Staff

At PMK we have purposefully selected our teachers for their commitment to the Montessori philosophy, their diverse skills, talents and experiences they bring to their role, contributing to the creation of a strong, passionate and committed team.

To us, TEAM means:
Together
Everyone
Achieves
More

PMK teachers see education as a journey not a race. We believe that each teacher is a leader in their strength and our children are both initiators and leaders of learning. We demonstrate collaboration and reflection while actively encouraging and engaging with our community in the learning process.

Our teachers see themselves as partners in discovery and co-constructors of knowledge as we scaffold learning and guide participation. We role model on-going learning, our centre values and respect for each other and our environment.

 

 

Canaan (Owner/Manager/Teacher)

Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education), University of Auckland, NZ

Post-Graduate Diploma of Business (Human Resource Management), University of Auckland, NZ

Bachelor of Arts, University of Auckland, NZ

Fully Certificated Teacher

Canaan’s background prior to joining PMK brings to our team a strong understanding of the Reggio Emilia approach and experience as both a Lead Teacher and a Centre Supervisor.  This experience meshes well with our Montessori approach. Canaan holds a Graduate Diploma of Teaching (ECE) and a Post-Graduate Diploma of Human Resource Management along with a Bachelor of Arts. Canaan studied Montessori Education for two years with the Aperfield Montessori Trust.

Canaan seeks to facilitate an environment where children feel safe to challenge, query, take risks, ask “why” and explore their skills as natural researchers while engaging in meaning making about their world. She believes in empowering children to make decisions about their learning and in presenting them with provocations to explore new learning.

A parent to two sons and one daughter, Canaan appreciates the “ages and stages” of both pre-schoolers and school aged children, bringing this understanding to her daily work with our PMK tamariki.

 

Alexia (Assistant Manager)

Bachelor of Teaching, Early Childhood Education. New Zealand Tertiary College.

Provisionally Certificated Teacher.

I’m passionate and enthusiastic about the value of authentic and rich childhood education. I believe each tamariki and whanau bring their own culture and knowledge to centre environments. Social equity and fairness are paramount to me, as I feel all children have unlimited potential.

I believe as kaiako/teachers it is our role to provide a welcoming supportive, fair, respectful and inclusive environment for all whom enter. I value manaakitanga and believe kaiako/teachers should work in partnerships with the families of our tamariki, because children’s families are usually at the core of their little worlds and have extensive valuable insights about their child.

I strongly connect with kaupapa māori and advocate/ practise treaty-based practice. I feel strong connections to kaupapa values which consist of caring for our environment and seeing the child as a divine spark.

I look forward to working alongside my team with your wonderful tamariki/children.

 

 

Diana (Teacher)

Bachelor of Education (Teaching), University of Auckland

Provisionally Certificated Teacher

Kia ora tamariki and whanau. I am a very proud mother of four children ranging from young teenagers to young adults.

I have always loved working with children and when I embarked on my OE at the age of 18, I spent 8 years nannying in London and still have strong connections to the families and my charges. More recently I spent several years working at Eden Campus school for teenage mothers which was run by Auckland Girls Grammar School. It was here I realised that I wanted to be involved in children’s care and education so I decided to study and gain a teaching qualification in early childhood education.

I am passionate about children’s learning and love to see them grow, learn and explore. I believe that children learn alongside each other in a safe, nurturing environment and that all children are capable, confident, and competent learners.

I recognise the holistic way in which children learn and I value the principles and strands of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. I believe that children are their own first teachers, with the second being their parents and myself, and the third being nature where they can explore and experiment to find their own answers and make their own decisions. Given the right resourses in the right environment they are able to explore their interests with the guidance of the teacher.

 

 

Durga (Teacher)

Bachelor of Education (Teaching), University of Auckland

Fully Certificated Teacher

Kia Ora and Namaste

My name is Durga devi Toolap. I am Nepali born and grew up in Malaysia, and now I call New Zealand my home. I am a mother of two gorgeous boys and I absolutely love spending my time with them. Juggling parenting and working alongside children has helped me become the person I am today.

Teaching and learning are co-related and essential throughout life! Every day is a new learning experience for me. I believe that learning is holistic process; through collaboration with children and peers, through observation, discoveries and constant reflection. I believe, just like the many strands in Te Whariki, learning and teaching weaves into the practice. Therefore, as a Kaiako, the holistic approach is essential in my life, as a lifelong learner, teaching and learning alongside others. For me personally, inclusiveness is one of the holistic approaches that I believe is crucial. Inclusion encompasses gender, ethnicity, diversity, values, etc.

I wish to support children and families by providing and creating an environment that promotes collective learning and care.

Tai (Teacher)

Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education), University of Auckland, NZ

Bachelor of Physical Education, University of Auckland, NZ

Provisionally Certificated Teacher

Kia ora, my name is Tai and I’m a proud wahine Māori from Te Arawa, Kai Tahu and Ngāti Raukawa iwi. I grew up in rural north-west Auckland which instilled in me a strong love for both community and our precious natural environment. I’ve also got a huge passion for sports and adventurous activities, and growing up, that kept me busy all year round with surf club at Muriwai in the summer and hockey at North Harbour in the winter.

I carry all my passions with me into my teaching as I believe the values and lessons they have taught me align with the fundamentals of early childhood education. When tamariki are able to explore different environments, build connections with others, feel apart of a community whānau and enjoy fun-filled experiences their opportunities for learning and development are endless. As a kaiako, I strive to support tamariki to be brave, kind and creative individuals with open minds to navigate their world. I also use holistic thinking and teaching methods to understand and provide for children’s diverse and individual needs.

He aha te mea nui o te ao? What is the most important thing in the world? He tangata, it is the people. Nō reira, tēnā koutou katoa

 

Shelley (Owner/Director/Relief Teacher)

Master of Educational Administration (Honours), Massey University, NZ

Diploma of Teaching (Primary), Christchurch Teachers’ College, NZ

Fully Certificated Teacher

Shelley is the owner/director and a teacher who purposefully chose to move from the primary sector where she held a senior leadership role, to the early childhood sector because she wanted to make a difference in early learning through working among our younger learners within the preschool environment. With significant experience in the ‘transition to school process’ and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and several years of teaching internationally within the private sector, she brings both leadership and teaching skills specific to the ‘early years’ of education.

A strong background in the acquisition of early literacy and numeracy skills and a knowledge of what makes for a successful transition to school assists Shelley in ensuring our programme represents our children’s on-going interests and needs. She is committed to reflecting and aligning the Montessori Philosophy within the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum, Te Whāriki.

Shelley is a parent to three adult daughters and grandparent to five active learners. She understands the joys and challenges of parenting in today’s world!