Tessa Dunleavy
Crèche Manager / Registered Teacher
Devonport community Crèche has been my second home since joining this learning community in 1994. I brought with me a background of experience working for the Auckland Kindergarten Association (AKA) as teacher at Belmont Bayswater, head teacher of Devonport and Milford kindergartens, before taking the role as senior teacher for the AKA, where my connections with these North Shore kindergartens continued.
My son Johnny was born in 1994 and, living in Devonport, I wanted to make a difference within my own community. Both Johnny (24) and my daughter Millie (18) treasure their experiences at Crèche and Johnny's daughter Mali starts the next generation of Dunleavy-Howard whanau adventures at our home way from home. My husband Paul is able to share in the journey of our Crèche alumni in his role as teacher at Belmont Intermediate school and we celebrate the many successes of children from our community.
The success of the Crèche is founded on the strong connections staff, parents and children bring. Many of the teachers have worked together for a long time and have brought up their children here. They have a deep loyalty towards the Crèche and the children and families under our care. The connections to be celebrated also come from families who make Crèche their second home and return to visit and support the Crèche.
As Manager of the Crèche my challenge is to keep these valued connections and build new ones. This will enable the Crèche to continue providing the quality education and care for the most important members of our community. I am well supported in my role, surrounded by a strong, dedicated and talented teaching team and a talented Crèche Governance Committee. These people all willingly give their time to make our Crèche a quality centre that provides best practice to benefit all children.
Nga mihi nui
Tessa
Sarah Ganley
Registered Teacher
Hi, my name is Sarah and I live in Narrow Neck with my husband, Roger and our daughter, Ella. We have a son, Miles, who currently lives and works down in Wellington. I have lived on the North Shore almost all my life, growing up in Campbells Bay.
We came to live on the peninsula when Miles was a baby because we love the beach environment. My first connection to Crèche was through my children attending and I have been privileged to work here for a number of years now.
I love the community aspect of both living and working in our amazing neighbourhood alongside dedicated teachers with wonderful, supportive families and inspiring children. In my spare time you may often see me out walking our dog, Mac, enjoying any one of the many beautiful walks available to us.
Jenny Rees
Registered Teacher
Kia ora,
I began my teaching career back in the late 70's after graduating from Hamilton Teachers College. Huge changes have taken place in ECE since then and I am very happy to still be involved and still excited by the learning that takes place in the years from 0 to 5. I have been teaching at Devonport Crèche for 20 years, fortunate to have worked with Tessa and Sarah throughout this entire time, endeavouring to meet the needs of the community and provide a creative and stimulating environment for the children.
I live in Bayswater with my husband and son and love the close proximity to shops, sporting facilities and walking tracks. When I am not at Crèche I enjoy being outdoors, going for walks and pulling weeds out of my garden! I also like to spend time with my Mum and sisters at Mt Maunganui, swimming in the surf and walking around Mauao – I am yet to tackle the summit track!
I absolutely love teaching at Devonport Crèche and feel privileged to work alongside such highly qualified, passionate and dedicated staff, supportive and enthusiastic parents and competent, creative and inspiring children.
Arohanui,
Jenny
Caroline Beasley
Registered Teacher
Tena koutou katoa, Hello everybody
My name is Caroline and I live in Devonport with my husband John. We have four adult children Rose, Jess, Cushla and Ewan.
I feel privileged to be a part of the Crèche community working alongside qualified, committed teachers, friendly parents and, of course, your wonderful children.
Every day at Crèche brings new challenges and experiences, but being able to share these with my friends makes anything and everything possible.
When I am not at Crèche you will find me out walking, pulling weeds from my vege garden, reading or trying to avoid doing housework!
Warm regards to you and your children,
Nga mihi nui,
Caroline
Jamie Tait
Teacher
Kia ora,
I am Jamie Tait and I live in Hillcrest with my parents Gail and Robert. I also have an older brother who recently moved out of home to Cambridge to pursue his career as a Mechanical Engineer. I have lived in Auckland my whole life and grew up on the North Shore. I have a cat called Cobweb and two rabbits called Buttercup and Charlie. My family also have seven budgies called Tweetie, Kermit, Lemonade, Ariel, Bennie, Cheeky and Blue-Belle that live in a cage in our lounge.
I recently completed my studies with a Bachelor of Education (specialising in Early Childhood) as well as the Graduate Diploma of Primary Teaching. This is my first teaching position and I feel very privileged to be joining such a wonderful team of teachers. I am excited to start my journey as a teacher and getting to know the children and their whānau.
When I am not at crèche, I am attending dance lessons in Lyrical, Jazz, Ballet and Performance, I also teach dance part time on a Saturday where I teach Jazz, Tap and Ballet. I also enjoy photography, especially landscape or sunset photos.
Arohanui
Jamie
Louise Evans
Kia Ora,
My name is Louise. I live in Devonport with my husband Kane and our three children Ella, Phoebe and Toby. I grew up in Devonport, went to Devonport Primary, Belmont Intermediate and Takapuna Grammar. After graduating from teachers training college with a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood at the end of 1999 I traveled overseas and started an epic bike ride. We started cycling in Spain, over the Pyrenees through France and into Italy. We lived in London for six months where I worked as a teacher then home to start our family.
My first introduction to Crèche was when my daughter Phoebe started in 2007 and I have been lucky enough to be part of the amazing Crèche team since then, sometimes as a reliever and then more recently as a permanent teacher. Crèche certainly has a special place in my heart! I absolutely love working with such an inspired, passionate and professional team of teachers who every day strive to deliver the best quality early childhood education to our fabulous Crèche families. Because Crèche is not for profit it truly allows children to be at the heart of everything we do.
Outside of Crèche I am busy being a mum but sometimes I find time to squeeze in training for an event like the Taupo Cycle Challenge or King Of The Bays. After recently hiking the Kepler track I also discovered a new passion for hiking! I love swimming and surfing too and will try to get to the beach whenever possible.
Arohanui,
Louise
Jaye Stewart
Registered Relief Teacher
I have been involved with the Devonport Community Crèche for more than 30 years. I started when I was on maternity leave from my Headteacher position at Devonport kindergarten and I worked as the teacher for one year when it was situated on Mt Victoria. I am passionate about community and community-based early childhood education. I have seen many changes with the building of the purpose-built centre that is now the Crèche as we know it. I live in Devonport with my family and have been available to work as a reliever at Crèche when I am needed. I bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to this role and a great love for meeting children’s needs in the physical environment, hence when I am not at Crèche I am working in our family business, Swings and Things, with my husband Rob. I believe in developing strong positive relationships with children and their families by providing a warm, caring, safe and exciting environment that affirms and encourages children as learners. We have the autonomy to do best practice. I value the relationships I have formed with the teaching staff over the years and I've always found the Crèche extremely rewarding, action-packed, and a fun place to be.