About us
Meet our Small Miracles Kaiako
If you’re looking for very special preschool teachers to share your child’s early learning journey, you’re in luck. Take it from the testimonials of our tamariki and their caregivers: the Small Miracles team are highly qualified NZ Early Learning teachers who adore their days with our preschool whānau.
A Passionate, Early Learning Teacher Team who love play-based learning in Auckland, NZ
Naturally, all of our teachers are highly qualified and meet the criteria for teachers of the NZ Te Whariki Curriculum. Every day is a new adventure where we get to explore new ways of learning exploration with our children. Led by Ingrid de Villiers, our Kaikao have a wealth of experience and a shared philosophy that supports play-based learning. If you’re looking to join our team and you are a qualified Early Learning Teacher NZ, contact us.
HEAD TEACHER
Ingrid De Villiers
The ever smiling Ingrid de Villiers is the Team Leader and Head Teacher at Small Miracles. Small Miracles has become a huge part of her life since she has been living in New Zealand since 1998. Happily married to Toerien, together they have a daughter, Charlotte, who is married and lives in the Hawkes Bay.
Originally, Ingrid graduated with a BA Ed in South Africa where she taught Geography, History and English at Secondary School level.
In New Zealand Ingrid taught English at an English Language School. She also worked as an unqualified pre-school teacher. Ingrid decided that this was the career path she wanted to pursue and did a Degree in Early Childhood Education at the University of Auckland. Additionally, she has Full Registration as an ECE teacher.
A familiar face to many Small MIracles Alumni, Ingrid has been teaching at Small Miracles since 2005. She is passionate about Early Childhood Education, play-based learning and her role at Small Miracles.
Tamariki gravitate to Ingrid’s calm personality and great sense of humour. She is certainly a favourite early learning teacher in St Heliers and we like to think NZ!
“I believe in providing a nurturing environment where each child is encouraged to develop to their fullest potential so that they will thrive and become confident, competent learners and know that they are valued.”
Small Miracles TEACHER NZ
Martha McKinnon
Martha McKinnon has been working in childcare and education for over 7 years in New Zealand. Holding a Bachelor of Business, Martha came to NZ from Colombia and feel in love with childcare which is her real passion in life.
“Now that I have my own child my place at Small Miracles becomes even clearer – seeing the continuity of care between families and preschool is what makes for thriving, happy children who feel part of our whanau.”
EARLY LEARNING ECE TEACHER NZ
Sharon Blackman
The lovely Sharon Blackman has nearly 30 years teaching experience, completing her teacher training in South Africa. After emigrating to NZ Sharon continued working in the Early Childhood Sector in New Zealand. Well-known in the community, Sharon has spent the past 19 years in centres as well as running GymbaROO, a neurodevelopment programme for children from birth to 5 years. Sharon is passionate about supporting children to develop to the best of their genetic potential. Through her interest in sensory and perceptual motor development she is passionate about developing body control and coordination. Always generous in sharing her knowledge, Sharon knows this is fundamental for all intellectual functioning and that insufficient perceptual motor development is the root cause of many learning hiccups. Outside of work Sharon loves spending time with her husband, three grown up children and very cute granddaughter, family and friends.
“My goal is to support whole child development by providing opportunities for each child to experience success so that they can grow their confidence(emotional intelligence) in order to develop physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually.”
EARLY LEARNING ECE TEACHER NZ
Sophie Lewis
Sophie is a qualified and registered early childhood teacher from England. She began her teaching career as a secondary school teacher in London and has also worked as a primary school teacher. After attending Playcentre she became a qualified early childhood teacher, completing a Graduate Diploma in Teaching (ECE) in 2017. She has taught in both kindergarten and crèche environments in Auckland. Sophie has lived in New Zealand since 2005 and is
married with three school aged children.
“I believe that children thrive in rich learning environments where they are treated with respect and are encouraged to pursue their unique learning journeys”
Small Miracles TEACHER NZ
Helen Bingley
Helen started working at Small Miracles as an Educational Support Worker, but we love her so much that we convinced her to work here full time. She brings an enormous wealth of childcare knowledge.
