Our Teachers

"It is my conviction that every child is born with a unique potential; it is the prepared environment that helps them discover who they are. A Montessori environment offers ample opportunities for every child to thrive in their own way and find their inner self becoming a competent, confident citizens. The core of Neuroscience today rests on many basic principles in Montessori philosophy, and I am enthused to accentuate the merits of Montessori education to the wider community, contributing to broadening its scope for what is deemed to have unlocked human potential for centuries. It makes a difference in our world and for humanity at large” - Anita

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Anita has been serving our Montessori class as head teacher since 2019. We are very fortunate to have Anita passionately lead our authentic Montessori programme for the children, she brings a wealth of qualifications, knowledge and experience. Anita has contributed to the growth of the Montessori unit at Huapai District School and instilled a class culture to be proud of. With a Master’s in Education and an AMI Diploma in Montessori primary (0-6 and 6-12 years), she has dedicated over 12 years to Montessori philosophy, teaching in New Zealand for 8 years. She loves teaching within this pedagogy because she gets to learn with the children and follow their interests every day. Anita is originally from Pakistan and has spent most of her life in the Western world.

“As a Montessori teacher, I see myself as a home and the child as a resident. A home provides the resident comfort as well as the needs without interrupting, while, at the same time, at home, the child finds their own things to do. In the same way, a teacher needs to ensure children’s needs are met and provide a secure base for them so that they can freely explore and find their own work without much interference” – Jennifer

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Jennifer joined Huapai Montessori in February 2022 as the class expanded. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and specialised in Montessori at AUT, being deeply inspired by, and committed to the philosophy. She also has about 10 years of experience teaching children in both South Korea and New Zealand. Jennifer’s nurturing and big smiles warmly transitions our youngest children through the start of their Montessori primary journey. She came to New Zealand in 2006 from South Korea and is married to ‘a wonderful man’ with two beautiful boys, aged 6 and 3 years.

“I appreciate Montessori pedagogy for its clear scope and sequence, as well as its core value: independent learning lead by children. I value the ‘freedom within boundary’ environment in Montessori classroom and believe it empowers children to create their own authentic self. My favorite quote: ‘I believe the self is not something ready-made, but something in continuous formation through choice of action.’ – John Dewey” – Echo

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Echo is the newest teacher to join the Huapai Montessori family. She is originally from China and has been calling New Zealand home since 2012. She has a Graduate Diploma in Psychology from the University of Auckland, a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Teaching and Learning from the University of Canterbury. Echo then started her Montessori journey in a preschool obtained her ECE diploma in Montessori (3-6). In her free time, she loves being in nature and exploring new things.