movement.
I believe in providing encouragement and praise to help our tamariki to continue to grow their skills and to have the confidence to try new things and the excitement of learning new skills and achieving new goals.

I am originally from the U.K and came over to N.Z in 2009 where I trained as a primary school teacher. I am now fully registered and have a graduate diploma in Early Childhood Education.
I have taught in a variety of environments including early childhood, primary, youth church ministry and teaching adult immigrants English.
My passion for teaching equals my passion for learning and I strive to encourage children to be lifelong learners too.
I enjoy the simple things in life such as walking around my local wetlands area and caring for my rabbits Geoff and Dom who are frequent visitors to the centre.
I feel blessed to teach our precious tamariki and to help them discover the wonders of life and learning. I hope as a teacher I have been a positive influence as they embark on their learning

I have lived in Tauranga for about 8 years with my family.
I graduated from NZTC in Auckland and I completed my Post graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education.
I have been an ECE teacher for more than 8 years.
I believe that every child is unique and has their own interests and learning needs.
My role as an ECE teacher will be consider and respect children’s individuality and needs in their explorations; and to facilitate every child in developing their own learning capabilities

I began my career as an Education Support Worker, for the Ministry of Education, working alongside whanau and tamariki with special needs. This peaked my passion for working with young children and inspired me to gain my Bachelor of Education and follow my dream. I have been working with toddlers and preschoolers since then and have a creative side that is evident in my teaching and the activities I offer.

While working predominantly with the preschool aged children I have developed an interest with the transition to school. I have been involved in building relationships with local schools in the centres I have worked, aspiring to make these transitions as smooth as possible between the two different facilities for the children in my care.

My journey into cooking started right after I left school when I studied Professional Cookery at BOP Polytech. My husband and I owned a cafe at the young age of 21, which was a wonderful experience in hospitality and taught us all about work ethic and commitment.
Cooking, for me, is all about home-style comfort. As a mum to three teenage boys, I know how important it is to serve up hearty, wholesome meals. At Lollipops, I feel incredibly privileged to cook for our precious tamariki. The staff here are amazing-we're a great team.
So, whether it's our yummy Pom Pom Pie, baking a batch of fresh muffins or filling the rooms with the smell of delicious waffles, I pour my heart into every dish. For me, it's all about creating that homely, welcoming atmosphere for everyone who walks through our doors.