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Our People

Andrea Louw
Andrea Louw , Centre Manager

What inspires you about working within the ECE profession?

Nurturing, guiding, and supporting children has always been a natural passion of mine from a very young age. Growing up, travelling as a young person, volunteering, or within my profession, I have always been drawn to wanting to make a difference in the lives of children.  My passion led me to gain a degree in Psychology with recent study towards a Master’s in Educational and Developmental Psychology which has only reinforced my desire to want to positively influence children’s education during the most critical years of their growth and development.

What do you love most about what you do?

I am a strong advocate for providing opportunity for all children to thrive at each stage of their development to foster lifelong learners.  I just love seeing children’s potential unfold as they are encouraged to recognise their strengths and learn skills to problem solve and build relationships with others.

 

What is your favourite time at the centre?

Every time I see children experience success whether it’s achieving a milestone, overcoming a challenge, problem solving, positive expression or making a new friend, I feel joy, and experiencing joyful moments are my favourite times at the centre.

What is your personal ECE philosophy?

Children learn more by what they see and how they are made to feel than by the words they hear, therefore I believe personal values of integrity, kindness and respect for others is a responsibility of adults to role model to children to instil confidence and belonging that when nurtured will grow confident competent learners that have a strong sense of belief in the positive contribution of their abilities and their value to the world around them.

Where can we find you when you’re not at work?

I love to spend time with my husband and 3 children.  We are quite an active family and love the outdoors and having a BBQ every weekend. I also love running and spending time in nature.

Bachelor of Science (Psychology)

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Candice Mcdermott Administrator
Candice McDermott, Centre Administrator
Addy Collins Centre Cook
Addy, Centre Chef

Hi I am Addy and a mother of two girls and a childhood carer. I have always had a passion in helping nurture young minds. I combine my own love with food and cooking making sure all our children have delicious and nutritious food and meals  while they are here each day. I enjoy being active and playing sports especially tennis.  

Kiwi Room (Infants)

Jessica Salmond HT Kiwi Room Infants
Jessica , Head Teacher- Kiwi Room

Kia Ora, Hello! 

My name is Jess, and I am a Kiwi, born and raised here in Auckland, New Zealand. I grew up on the beautiful Hibiscus Coast and now live on a lifestyle block alongside my family. I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, and I also spend a lot of time down in the beautiful Coromandel. I am a fully registered teacher with a Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) and graduated in 2018. 

I have always had a passion for children so when I left school there was no doubt, I would be a teacher however throughout my primary degree I noticed that I was drawn to working with the younger Tamariki (children) so when I graduated I decided to give Early Childhood Education a try and I have been working with our youngest Tamariki ever since! 

I believe that building reciprocal and respectful relationships with our Tamariki and whanau is the foundation for a successful learning journey for all. This foundation allows children to feel safe, grow, develop and explore as they embark on each new stage of their learning. I thoroughly enjoy engaging in messy play and seeing the joy, wonder and curiosity on our Tamariki's faces as they engage in new experiences. 

I am so lucky to be part of an incredible team here at AEG Kea and am looking forward to being part of your child's learning journey and getting to know you, your child and your whanau. 

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Jena Kruger Teacher Kiwi Room
Jena, Teacher

Hi! I am Jena, I am a Kiwi and was born and raised on Auckland's North Shore. I have worked at Active Explorers since 2022 and have 7 years’ experience as a nanny both in New Zealand and in the United Kingdom. I enjoy spending time with my family and live on a lifestyle block with my dog, Blue. Having a friendly, open relationship with children and their families is an important part of my job and is something that is important to me too. I enjoy watching our children learn and develop and am happy to be part of the AEG Kea team.

Tiwaiwaka Room (Toddlers)

Karen Redit Tiwaiwaka Room Toddlers
Karen, Head Teacher/Certified Teacher

Kia Ora/Kamusta, my name is Karen Redit.

I am pleased to be in the AEG Kea team, as a kaiako (teacher) in Tiwaiwaka (Fantail) Room! A little bit about me, I was born in the Philippines, my whānau moved to Aotearoa when I was a child. I have been teaching for over 10 years with experience in Primary and Early Childhood Education. As an educator I live to learn. I am passionate about holistic learning through positive partnerships (with tamariki, whānau and kaiako). Meaningful relationships are one of my core values within my personal philosophy, because I believe that reciprocity (whānaungatanga, ako, tuakana-teina, taha tinana) enriches mana and nourishes hauora, which encourages life-long learning.

I am looking forward to developing these great relationships with you all.

Ngā Mihi Maioha 

Bo Yu Toddler Room
Bo Yu, Teacher

Kia Ora,

My name is Bo Yu, and I am a teacher in the Fantail Room. I am fluent in both English and Mandarin. With over six years of experience working with children, I am dedicated to creating a secure and stimulating environment where every child can learn and grow. As a mother of two, I truly believe that every child is a unique gem deserving of love and care.

In my free time, I enjoy exploring libraries, museums, zoos, and beaches with my family, and I have a passion for cooking.

I look forward to meeting you and collaborating to support and inspire our Tamariki!

Ellen Suh Toddler And Infant Room
Ellen, Teacher

Tui Room (Preschool)

Tui Room HT Ravina Toor
Ravina , Head Teacher/Certified Teacher

Kia Ora

My name is Ravina Toor. I am originally from India, was a high school teacher for two years and a secondary registered teacher in New Zealand. I moved to New Zealand in 2018 for further education. I completed my Graduate Diploma in Teaching Early Childhood Education in 2022.

Listening to children’s stories is what I love the most. I believe that children are born competent, unique and learn holistically at their own pace. I love being around children and believe that the environment is the third teacher fostering positivity, safety, fun and laughter for all Tamariki.

Peter Li CT Tui Room
Peter, Certified Teacher

Kia Ora and Nihao,

I am Peter, a dedicated preschool teacher who comes from China with a diverse educational background. My academic journey began in the UK where I pursued a bachelor’s degree in business management, and later, I attained a master’s degree in accounting in New Zealand. However, it was during my study at the New Zealand Tertiary College, where I graduated with a qualification in early childhood teaching in 2022, that I discovered my true calling. With 3 years of enriching experience in preschool teaching, I am ardently committed to nurturing young minds.

I wholeheartedly believe in the endless potential every child holds to learn and grow. My daily interactions with children are not just a teaching experience, but a learning endeavor for me as well, as I enjoy growing alongside them. I have a knack for identifying children’s interests, and I cherish the opportunity to delve into exploratory learning experiences tailored around those interests.

Apart from my teaching endeavors, I am a fervent painter, an interest that I often intertwine with my teaching methodology to create a vibrant and engaging learning environment. My aim is to not only guide young minds on their learning journey but to make it as colourful and enjoyable as possible. By fostering a curious and explorative mindset, I aim to contribute to laying a solid foundation for lifelong learning in the tender years of childhood, making each day a meaningful step towards endless discovery.

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Candy Zheng CT Tui Room
Candy , Certified Teacher

Kia ora! I’m Candy. I come from China and I’m fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. I have been educated in New Zealand since high school. I have a Bachelor of Business Studies and a Graduate Diploma in ECE Teaching. I am a qualified and fully registered early childhood teacher and I have been teaching since 2012.

 

I am passionate about teaching young children lifelong skills through encouragement and scaffolding. I believe that every child has unique talent and abilities, and therefore to be inclusive with different cultures and diverse needs is important in my practice. It is a privilege to be part of children’s learning journeys, and I have enjoyed growing and learning together with them through fun and creative teaching experiences.

I enjoy baking, going for road trips, and spending time with my family. Look forward to meeting you all

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