top of page

About Us : Our Teachers

Owner/Director

Zoe Russell

Kia ora, my name is Zoe and Bright Beginnings is a Family owned and operated preschool with Children at the heart of every decision. My passion for teaching children started with dance teaching, I have since worked as a nanny in London, volunteered in orphanages in Africa and taught in a variety of different preschools in New Zealand and Australia before purchasing Bright Beginnings with my Family. I love travelling, reading, going for walks and spending time with my Husband, daughter, family and friends.

I have a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (ECE) and I am a fully Certificated Teacher. I also have my Montessori Diploma.

Ngā mihi nui.

Centre Manager

Hayley Evans

Hi I’m Hayley, 

I have been working for Bright Beginnings for 15 years, and have had time off over the last three years to have two children. Matilda has just turned 3 and Archibald is 15 months. They both attend BBM with me.
We live in Rolleston and we love to spend time together as a family of four. We enjoy visiting Willowbank, swimming, biking and kayaking over in Duvauchelle and Akaroa.I hold a Bachelor of Teaching, have full NZ teachers certification and a Montessori Diploma.

Nursery

Pukeko Room

Melissa Wu

Pukeko Room 

Head Teacher

Kia Ora, my name is Melissa. Originally I come from Beijing the capital of China, and have been living in New Zealand since 2002. I graduated with a diploma in ECE and have been teaching in three different centres over the last 12 years. I hold a Full NZ teachers certification. I believe strongly in creating an environment where children and their whānau are respected and valued. Travelling is one of my interests, I also enjoy reading and spending time with friends and family. I love the joy of working with young children and I am looking forward to getting to know you and your family.

Tanyka.jpg

Tanyka Grieve

Pukeko Room 

Transition Kaitiaki

Hi, I'm Tanyka! I am orignally from Wales but moved to NZ when I was 14 so I have been here a fair few years now (however if my accent can sound a bit funny at times -this is why!) I have recently returned to Rolleston after living in Timaru for the past 4 years with my husband Luke and our border collie Alfie. I have been teaching for over 6 years now and I am a fully registered teacher. I hold a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Performing Arts and a Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education with full NZ teacher certification.
Areas of interests of mine are ensuring the environment is set up in an engaging way that ignites the children’s play in a fun and exciting way. I also have a passion around nurturing our emotional wellbeing and talking to the children about the way they are feeling, supporting them through their emotions and reading stories around this ensuring we are building up their emotional literacy. I look forward to getting to know you and your family more and finding out all the fun things you enjoy doing too!

Varshana.jpg

Varshana Schelling

Kia ora, my name is Varshana and I was born in Christchurch, New Zealand and have lived here for most of my life.

My qualification is a Master in Teaching and Learning and I currently hold my provisional teachers certification. Although this is my first teaching job, I have been a figure skating coach for seven years and this is where my passion for working with tamariki emerged. From a young age I have been very physically active; I began ballet dancing when I was 6 years old and when I was 14 years old, I started figure skating. Now, I play ice hockey regularly as a fun way to keep my fitness up and I also enjoy walking, baking, reading novels and spending time with my family and friends. I am excited about the opportunity of providing your tamariki with the best care and education they can receive here at Bright Beginnings Montessori.

Ngā mihi nui, .

IMG_0565.jpeg

Aimee May

Kia Ora, my name is Aimee, my passion for children started when I was 19 years old where I got my first early childhood job. Almost 11 years later I am just as passionate providing children with the best start possible by helping them to learn, develop and grow. I live in Rolleston with my Husband and our baby boy Liam. We like to spend our weekends with our family and exploring the outdoors by going for walks.  I hold a Diploma of Teaching and I hold a full NZ teachers certification. