Meet the Team

Amanda

Centre Manager/Director

Kia Ora, I’m Amanda and although my role as the centre manager/director is primarily based around the operations and administration side of the centre, I thoroughly enjoy joining the team and participating in the classroom and often find myself reading stories, playing with the Lego or exploring the world through the eyes of the children through the use of an atlas. I’m particularly passionate about working in the Vege Garden and taking our children for walks to explore our local area.

My dedication lies in helping Kiwi kids thrive, learn and generally grow up to be wonderful people. I strive to create an environment that nurtures not only our children and families but also our educators. I am incredibly proud of the whole CPELC team for playing such an important part in guiding our preschool-aged children through the beginning stages of their journey through life and thankful to be able to support this.

Megan

Professional Services Leader

As a qualified Kaiako with over 24 years of experience in the Early Childhood and Adult education sector, I join the team here at Central Park Early Learning Centre with a passion for the care and education of our Tamariki and the growth and development of the Kaiako.
Through my years in the education sector, my journey has taken me through all the stages from being a student kaiako right through to being a Centre Manager of a busy Early Childhood Centre for 3 years across the other side of Tāmaki Makaurau.

I am passionate about helping the community and have been a senior crew, medic and skipper in training for the Auckland Coast Guard for 25 years.

My beliefs around taitamaiti development are based on the “Reggio” approach where the vision of the taitamaiti is that of a competent learner and a strong taitamaiti-directed curriculum in which kaiako follow the tamariki interests and also a belief that tamariki learn through interaction with others, including parents, staff and peers in a friendly learning environment.

I believe that as kaiako we should provide a warm, safe, friendly and respectful space where tamariki can learn through play while interacting in a natural, home-like environment that has been purposefully set to meet the dispositions/ needs and interests of all the tamariki.

Elfie

Senior Head Kaiako

Malo e lelei, Guten Tag Tamariki and Whānau

I’m Elfriede (Elfie) and  I’ve been working at CPELC for over 8 years now and absolutely love it. I have had the love for educating our tamariki since I can remember, one of my priorities is to build strong relationships not only with our tamariki but their whānau also. I believe that every child is unique and it’s my goal to ensure that they feel confident and have a sense of belonging when they step out in the world.

Our staff would describe me as one of the children with a bit of maturity, I love the outdoors and getting messy with our tamariki. I class myself as a big family orientated person with a love for all cultures.

Danielle

Room Head Kaiako

Kia ora! My name is Danielle and I am the head kaiako of the Piwakawaka and Kereru rooms. I am qualified and registered and I have always been passionate about working with infants and toddlers. I believe that building respectful relationships with the tamariki and whānau in my care is the most important thing to support them in developing their sense of belonging and trust within their environment. My interests outside of work include spending time with my family and friends, taking my puppy for walks, cooking and reading.

Divia

Room Head Kaiako

Kia Ora,
My name is Divia and I am the Head Teacher in the Ruru Room. I have been working with tamariki for six years and for four of them I have had the pleasure of helping to educate tamariki at Central Park ELC. I have always enjoyed building strong connections with each individual taitamaiti (child) and their whānau so that we can be certain that we provide a comfortable, homely environment for everyone.

My priority is to help tamariki achieve a sense of happiness, confidence & fulfillment in their everyday life.

As Head Teacher, I work alongside my team to ensure we are providing educational experiences that relate to what is going on in the world around us and that provide the tamariki with skills to become lifelong learners.

Hilda

Kaiako  – Ruru Room

Talofa

My name is Hilda, and I have over ten years of rewarding experience as an Early Childhood teacher. Being both a mother and a grandmother enriches my approach, adding a special touch of warmth. My passion lies in working with preschoolers, as I truly believe that the best learning occurs when tamariki are having fun. Each day, I aim to create an enriching environment where education and happiness go hand in hand. Through activities like dance, music, and creative play, I love to engage our tamariki, igniting their imagination and curiosity. Books play a significant role in my life, feeding my creativity and passion for storytelling. I’m excited to share this love with the tamariki and inspire them to develop a fondness for reading from a young age. As a creative individual, I enjoy designing experiences that are both fun and educational. I look forward to meeting and forming strong connections with all whānau. Working alongside my team, my goal is to provide learning experiences that connect with the real world, nurturing confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning in the tamariki.

