‘My teachers make me feel special!’
we are proud to be part of our little Tuatara whānau. Each one of us is unique but we make the perfect Tuatara puzzle. Our heart is right here, with the tamariki, at Tuatara Kids.
Head Teacher
Tena koutou katoa. Ko Rachael toku ingoa. No Ngati Porou au engari kei Wainuiomata au e noho ana.
My name is Rachael and I am from Ngati Porou and live in Wainuiomata. I gained my Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Educations in 2014 and have been the Head Teacher since 2019 at our sister centre Jack and Jill ELC. I have been appointed the Head Teacher for both centres in 2021 and it has brought wonderful opportunities for our Kaiako to work closer together for leveraging each other’s strengths.
The biggest satisfaction for me through this job are those light-bulb moments where our pepes first learnt something in life and I get to experience it with them. Their inquisitive minds always excite me. Outside work, I enjoy spending time with my own tamariki and my whanau. I am a mum of 3 boys and love watching their sports at the weekend. I have a green thumb. One of my happy places is in my garden, planting edible kai for those that I love. Arohanui.
Bachelor of teaching (ECE)
Fully registered
First Aid
Tena koutou katoa. Ko Kayla tōku ingoa.
Hello everyone, my name is Kayla and I am a kaiako and 2.I.C here at Tuatara Kids where I have been teaching since February 2022, after teaching in Porirua for over 7 years.
An aspect of teaching I really enjoy is setting up captivating, open-ended learning environments that invite exploration, creativity and imagination. I enjoy being part of some of their magic moments when they discover or achieve something new.
An important part of my teaching Kaupapa is believing that Tamariki need to be immersed in aroha and acceptance. I believe when you focus on enhancing a tamaiti’s mana that you bring out the best in them and build strong, confident, capable and resilient Tamariki.
When I’m not teaching, you’ll find me at the beach or exploring our beautiful hiking trails in Whanganui-a-tara, spending time with friends, or more recently training for a powerlifting comp.
Masters of Teaching and Learning (Primary)
Bachelor of Arts in Media and Education
Fully registered
First aid
Kia ora! Ko Violet toku ingoa.
My name is Violet and I trained as a Primary teacher and have experience teaching in a new entrant classroom. I have been at Tuatara Kids since January 2022 and have had the pleasure of teaching Tamariki from 9 months through to 6 years old.
I am passionate about education as well as social emotional learning and learning through play. I love building strong relationships with our Tamariki, whanau and the community to support them in their young years and instill skills, values and interests that may grow with them.
A whakatauki that I find particularly inspirational is- He rau ringa e oti ai. Many hands make light work. In an early learning setting I believe that the kaiako, whanau and Tamariki work together to support each child to become a successful, resilient, kind and caring person. It takes a village!
Outside of teaching I love being in nature, going for walks in our beautiful wider wellington area, traveling, photography and media.
Bachelor of teaching (ECE)
Fully registered
First aid
Kia ora, ko Lucy toku ingoa.
My name is Lucy and I have been teaching for over 10 years. In between teaching I lived in London where I worked as a Nanny and travelled to nearly 50 countries.
Establishing and maintaining warm and respectful relationships with Tamariki and their whanau are extremely important to me and I believe these relationships lay the foundations for lifelong learning and development. I am passionate in supporting childrens social and emotional competence and encouraging Tamariki to love and respect papatuanuku (our planet).
I am loving the journey of motherhood and in my spare time, I enjoy doing yoga, baking and spending time with my friends and whanau.
Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood)
Fully Registered
First aid
Kia ora! Ko Christina tōku ingoa.
My name is Christina and I am from China. We moved to Auckland in 2016, then Christchurch for a few years before coming to Wellington. I have been working in the early childhood education sector since 2017 and officially joined the warm whānau of Tuatara Kids from Oct 2023.
I believe that every child thrive with love, care, and meaningful learning experience that we enjoy together. I love watching our tamariki grow and develop with our love and support. It is such a privilege to be a part of their learning journeys!
Outside of teaching I love cooking and travelling. I enjoy playing badminton too. I love sharing my adventures with our little ones and I'm sure one day they will go even further to explore the bigger world!
Kaiako
Tena kotou katoa, ko Angela Toku ingoa.
Talofa everyone, I’m Angela and I am one of the faiaoga here at Tuatara Kids as well as key faiaoga for our under two pepe.
With over 14 years of experience in early education, I’ve come to see the world through a unique lens. I’m passionate about creating environments that inspire curiosity and encourage open-ended learning. I believe in empowering children to explore new things through play, and I’m always seeking to improve my teaching strategies.
One of the things I love about working at Tuatara Kids is seeing how our under twos and over twos learn together (tuakana/ teina) and that social and emotional skills are embedded through daily routines and rituals. It’s wonderful to be part of a supportive team that values what each of us brings.
Outside of teaching, I enjoy hospitality, cooking and baking which is something I do through my church community hosting events/ celebrations. On Wednesdays I facilitate a sisterhood women’s support group. My favourite hobbies are being creative with household items.
Kaiako
Tena kotou katoa, ko Torrey Toku ingoa.
My name is Torrey, pronounced “Sorry” if you exchange the S with a T. I am ecstatic to be part of the Tuatara kids team! I have spent the last four years at Wellington University, studying sign language, and am very excited to begin my journey into early childhood and impart what I have learned to the tamariki and their whanau who visit us.
I embody the whakatauki of “Aroha mai, Aroha Atu” (love received demands love returned) and I came into teaching as caring for tamariki and watching them grow and learn is something I find rewarding. I am the second eldest of six siblings and have helped to raise the youngest three; as well as a nonverbal autistic child and their sister.
Some things about me? I am 24 this year and was diagnosed with diabetes on my 7th birthday! I have three cats named Molly and her children, Mrs. Norris and Chutney. A couple of hobbies I enjoy are cooking, reading, and art.