Our People ~ Who we are

Victoria

Centre Manager:

Kia ora koutou, I hail from Santa Cruz, California and have lived in Aotearoa for the past 19 years. I raised my two now grown daughters Zoe and Tess in Kawhia on the West Coast, King Country. It is an area that we continue to cherish.

I was previously a Curriculum Leader at Tui Whare (2012-2016) and am very excited to return to this beautiful philosophy and way of being with tamariki. I hold a graduate diploma of teaching ece, post graduate diploma in education along with a Steiner ECE diploma. My role is of a dual nature, supporting our Kaiako and tamariki on the floor as well as managing the operational side of things alongside our Team Leader.

Cheryl

Team Leader:

Hi, my name is Cheryl and I have been caring and nurturing the children of Kowhai Tui Childcare for the past ten years.  I have a degree in Childcare and a Steiner teaching diploma, both of these have educated me in following my desire to help our young children learn and grow from the environment in which we live in.  I am the mum of two grown up daughters and two grandsons, one of whom attends Tui Whare.  I enjoy waking up in the morning to come to work and feel a great satisfaction on the joy and learning I have helped your children achieve.  Arohanui.

 

Stephanie

Teacher: Tui Whare

Kia Ora, my name is Stephanie. I have worked at Kowhai Tui Childcare for the last 10 years.  I currently hold a degree in Early Childhood Education and am currently studying for my diploma in Steiner Education.

I have been married for the last 5 years and have an amazing stepson.

I enjoy learning and growing alongside the children and exploring ways in which I can expand their learning and development in their everyday lives. (:

Genine

Teacher: Tui Whare

Hi, my name is Genine and am very proud of my Croatian heritage.  I have had two years of ece study.  I have two boys and two grandchildren.  I have lived in Hamilton for all my life.  I have also lived in Australia for 1 year but found that I missed my family and came back home.  I have been here at Kowhai Tui Childcare for 6 years and really enjoy my time working with the Kowhai Tui team, families and children.

 

Rajita

Teacher: Kowhai Whare

 Namaste, my name is Rajita and I am from India.  I started teaching here last August as a reliever and now am a full-time permanent teacher.  I have two sons, ages 8 and 12 and they are enrolled in a local school.  I am passionate about children and supporting children with their learning and developmental needs.

 

Jess

Teacher: Tui Whare

Hi, I'm Jess, I've been a teacher in Tui whare for the past year and a half. I have spent my whole life in Steiner Education. I went to the Waikato Waldorf School up the road until year 8 and then went to high school. I missed the loving Steiner community and way of doing things, so I came back to Kowhai whare as a reliever and soon started full time. I absolutely love working here spending my days with your awesome tamariki. I couldn't think of anywhere I’d rather work.

 

Justine

Centre Cook:

Justine has been with us over twelve years as our beloved and quirky chef! She adores working with the children and cooking for them. Justine enjoys maintaining our veggie gardens too! She also supplies a selection of chutneys, lemon honey and hummus. She has two daughters and two grandsons.

Yvonne

Office and Accounts Administrator

Yvonne has worked for the centre since 2012 . She has been a big part of our Waldorf community with her 3 grown children all attending the kindergarten and school beginning in 2004.  

Yvonne brings a lovely presence to this place and is always more than happy to help our parents and team out where she can.