Aisha

Registered Kaiako  – Ruru Room

Ngā mihi niu ki a koutou katoa.

I am Aisha, a proud Māori descendent from the far north who also carries Samoan, Fijian and Dutch heritage.

There are a couple of achievements that give me great joy in life. The first is having my two beautiful daughters and the other is holding a Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education. I thoroughly enjoy working with 2 – 5/6 year old tamariki and am passionate about teaching Māori, Reo and Kaupapa.

Multicultural practices/ languages and P.E are also interests I hold.

Suzanne

Registered Kaiako – Ruru Room

Kia ora my name is Suzanne.

I have been working as an early childhood teacher for 16 years. I have been working at Central Park Early Learning Centre for 5 years. I enjoy building relationships with the tamariki and getting to know them and their interests. I enjoy being invited to join in with tamariki play and seeing their imagination, confidence and independence grow and develop.

My own interests include craft, knitting, reading, walking and spending time with my five beautiful grandchildren.

Lorraine

Kaiako – Ruru Room

I’m Lorraine known as Lolo,

I’ve been part of the Central Park Early Learning team since 2019, where I bring my fun-loving personality and a penchant for jokes to the classroom. Whether it’s diving into messy play or tackling challenging activities, I encourage resilience in every taitamaiti (child). Beyond academics, I’m passionate about helping tamariki settle well into the centre and building strong, meaningful relationships with not only myself and the other Kaiako but also with other Ākonga.

Kim

Kaiako – Kereru/ Piwakawaka Room

Hello my name is Kim.

I started my journey here at CPELC in 2023. I am currently working in the Kereru room and enjoying every moment. My focus is on providing a safe and nurturing environment were tamariki can learn and explore freely. I look forward to working alongside all of the tamariki and whānau to create a positive and engaging learning environment.

Rashmi

Kaiako – Kereru/ Piwakawaka Room

Hello,  My Name is Rashmi, and I recently relocated from South Africa in April 2023. My hometown is the sunny Durban.

I’m a Piwakawaka room kaiako with a background in Health and Safety. Now that my own tamariki are grown, I’ve found joy in sharing my love and attention with tamariki  in the early childhood sector. I have a gentle and caring personality, and I’m passionate about building strong relationships with our pēpē (Infants) and creating a safe and loving environment for them. In my free time, I love exploring New Zealand with my whānau and enjoying nature.

Maggie

Kaiako – Kereru/ Piwakawaka Room

My name is Yuyue Wang, but you can call me Maggie. I come from Fujian, one of the southernmost provinces in China. My name means “happy rain” in Chinese, and I’m excited to bring my warmth and enthusiasm to the children in our care.

I have completed my Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education and will be registered soon. My passion for teaching has been a driving force in my life; I previously worked as an English teacher in China, where I discovered the joy of nurturing young minds.

I believe in the Reggio Emilia philosophy and am committed to creating a loving, safe, and stimulating environment for our under-2s. My goal is to foster a sense of belonging and  curiosity in our tamariki, ensuring that each day is filled with smiles and learning opportunities.

I look forward to building strong relationships with all the whānau and working together to support our little ones on their learning journeys. I’m thrilled to be part of this wonderful community!

Amy

Kaiako – Kereru/ Piwakawaka Room

(Maternity Leave)

Kia Ora, my name is Amy and I am a Kaiako in the Piwakawaka & Kererū room.

Since working at CPELC I have gained a fair amount of experience and knowledge and I really enjoy working with the infants and toddlers and watching them learn and grow. Since having my son Felix, it truly ignited my interest in child development and working alongside tamariki. I enjoy getting to know each individual taitamaiti and learning about their strengths and interests. I believe it’s important to build strong relationships with whānau and pride myself on doing so.

Shalisha

Centre Chef

Kia Ora koutou katoa

My name is Shalisha and I am the cook here at CPELC. I have been a centre chef for 2 years and really enjoy that I get to cook nutritious meals for our tamariki. I am a mother of two beautiful boys. In my spare time I love to go on adventures with my whānau and play/watch sports. I was born in Auckland but raised in Kaitaia. I am of Māori & Niuean decent and love to learn about other cultures.

 

Tena koutou, Tena koutou Tena tatou katoa!