The Kapiti Team
This is our team of teachers and staff at Educare Kāpiti. Scroll through to find out more about our teaching team.
Hebe Zhao
Centre Manager, Registered Teacher
Kia ora and Ni Hao (hello), my name is Hebe, I’m a registered teacher, graduating from Victoria University in 2015. I love what I do and have a passion for nurturing children and supporting them to become confident and competent learners. I believe in the power of free play, the importance of learning through play and highly value creating a rich learning environment where children can have fun and are challenged in a safe way.
In my free time I enjoy going to the gym, probably a little too much (sometimes at 4:30 in the morning, call me crazy), walking around the neighbourhood, going shopping and building Lego! I also love coffee, getting tattoos and singing along to songs on full blast while driving. I am very excited to be part of the team.
Wendy McGregor
Assistant Manager, Registered Teacher
I trained as a primary teacher when dinosaurs roamed the earth. But then got distracted and spent a long time working as a communicator capturing audio sound bites and putting complex stories into simple language. It wasn’t until I had a child of my own and spent time in a preschool, that I realised how exciting the first five years can be and how the ECE curriculum supports and nurtures enquiry, exploration and discovery. I quickly added an early childhood qualification to my CV. I see my role as threefold, to help provide a warm and caring environment for your Tamariki, to help him or her become the best they can be and to share their milestones along the way with you. ECE is fun and that’s the way it should be.
Lucy Duncan
Team Leader, Registered Teacher
Kia Ora e te Educare Kapiti Whānau. I graduated from Victoria University with a BA in Teaching at the end of 2020. I have been working with children since 2014, relieving, babysitting, and nannying. I have a strong passion for all tamariki in Aotearoa, we as kaiako have the ability to support, teach, love, nurture, and provide a foundation for tamariki to grow and develop. I believe in respectful caregiving, love pedagogy, R.I.E philosophy, and child-interest play and learning. I love surrounding myself in and around nature, so much I have too many indoor plants! In my spare time, I love to go for hikes, spend time at the beach, socialise with my friends and whānau, bake, garden, knit, and do D.I.Y. I cannot wait to be a part of your child's learning journey.
Bridget Best
Registered Teacher
I'm Bridget, I am a fully qualified registered Early Childhood Educator with over 25 years of teaching experience.
I am passionate about Early childhood education and love watching your children grow and develop through learning and play.
I live in Raumati and have 3 children.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family at the beach, going to the gym and walks with my friends.
I am looking forward to getting to know and working with you and your child.
Karen Cooke
Registered Teacher
I have been working in Early Childhood Education since 2007, having both a Diploma and Bachelor in Education. I am a Registered Teacher.
I live in Paraparaumu with my husband and our two boys.
I am passionate about creating an environment where children are nurtured and respectfully encouraged to learn and develop.
I understand that play is the most important process through which children learn independence, respect for each other, respect for their environment, and a love of learning and I want to be able to support them in achieving this.
Nicole Beale
Provisionally Registered Teacher
Kia ora! My name is Nicole. I live in Paraparaumu with my Fiancé and daughter Runi who joins me here at Educare Kapiti.
I completed by Early Childhood Education degree through the Open Polytechnic in July 2020 and have begun my journey towards becoming a fully registered teacher.
I would describe myself as a warm, nurturing and caring kaiako who values the importance of building respectful, reciprocal relationships. Tamariki and whānau are at the heart of what I do.
I feel privileged to support and guide your tamariki through their learning here at Educare Kapiti and look forward to getting to know you all.
Ruby Durrant-Bush
Teacher
Kia ora Educare family, my name is Ruby. My little boy Theo currently attends the Kiwi room, and he loves it. I am looking to study in ECE, and firmly believe in treating every child with the love and respect they need to grow into themselves. I was born and grew up here on the Kapiti Coast. Theo, his dad (my awesome fiancé Ezrah) and I live local- we have one pet, a little bird called Eddie. I have a lot of passion for the environment, being outdoors and having fun- things I hope to bring to the table here for the Kea kiddos. I look forward to meeting each and every family, and getting to know your amazing little humans.
Mai Harrington
Teacher
Hello, I'm an unregistered teacher who has been relieving and found myself enjoying a new career change to teaching children. I find it really rewarding in watching and supporting them grow into their confident personalities. I’m looking forward to learning how I can contribute to help their young minds expand and gain experience. I believe children do need a variation in their play in order for them to learn at their own pace. This allows them to express their own curiosity. In my own time, I enjoy going to the gym, hiking, horse riding and netball. I grew up here in Kāpiti so I also love to go to the beach as much as I can with friends and my dog!
Tessa White
Teacher
Kia ora! My name is Tessa and I am an unregistered teacher but am looking forward to studying in the future. I found my passion for nurturing young tamariki through coaching, nannying and babysitting, and after experiencing Camp America where I got to help children thrive and support them in their growth, I knew working with tamariki full time was what I wanted to do. I grew up on the Kapiti Coast with my six sisters and in my spare time I enjoy going to the gym, playing sport, and spending time with my family, particularly with my little nieces and nephews who I luckily live with. I would say I am a caring, kind and gentle teacher who believes tamariki deserve to learn in a safe, positive environment where they feel comfortable to try new things and have fun!
Rebecca Caldwell
Nutritionist
Hello my name is Rebecca Caldwell, I am a qualified Chef and baker and have been in ECE since 2018. I love cooking nutritious food for the children. I have school age girls myself nearly, which keeps me on my toes. My hobbies and passions include baking, gardening, crochet and movies.
Kaylene Berry
Administrator
Hi, my name is Kaylene and recently joined the Kapiti team as an Administrator working part-time. I have lived on the Kapiti Coast since 2017 with my husband and our two girls and enjoy the lifestyle that the Coast has to offer. I look forward coming into work and working alongside a great bunch of teachers who are all clearly passionate about early childhood education which is evident from the happy smiles and laughter heard from the children when I am in the office.
I am excited to work alongside the teachers and all the families in helping to create a fun, loving, creative, supportive, caring and safe environment. I look forward to meeting you and your little ones and to help you with any enquiries you may have.
