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Meet Our Team

Our Woodlands Park Community Kindergarten team, led by Head Kaiako, Michelle Fouché, is passionate about nurturing young minds and celebrating individuality. Together, we create a vibrant learning environment where tamariki and whānau thrive.
Michelle

Michelle Fouché, DipTchg (ECE)

Head Kaiako

Kia ora, my name is Michelle, and I am honoured to be the Head Kaiako at this wonderful kindergarten. This is my twentieth year in the ECE sector. My passion is to support and teach tamariki to be the best they can be. I believe tamariki thrive when they have respectful and reciprocal relationships in an environment that inspires them to engage and learn through play. Tamariki make sense of the world around them in their own unique way and uninterrupted play gives tamariki the opportunity to develop their working theories, problem solve and develop a passion for lifelong learning.

I live in Woodlands Park with my two amazing daughters and love to spend time with family and friends.

Andy Dean, M.ED (ECE), DipEI, DipSpecTchg, DipHigherTchg, GradDipTchg(ECE), BA

Andy

Kaiako

I have worked in early childhood education since I was 21, graduating from the Institute of Early Childhood Studies (in Sydney) in 1984. I have worked as a teacher, head teacher, and manager in kindergartens and childcare centres both here and in Australia. I have been a lecturer at the Auckland College of Education and worked as a professional development facilitator for the Ministry of Education in early childhood centres throughout Auckland and Northland. I hold a Masters degree in early childhood education and have qualifications in early intervention and working with children with special needs.

I have three children - Woody (33), Billy (31) and Ari (25). I am also a bereaved parent - my first child, Hazel, died of retinoblastoma (eye cancer) in 1990. I am married to Rachel and am a step-parent to her son Aronui (13). I have lived in Titirangi since 2001 and we have a bach at Karekare.

Meg Cole

Meg

Kaiako

I live in Huia with my partner and two children and a menagerie of pets.  I love gardening, crafts, reading, singing and spending time with my family.  I am passionate about creating a nurturing environment for our young tamariki and supporting them to develop a life-long love of learning.  I believe children learn best through play, and it is through play that tamariki develop social, emotional, physical and cognitive skills as well as the ability to build and maintain friendships and relationships.  When children are empowered to choose their own play they are fully engaged in creative self-directed learning.  I believe children learn best through being and doing, and engaging in real-life hands on experiences.  Through these experiences they build skills and learning dispositions such as perseverance, resilience and problem solving.

I aim to support our tamariki to become kaitiaki of our environment though developing a love and appreciation of nature, gardening and sustainable practices. I believe that my role as a kaiako is to support each tamaiti to reach their potential, and to give them a strong sense of well-being and belonging.  It takes a village to raise a child, and I look forward to being part of your village.  
 

Nikki

Nikki Grazier, BTchg (ECE), GradDipTchg (EC), BEd, DipTchg (Primary)

Kaiako

I have had over 30 years’ experience teaching, managing, leading, and mentoring in a range of mainstream early childhood services. As well as my three days at the kindy, I am an Early Years Facilitator supporting early years kaiako across Tāmaki Makaurau. I’m passionate about all aspects of early childhood care and education with respectful relationships at the core of what I do.

I live in Woodlands Park on a bush block with my husband, son (15) and two dogs. In my spare time I love walking in the bush and the beaches, and painting.

Stacia Jowett, GradDipTchg (ECE), BSBM

Stacia

Kaiako

I am a mother of two energetic and happy children, who went to Woodlands Park Kindy and are now at Woodlands Park School. I feel very fortunate to live and work in this beautiful community, surrounded by bush and bird song.  I am passionate about environmental sustainability and believe that if children's foundations are laid with healthy, informed, sustainable habits now, they will reap the benefits of a healthier brighter future.

It is the unstructured, unhurried, spontaneous learning that occurs through play, which is at the heart of my philosophy.  I believe that through fostering a sense of well-being, acceptance and wonder, tamariki will establish a solid foundation for life, secure in themselves, their ideas and their place in the world.

Tania Smit, PgDipBA, BA

Tania

Office Manager

I have previously worked in Customer Relationship Management in the financial services industry and am now relishing the connection with our tamariki and kaiako that is offered in our vibrant learning environment at Woodlands Park Kindy.

With a passion for organisation and heart full of compassion for our tamariki, I am dedicated to ensuring smooth operations behind the scenes at our beloved community kindergarten.

I am immensely grateful for the beautiful, caring and close-knit community of Woodlands Park that I enjoy with my husband and three children.

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