Our Wonderful Teaching Team
Claire McDonald
Senior Kaiako
Graduate Diploma of Teaching
in Early Childhood Education
Claire has been teaching at our Kindergarten for 14 years now and stepped into the Senior Teacher role in 2019. She has a Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education. Claire loves exploring out in the community with the children, especially in the bush or other natural spaces. Literacy learning is another of Claire’s passions and she spends many hours reading and talking with the children in both English and te reo Māori. Community and collaboration are key words for Claire. She believes in working closely with families so that children are empowered to learn and follow their passions.
Abby Johnson
Assistant Head Kaiako
Bachelor of Teaching
in Early Childhood Education
Abby brings boundless energy and enthusiasm into our Kindergarten. She has been part of the teaching team since 2018, firstly as a student when she was studying for her Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education from the University of Otago College of Education and then as a fully qualified teacher. Abby loves working with children on projects such as cooking, carpentry and hut building where children are learning in authentic contexts. In Abby’s eyes, all children are capable and confident learners and it is the teacher’s role to strengthen and enhance their mana or their power of being.
Stacey Symister
Kaiako
Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education
Stacey joined our teaching team in 2021 and took up a permanent position at the start of 2023. She has a Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education from Te Rito Maioha. Stacey is one of the practical members of our team. She enjoys making and fixing things with the children and always has common sense advice and a joke or two at hand. Stacey has a strength in working with children who have additional needs and she is always looking to extend her knowledge in this area for example learning New Zealand sign language or diving deeper into the theory of social and emotional regulation. The concept of ā tōnā wā - at the right time that is embedded in the early childhood curriculum is very important to Stacey. She believes that all children learn best when they have strong relationships, quality environments and, crucially, the time to play and explore at their own pace.
Khan Francis- Smith
Kaiako
Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (Endorsed in Primary)
Khan has been part of our kaiako whānau since 2023. Khan trained as a primary teacher and switched over to ECE when her tama joined our hapori/community in August 2023. Khan brings a strength and passion in te āo and te reo Māori, the arts and also outdoor pursuits with her genuine love of nature and DIY projects. Khan loves working with our tamariki on problem solving, setting and achieving personal goals and challenging themselves through play. Khan weaves her strengths into her teaching strategies and thrives on building strong relationships that enhance the mana of our tamariki.
Leana Campbell
Kaiako
Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)
Leana joined the teaching team in July 2024. After spending five weeks as a student teacher in her final year of studying a Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education, Leana was very excited to accept the teaching role of Kaiako.
Leana is a kind, nurturing and compassionate kaiako and enjoys supporting children with their emotional regulation and interactions with other children and adults. She loves to provide a warm, nurturing environment for all children so they feel a sense of belonging at Andersons Bay Kindy.
Strengths Leana brings to her teaching practice are being able to build trusting relationships with children and whānau. She has a calm approach with children and this helps to create consistent and trusting relationships.
Leana has a commitment to her te reo Māori and biculturalism journey and implementing it in an authentic way in her teaching practice.
Leana loves to support children to be creative through arts, crafts, cooking and music. Leana loves being part of the amazing community at Andersons Bay Kindy.