Kia ora koutou
Nō Pukekohe ahau
He uri ahau nō Waikato
Ko Louise Albert tōku ingoa.
My journey in early childhood education began in 2006 at Kaiaua Miranda Playcentre in the Hauraki district (now called Mangatangi & Districts Playcentre). I enjoyed the learning that the education programme offered and I realised that I had found a new career path to follow, hence I enrolled into a Diploma of ece program at Wintec. Riverdowns Playcentre is where my whaanau and I spent the next five years with our tamariki. Working away on both Playcentre courses and the Diploma was my committment to my whaanau and our community. I have embraced a number of Playcentre values; parents as first teachers, lifelong learning and whaanau are strengthened and communites enriched.
Now I am a qualified and registered early childhood teacher with a Diploma of teaching in ece, a Bachelor of Teaching (ECE), a post graduate diploma of Specialist Teaching endorsed in Early Intervention and a Masters of Specialist Teaching. I have worked in a range of ece all day settings from mixed age, kaupapa Māori and 3 and 4 room centres. My most recent position was a Team Lead in a Toddler room and this is where I found a passion for working with toddler age tamariki.
After spending time in Playcentre and completing course one, my husband also works in early childhood at Tē Kōhao Puna Reo. Being involved in Playcentre with our tamariki he realised he quite enjoyed being with other tamariki and parents, and that he too could become a kaiako. Rangi is a registered teacher and holds a post graduate diploma of ECE.
We cannot praise the Playcentre organisation enough as our involvement not only taught us how to be the best parents and educators, but so much more.
I love being back and involved in the education programme as Education Lead and I look forward to working alongside my new colleagues, and connecting with ākonga in the future.
Kia Kaha, Kia Maia, Kia Manawanui. Be strong, Be Brave and Be Steadfast.