Our staff

Heidi

Senior Preschool Teacher
Bachelor of Teaching (ECE)

I am deeply passionate about the importance and lasting benefits of quality early education, not just for children but for the broader community. I have had the privilege of working with children in the Kadimah School community since 1999 and have been part of the Preschool team since 2003.

Alongside my extensive practical experience, I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education in 2009 and pursued further research projects in 2017. These projects focused on a preschooler-centric holistic approach, children’s rights within the ECE setting, and understanding parents’ expectations. My work also emphasised fostering positive attitudes toward math and literacy, particularly in supporting young children during their transition to school.

Additionally, I conducted a study on intercultural pedagogy, exploring effective strategies for teaching children with English as a second language. These experiences and insights have profoundly shaped my approach to early childhood education, enriching the learning journey for both children and their families.

I strongly value collaborative learning and take pride in celebrating the unique qualities that each child and their family bring to our community. It is a privilege to play a role in nurturing the roots of their growth, and I find it deeply rewarding to watch the children flourish.

Zoë

Preschool Teacher
Bachelor of Teaching (ECE)

Kia ora, Shalom, and Hello!
Teaching has been my passion since I was a schoolchild! I earned my degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Auckland in 2017 and have been teaching young children ever since—loving every moment of it!
I am equally passionate about volunteering in my local community, where I have served as a children’s group leader, organising holiday programs and summer camps. It brings me immense joy to witness children grow, learn, and blossom each day.
My goal is to not only teach but also learn from young children, support parents, and stay at the forefront of advances in pedagogy and child psychology.

Smita

Teacher Aide
Bachelor of Traditional Indian Medicine Ayurveda, Masters in Yoga Therapy

I have taught abroad in a variety of settings, including preschool-aged children and high-school students while in Singapore and India.
My approach to the young children in my care is to work towards supporting and fostering each child in their learning journey by encouraging curiosity, wonderment, and self-directed learning within the preschool environment.

Suzanne

Office and Financial Administrator
Diploma in Optometry

In my previous career, I was a Neurodevelopmental (Behavioral) Optometrist specialising in Child Vision Care. Neurodevelopmental optometry focuses on how human development influences the visual system and its role in learning. I am deeply passionate about equipping children with the essential skills needed to thrive at school. My work involved supporting children with vision and learning challenges, conducting visual perceptual assessments, and designing tailored therapy programs.

I have been part of the Kadimah Preschool community since 2016, a role that has offered me a change of pace while continuing to contribute to the community and play a part in shaping the success of the next generation.

Miriam

Music Teacher
Master of Arts (Comparative literature), Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

I have loved music since I was a preschooler, and I love helping other people discover their love for it!
I have sung in choirs, played recorders, learnt piano, bassoon, saxophone, and a little flute, trumpet, and clarinet. I have played in groups since I was at school, and still do. These groups include chamber music groups, concert bands, and orchestras.
I have been teaching music part-time to children of all ages for about 25 years, and I love to see how the joy of music enriches young children’s learning and development.
I also work in the print industry, have homestay students, and parent two high school age daughters who both went to Kadimah School.

Special activities


Genevieve
Bachelor of Performing Arts, Graduate Diploma in Primary School Teaching

In addition to our full-time team, we are fortunate to have a longstanding specialist teacher who has been supporting us for over eight years in the areas of our Transition to School programme and the arts. Genevieve holds a degree in Performing Arts and a Graduate Diploma in Primary School Teaching. She also brings extensive experience as a Playcentre educator, enriching our programmes with her expertise.