Maria Tuiā – Pemerika

ELC Team Leader/Professional Leader

From Maria:

Talofa Lava! I am a New Zealand-born Samoan, born and raised in Glen Innes, East Auckland. My husband PJ and I have 5 children and bought our house in Papakura in 2018. Papakura is now our home and we love it here.

I come from a family of Early Childhood Educators, so my passion for working alongside children started at a very young age. I have over 18 years' experience working in the Early Childhood Sector. I have been in leadership and management roles in a variety of Early Childhood settings. From Kindergartens, Community-based centres, privately owned centres and Early Learning Centres under a large organisation. I am a fully registered and qualified Educator, and an Associate Teacher for teachers in training.

I believe in respective practice and that my role as a Kaiako is to support and foster children’s learning, engagement and wellbeing in order for them to flourish.

 

    

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Zowie Elkington

Qualified and Registered Teacher

From Zowie:

Kia Ora Koutou. I am married with 5 children, I was born in Flaxmere, Hastings. I have been in Papakura for 18 years.

 What experience do you have with children?

After my oldest child was born,  I attend a PORSE course while he was one year old and I received a Certificate in Early Childhood. I started my full-time study in 2018, when I began volunteering at Great Potentials Early Learning Centre, Papakura, as a teacher in training. I was also the Playgroup Co-ordinator at the Takanini Family Service Centre for 5 years.

I gained my Bachelor of Teaching Early Childhood Education in 2019.

My Interests include spending time with my family, keeping fit, watching movies and eating.