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Our Family Early Learning
Debby - Centre Owner / Manager 🇳🇿
Kia ora, I'm Debby and I have lived in Auckland all my life. I have been teaching for over twenty years, my passion is to work alongside children ensuring they have the opportunity and resources to reach their full potential while feeling empowered, capable, confident, and independent in all that they do. It is also important to me that our families feel well supported and a valued part of OUR FAMILY and the Sunnynook community. I have been married to Dale since 1994, and have two adult children, Brendon is a mechanical engineer and Bex has a business degree, majoring in marketing at AUT and has just completed her teaching degree. Dale is also a friendly face here, as he is responsible for maintenance and often visits. I enjoy going for long beach or bush walks, cooking, and travelling the South Island. It is my passion to work alongside children and our families. Parenting can be so exciting, fun and rewarding, however, it can also be hard. Being a centre owner gives me the opportunity to listen to and support our families with many life issues that come up. I love working with the children and get a sense of fulfilment when I observe our tamariki becoming inquisitive, and curious as they lead their own learning.
What is on your bucket list?
To follow my Mum and Dad’s travel diary and explore the United Kingdom, (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).
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Morgan - Team Mentor 🇳🇿
Tēnā Koutou!
Ko Rangitoto te maunga.
Ko Pupuke te roto.
Ko Ngati pakeha tōku iwi.
Ko Greenhithe tōku turangawaewae.
Ko Morgan tōku ingoa.
Kia Ora, I’m Morgan, I have been working alongside tamariki and their whānau since I graduated in 2013. I have always been passionate about teaching, and I treasure the relationships I have formed over the years with our teaching team, tamariki and their whānau, who have helped shape me into the kaiako I am today. I have a deep love for learning and being challenged. I am passionate about Tikanga Māori, and I have studied Te Reo Māori at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa for two years. Some of my goals as a teacher are to guide our tamariki to develop their own love for learning, foster their curiosity and become strong in their sense of identity.
If you did not work in this industry, what field would you pursue?
Architecture
Angela - Senior Teacher 🇨🇳
Kia ora.
Ko Angela taku ingoa.
Nö Haina ahau.
Hi, I’m Angela and I am from China. I have been teaching at Our Family Early Learning since I completed my Bachelor of Education in 2017. My husband and I welcomed our first child, a beautiful baby girl in January 2022. I believe that every child is unique and should be treasured, loved, and valued. I am passionate about providing a loving, nurturing environment where our tamariki can flourish and grow to their greatest potential. I look forward to welcoming you and getting to know you and your whanau.
What is your best childhood memory?
I really enjoyed having summer time adventures and loved having different experiments with my brother. Things that came up to my mind are: finding and observing different bugs. Cutting an earthworm in half to see if it could actually survive was a vivid memory, and I could still remember how excited I was when I found out it actually became two worms. Counting between lighting and thunder was another favorite thing that we did. Growing our own vege garden and have the freshest radish whenever I wanted was truly the best thing! I love the pungent flavor as a kid. What can I say, nature is the best playground!
Ann - Senior Teacher 🇵🇭
Kia ora, I’m Ann! I am originally from the Philippines where I started teaching in the Early Childhood field since 2001. When I visited NZ in 2011 on a holiday, I instantly fell in love with this beautiful country, so I moved to Auckland in 2016, studied and gained my full NZ Teacher’s registration. Cultivating rich relationships with the children and their families have always given me a deep sense of fulfilment and joy. To support the children’s learning, strengths, interests, culture, and holistic development is such a privilege; and to witness their growth and achievements is beyond rewarding. I love how they constantly remind me to “stop and the smell the roses” and appreciate the simple joys in life. I am also passionate about creating positive changes in the learning community, and this drives me in my own lifelong learning and teaching journey. Besides preschool, I love travelling, exploring different cuisines, yoga, running and swimming.
What kitchen appliance do you use every day?Our barista coffee machine. I absolutely love the aroma and the satisfying sound of grinding my own coffee beans early in the morning. I find it so therapeutic. Enjoying a freshly-made coffee definitely elevates my mood and gets me ready for a brand new day!
What kitchen appliance do you use every day?Our barista coffee machine. I absolutely love the aroma and the satisfying sound of grinding my own coffee beans early in the morning. I find it so therapeutic. Enjoying a freshly-made coffee definitely elevates my mood and gets me ready for a brand new day!
