Our Team
City Kids has a policy for professional development and learning which encourages staff to make use of the courses available and additional support provided by Early Childhood agencies. The teaching team's present focus areas are strengthening Te Reo use, leadership and supporting children's social and emotional competence.
City Kids has a policy for professional development and learning which encourages staff to make use of the courses available and additional support provided by Early Childhood agencies. The teaching team's present focus areas are strengthening Te Reo use, leadership and supporting children's social and emotional competence.
Tanti Agustin - Centre Manager
Hailing from Indonesia, Tanti completed her Industrial Engineering degree and worked as an engineer before decided that teaching is her heart. She completed her Early Childhood Education training and has been in the industry ever since.
Tanti has been involved in a wide range of early childhood services and primary schools in Teaching and Special Needs roles. She has taught in various schools and centres in Indonesia, Australia, USA, and New Zealand.
Tanti joined the City Kids team in April 2022 and was attracted to City Kids as she believes that community-based centre offers the opportunity to focus on high quality and high equity for every learner and member, whether they be child or adult.
Outside work, Tanti enjoys traveling, baking, reading, hiking, walking, trying out new food and spending time with family and friends.
Qualifications:
- Full Teacher Registration
- Bachelor of Education - Early Childhood Education
- Bachelor of Industrial Engineering (Honours)
- NZ Playcentre Association National Certificate – equal to Diploma of Teaching
- First Aid Certificate
Hailing from Indonesia, Tanti completed her Industrial Engineering degree and worked as an engineer before decided that teaching is her heart. She completed her Early Childhood Education training and has been in the industry ever since.
Tanti has been involved in a wide range of early childhood services and primary schools in Teaching and Special Needs roles. She has taught in various schools and centres in Indonesia, Australia, USA, and New Zealand.
Tanti joined the City Kids team in April 2022 and was attracted to City Kids as she believes that community-based centre offers the opportunity to focus on high quality and high equity for every learner and member, whether they be child or adult.
Outside work, Tanti enjoys traveling, baking, reading, hiking, walking, trying out new food and spending time with family and friends.
Qualifications:
- Full Teacher Registration
- Bachelor of Education - Early Childhood Education
- Bachelor of Industrial Engineering (Honours)
- NZ Playcentre Association National Certificate – equal to Diploma of Teaching
- First Aid Certificate
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Dierdre Johnstone - Teacher
Dierdre is our Curriculum Leader. She has more than 10 years' experience in ECE and has worked in many different child education centres. Dierdre joined City Kids because she fell in love with our "Be Kind, Be Safe" motto and brought her wealth of experience to share with us. Dierdre loves getting the children into messy play, setting up tactile learning activities and letting children experience things that might be a bit too messy for home. She loves planning, organising and taking our children for offsite field trips to places like the local park (our kids call it Rolly Polly Park), the Thorndon Fire Station, Ambulance Station, nearby native bush areas, other preschools and bus rides to libraries. Dierdre is very passionate about all ECE aspects. Dierdre is the mother of three teenagers and in her spare time enjoys baking, reading, walking and music. Qualifications: - Full Teacher Registration - Bachelor of Education - Primary - Te Ahu o te reo Maori, Level 1 - First Aid Certificate |
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Ruth Opperman - Teacher
Born and bred in South Africa, Ruth lived on the west coast of Canada for many years before finally settling in New Zealand. Ruth has a lifelong background in the Arts (Ceramics and Weaving /Raranga). She decided to complete Postgraduate Diploma in ECE to follow her passion of working with young children. Ruth is constantly energised and motivated by life through the lens of a young child. Ruth loves to create challenges for the children to work through that require team work, promote communication and grow their minds. Besides the Arts her interests include science, our environment and nature-based education. She is very excited to be working at City Kids and to be working with a team of passionate and like-minded teachers. Qualifications: - Full Teacher Registration - Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education - Bachelor of Visual Arts - First Aid Certificate |
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Anna Williams - Teacher
Anna joined City Kids in July 2024 and has quickly established wonderful, fun and trusting relationships with our tamariki and whānau. Anna loves engaging with children across the centre, whether it is helping them dig in the sandpit, setting up messy plays, or sharing her cooking skills and recipes. She enjoys turning cooking sessions into fun and educational experiences. Anna believes in using play and creativity to help kids discover their talents and build confidence in a supportive environment. Qualifications - Full Teacher Registration - Bachelor of Education (Teaching) - Early Childhood - First Aid Certificate |
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Jessica Allan - Teacher
Jess is an energetic and fun kaiako who brings a lot of creativity into the classroom. Her enthusiasm makes every day an exciting adventure for the kids. She loves turning ordinary moments into joyful experiences. Jess enjoys collage and loose parts activities, guiding tamariki to explore their creativity with various materials. Jess believes that these hands-on projects help tamariki develop their fine motor skills and problem-solving abilities. In her spare time, Jess loves taking her puppy, Fred, for a walk. Qualifications: - Full Teacher Registration - Bachelor of Education - Early Childhood - First Aid Certificate |
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Jennie Macneil - Teacher
Jennie is our Magician and Storyteller. She creates a world of fantasy, mystery, magic and fun for our children and is often surrounded as she takes them on a journey of imagination, supported by interesting and diverse trinkets and props. Jenny has dedicated much of her life to the care, support and education of young people and has been working with City Kids for many years. She loves the ability to influence children's lives, unlock their creativity and provide them with nurturing experiences. She spends time leading dance, singing and story reading sessions which compliments the active experiences on offer at the centre perfectly, giving our children a wide range of choice in the type of activities they participate in through the day. Qualifications: - Full Teacher Registration - Diploma in Early Childhood Education - First Aid Certificate |
Victoria Watson - Teacher
Victoria was born in Napier but spent most of her childhood overseas before returning to Aotearoa for high school.
