Educare

Educare

The Wigram Team

This is our team of teachers and staff at Educare Wigram. Scroll through to find out more about our teaching team.

Emma Ward

Centre Manager
Kia ora, my name is Emma. I was born and raised in the Halswell/ Wigram area and have lived in the area all my life.
I have been teaching for the past 8 years and have been a Centre Manager for 4 of these.
I believe in supporting children through respectful interactions to extend and challenge their thinking. As well as to help them build resilience and just be the best they can be.

Dianne Candy

Assistant Centre Manager
Kia ora, my name is Dianne.
I was born and raised in Christchurch and have been teaching for 8 years in a variety of roles. I am the youngest of six and have 4 nieces and 4 nephews who I love spending time with. My partner and I enjoy being outdoors, travelling around our beautiful country and taking care of our two dogs and a cat. I am passionate about building positive, respectful relationships with tamariki and their whānau and allowing tamariki to grow and learn in their own space and time.

Mikayla Styles

Team Leader, Provisionally Registered Teacher
Kia ora, my name is Mikayla and I was born in Christchurch. I have 3 older siblings and 4 nieces and 4 nephews. I like spending time with family and friends and enjoy the outdoors. I have always had a passion for working with children.

Bryony Legge

Registered Teacher
Kia ora my name is Bryony. I come from a big family and this is where I got my passion for teaching. In my spare time I enjoy going on holiday, going for walks with my dog and spending time with my family and partner.
As a teacher I love building trusting relationships with the children and families and I really enjoy watching children grow and develop and reaching new milestones. I recently graduated from NZTI with a Bachelor of Teaching – ECE and I’m looking forward to putting my study into work.

Talor Gallie

Provisionally Registered Teacher
Kia ora, my name is Talor, I was born in Nelson and moved to Christchurch when I was two. I completed my Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) at the end of 2021. I’m New Zealand European with Māori influence through my extended whānau. My large extended whānau includes a number of tamariki whose growth and development ignited my passion for Early Childhood. As a teacher I value creating a home away from home for tamariki through building trusting, respectful, and meaningful relationships that recognise and support each individual on their unique journey.

Joanne Fu

Provisionally Registered Teacher
Tena-koutou, katou, ko Xiao Lei Toku Ingoa,
Kia Ora, Ni hao. I am Joanne, from China. I came to New Zealand in 2018 and found my passion for working with tamariki during my previous work experiences. I completed my graduate diploma in teaching and learning (ECE) with UC in 2021. Trustful and reciprocal relationships are the core of what I do. I am also deeply influenced by the Reggio Emilia approach, which believes that “a child has 100 languages”. I take an unhurried approach to notice children’s interests, and provide tamariki with opportunities to use different kinds of symbolic languages (e.g. music, painting, body movements) and to express themselves and learn.

Abby Phipps

Provisionally Registered Teacher
Kia ora, my name is Abby. I was born in Wellington but raised in Christchurch. In my spare time I love visiting cafes and spending quality time with friends and family. I am a qualified teacher and graduated towards the end of 2020. I started in the Early Childhood Sector in 2017 as a reliever and then started studying in 2018 for three years. I am passionate about empowering and respective practice. I am passionate about supporting children’s resilience and facilitating an environment for children to learn at their own pace.

Trya Smyth

Teacher in Training
Kia ora, my name is Tyra. I was born in Dunedin but for most of my life I have lived in Oamaru. I started studying ECE at the start of 2021 and have completed 2 years so far. My passion for tamariki grew from being a part of a large family as well as my mum being a kaiako. After high school I was a nanny for young tamariki in both Australia and Auckland where my passion for tamariki grew even more!

Donna Mae Nagal

Teacher
Kamusta, I was born in the Philippines and moved to Christchurch, New Zealand when I was 5 years old. During my spare time I enjoy going on walks with my family and friends. I love to explore our natural playground in New Zealand and really enjoy traveling to different parts of our country. I have been part of the Educare Wigram Team for two years and endeavour to study Early Childhood Education in the near future. Donna is currently on maternity leave.

Dawn Clark

Nutritionist
Kia ora, my name is Dawn and I am from Christchurch. I have been cooking in Preschools since 1997 and have been at this centre since 2010. I have a certificate in Food and Nutrition and have attended a Food Hygiene Course. I love my job and working with children. I believe that if you feed children healthy and nutritious meals, it supports them throughout their day to remain focused, settled and engaged with our beautiful environment.

Melanie Vincent

Administrator
Kia ora, my name is Melanie. I was born and raised in Halswell, Christchurch and to this day still call it home.
I enjoy spending time in the outdoors with my family, being my husband and two daughters Emma and Holly. I have been in various administration, reception and marketing roles through out my working career and am grateful to now be part of the team at Educare Wigram.