Little Blue Penguin Prestons
Kaiako at Little Blue Penguin are caring professionals who are there to offer gentle, respectful guidance for children through quality, responsive interactions and a collaborative ‘community’ approach to teaching and learning.
Little Blue Penguin Prestons boasts an exceptional team of educators, each bringing their unique skills and expertise to provide the best care and education for tamariki. From fostering a love for sustainability to embracing cultural diversity, our team is dedicated to creating a nurturing environment where every child can thrive and grow.
Gina Colvin (Owner/Manager)
Support Kaiako / Kai Creator
Gina is our Prestons manager and opened Little Blue Penguin with the aim to create a high-quality, evidence-baed environment for all. Gina prioritises kotahitanga and hauora for kaiako and tamariki.
Jamie O’Neill (Assistant Manager)
Nursery Kaiako
Jamie values trusting and supporting all children while giving them the opportunity to experiment and explore. She values our calm approach and is a great organiser, supporting kaiako to continually improve their practice.
Amanda Calvert
Nursery Kaiako
Amanda’s wealth of experience and unwavering dedication fosters responsive and meaningful interactions with every child in our care, ensuring a supportive environment for tamariki to flourish.
Aleisha Pascoe
Nursery Kaiako
Aleisha values relationships and tamariki and their whānau and ensures she gets to know the individuals needs of the tamariki in her care. She is very warm, unhurried and offers a calm approach.
Carla Price
Preschool Kaiako
Carla has a warm, calm and inviting approach with tamariki and discovers new and inspiring ways to extend their interests and strengths. Her gentle approach helps foster a sense of calm and positivity among tamariki.
Manon Kozanic-Harris
Preschool Kaiako
Manon fosters nurturing, open and respectful interactions to develop authentic relationships with tamariki and their whānau, enabling tamariki to freely explore and achieve their full potential.
Pat Duffin
Preschool Kaiako
Pat is dedicated to fostering meaningful relationships with tamariki and whānau. Through a nature-based and child-led approach, Pat creates a supportive community where every child feels valued and empowered to explore and learn.
Dena Baxter
Preschool Kaiako
Dena embraces a nurturing and engaging approach. With incredible knowledge and expertise in Te Reo Māori, she brings a rich understanding of the language and culture, enriching the learning experience for our children.
Chetna Anurag Sharma
Preschool Kaiako
Chetna values the role relationships, language, inclusion and the development of social and emotional competence in early childhood education, empowering tamariki as lifelong learners.
Mara Zhang
Preschool Kaiako
Mara is a passionate kaiako who prioritises respectful, responsive and supportive relationships, while celebrating diversity. She has a real community focus, promoting links between home and centre.