Victoria did her study in Education and Sociology at Otago University before moving to Wellington to pursue her PostGrad in ECE.
With a deep passion for guiding tamariki on their learning journeys, Victoria is especially dedicated to nurturing their social and emotional growth.
Victoria's love for ECE is rooted in the positive experiences she had with her own teachers, inspiring her to give back in the same meaningful way.
Qualifications:
- Full Teacher Registration
- Bachelor of Arts
- Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)
- First Aid Certificate
Victoria was born in Napier but spent most of her childhood overseas before returning to Aotearoa for high school.
Victoria did her study in Education and Sociology at Otago University before moving to Wellington to pursue her PostGrad in ECE.
With a deep passion for guiding tamariki on their learning journeys, Victoria is especially dedicated to nurturing their social and emotional growth.
Victoria's love for ECE is rooted in the positive experiences she had with her own teachers, inspiring her to give back in the same meaningful way.
Qualifications:
- Full Teacher Registration
- Bachelor of Arts
- Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)
- First Aid Certificate
Emma Gordon - Centre Administrator
Emma is our part-time Centre Administrator. She joined City Kids because she liked the City Kids kaupapa and wanted to use her experience helping run her local Playcentre to start a new career.
Emma is from the top of the North Island and has Ngāti Kahu and Ngā Puhi whakapapa. She has been learning Te Reo and about Te Ao Māori. Emma loves to share her learning.
In her spare time, Emma enjoys spending time with family and friends, working in her garden, foraging mushrooms, making preserves, and being the great outdoors.
Emma has two primary school aged children and is looking forward to getting to know our community.
Hei tērā wiki!
Nā Emma
Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Social Science with Psychology and Biology (Honours)
- Playcentre Educator Award
- First Aid Certificate
Emma is our part-time Centre Administrator. She joined City Kids because she liked the City Kids kaupapa and wanted to use her experience helping run her local Playcentre to start a new career.
Emma is from the top of the North Island and has Ngāti Kahu and Ngā Puhi whakapapa. She has been learning Te Reo and about Te Ao Māori. Emma loves to share her learning.
In her spare time, Emma enjoys spending time with family and friends, working in her garden, foraging mushrooms, making preserves, and being the great outdoors.
Emma has two primary school aged children and is looking forward to getting to know our community.
Hei tērā wiki!
Nā Emma
Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Social Science with Psychology and Biology (Honours)
- Playcentre Educator Award
- First Aid Certificate
Eng Lach - Centre Cook
Originally from Cambodia, Eng is our Master Chef. She loves preparing and making delicious, nutritious food for our tamariki.
Eng loves working with and providing for children. She works with a national nutrition advisory to create different menus each week, planning food requirements for everyone, including specific food allergies or dietary differences.
Eng is the mother of three adult daughters and loves to celebrate Asian culture with the children. She often decorates the centre to celebrate days of significance and teaches the children about the different aspects of culture.
Originally from Cambodia, Eng is our Master Chef. She loves preparing and making delicious, nutritious food for our tamariki.
Eng loves working with and providing for children. She works with a national nutrition advisory to create different menus each week, planning food requirements for everyone, including specific food allergies or dietary differences.
Eng is the mother of three adult daughters and loves to celebrate Asian culture with the children. She often decorates the centre to celebrate days of significance and teaches the children about the different aspects of culture.
If you have any further questions, please contact us on on 04 473 1947, 0277489237 or email us at [email protected]