Bex - Provisional Teacher 🇳🇿
Kia ora, I'm Bex, I was born and raised in Auckland! I have been relieving here casually since 2018, but upon completing my business degree in marketing I have decided to pursue my passion for teaching and have just finished studying! Alongside teaching, I also manage our centre's digital presence! Our Family Early Learning has an extremely special place in my heart, as I have grown up at this centre with my Mum, Debby.
I don't consider teaching "work", I love creating and strengthening the beautiful relationships with our kaiako ma, tamariki and whānau! Every single day is unique, equipped with its own set of challenges, fun and laughter and I treasure everyday spent with our awesome family! Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my boyfriend, friends and whānau, cooking, puzzles and music!
If you were to start a business, what would it be?
It would have to be some kind of early childhood resource business! I have always loved digital design and resource creation! I love taking a current interest or idea that myself, our team or tamariki have and how I can turn it into a learning experience that we can revisit again and again!
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Koral - Provisional Teacher 🇳🇿
Kia Ora!
Ko Koral taku ingoa
Ko Ngāti Awa te iwi
Ko Mataatua te waka
Ko Rangitaiki te awa
Ko Pūtauaki te maunga
Kia ora, my name is Koral and I was born and raised in Auckland. I started studying for my Bachelor of Education in 2020. I have always been passionate about working with children as we have the opportunity to observe and support them as they grow into confident and capable learners through creating caring and respectful bonds with them. I strive to give the tamariki experiences in a nurturing environment where they feel comfortable to explore. I grew up with two older brothers, one with cerebral palsy and many foster siblings throughout my younger years. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with family and friends, going out to eat, horse riding, and snuggling up with a good book!
What was the first concert you attended? The best concert?
My first concert was Beyonce with my mum and my best one I would have to say would be Billie Eilish
Kylene - Teacher in Training 🇦🇺
Kia ora,
Kō Kylene taku ingoa.
Ko Richard taku tāne.
Kei aku tamariki Juliet, Heidi, D’Artagnan and Aramis.
No Australia ahau.
Hello, I’m Kylene, an Australian-born New Zealander with a unique upbringing that took me from the striking red sands of the Northern Territory to New Zealand at the age of 10. I have four beautiful children and am still with my high school sweetheart. Every day, I embrace the excitement, fun, and adventure that teaching brings, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to make a difference in young lives. My deepest joy comes from igniting a love for learning in the children I have the privilege to teach. I can’t wait to embark on this educational journey with you and your family. So, welcome aboard, and let’s begin this exciting chapter together! Nau mai, haere mai!
What is the one thing that instantly makes your day better?
I love my job and my days, as amazing as they are, and I consider myself extremely lucky to have the days that I do, nothing can compare to the love and affection from my family, the hugs, love and affection that we show each other on a daily basis rock my world and they never fail to uplift my spirits!! We live each day like its our last and make sure we know how much we love each other.
Lindsey - Support Teacher 🇰🇷
Hello, I'm Lindsey. I am from Korea and I have recently joined Our Family Early Learning. I am looking forward to creating connections with the tamariki, whānau and teachers here. I have loved children since I was young, I liked playing with children and communicating with them, so I have dreamed of working with children naturally since I was young. I'm really excited to be here with Our Family.
What is your favorite random fact?I have mole right on the middle above my lips. Sometimes people tell me that something is on my philtrum, but I actually liked them. Because my grandmother told me it's good fortune to food. Even though it's not a fact, my mole is still my favourite random fact.
What is your favorite random fact?I have mole right on the middle above my lips. Sometimes people tell me that something is on my philtrum, but I actually liked them. Because my grandmother told me it's good fortune to food. Even though it's not a fact, my mole is still my favourite random fact.
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Julie - Cook / Teacher Aide 🇿🇦
Kia ora,I am Julie! I grew up in Zimbabwe then known as Rhodesia. I moved to South Africa in 1994 before immigrating to New Zealand in 2003. My husband and I married in 2002 and have a young adult son. I enjoy cooking healthy meals for the children and spending time chatting with them over the kitchen bench! I love the special relationships I make with our children! Outside of work, I enjoy watching movies, going to the beach and spending time with my family and good friends!
What is your favourite radio station?
I love ZM, the music is some of my favourite and the presenters are hilarious!
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