Meet The Team
Becs
Centre Manager
Kia ora,
My name is Becs. I have been an early childhood educator for over 20 years. Early childhood is always where I saw myself growing up and has always been my passion. I have worked in a variety of different roles throughout my career and am excited to have the opportunity to be the Centre Manager here at Sparrows Early Learning Centre. I love the bonds we make with the Tamariki and their whanau and the fact that no two days are ever the same. A big part of my teaching and leadership philosophies are based around respectful practice and positive communication. Away from ECE I am married and have two teenage children who are both my greatest joy and biggest challenge. I look forward to getting to know you and working in partnership with you during your time here at Sparrows ELC.
Mel
Team Leader
Kia ora koutou,
My name is Mel. I have been working in early childhood education for the last 21 years, with 11 of those years being in different leadership positions. I have always had a strong passion for working alongside our young tamariki and pēpi. I have recently moved to Hamilton from Whitianga with my husband and our 13 year old son.
A huge part of my personal teaching philosophy is based around the importance of relationships that I create with our tamariki, their whānau, and our community. It is through these relationships we can empower our tamariki to have confidence in standing strong in their identity and thrive in our learning environments. When we have amazing relationships with our tamariki, we are able to follow their lead and create learning environments that help them flourish through play. “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood” – Fred Rogers.
I look forward to meeting you!
“Ehara tāku toa I te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini”
“My strength is not as an individual, but as a collective”.
Arohanui
Mel
Dale
Qualified Teacher
Kia ora, my name is Dale.
Kristene
Qualified Teacher
Kia Ora Whānau and tamāriki,
My name is Kristene and I am excited to be a part of the team at Sparrows Early Learning Centre.
As a local Hamiltonian I enjoy getting out and about in the local community with family and friends. I have worked in the early childhood sector for 15 years and in the primary sector for a year where I worked with new entrants. I enjoy supporting our young children and empowering them to become leaders in their own learning. I am passionate about literacy and exploring the natural environment which provides many opportunities for learning.
I believe that early childhood should be a place of learning, fun, creativity, excitement and wonder for our tamāriki.
I look forward to meeting you and your child and supporting them with their learning journey.
Kim
Qualified Teacher
Kim, her husband, 5 children and 2 cats live in Forest Lake and love to make use of the BMX track and mini train railway they live close to. Kim is a girl mum to her 3 daughters aged 11 years, 1 year and 3 months; she is also a bonus mum to her 15 year-old stepson and 10 year-old stepdaughter.
Kim always saw herself becoming a kaiako and after the birth of her first daughter in 2012 she decided to follow through with a Bachelor Degree of Teaching. Kim trained in a mixed aged centre and has loved working at Sparrows since she started in 2021. She adores the dedicated team of kaiako she gets to work with and the open and caring whānau.
Kim is so excited to return from her maternity leave in February 2024 to work part-time with two of her daughters who will attend alongside her – Neriah and Manaia.
Reese
Teacher in Training
Kia ora,
I’m Reese. I am currently studying towards a Bachelor of teaching (ECE). I have always had such a large passion for working with young children and I have been taught so much by my peers throughout my study and my time so far at Sparrows. I always love to have chats with the whanau about their awesome tamariki and I aspire to create meaningful relationships with all of the children, parents and families. I am a confident, bright, bubbly young kaiako and I am very ecstatic to be able to be a kaiako here at sparrows!
I am looking forward to continuing my study and creating partnerships with everyone at Sparrows.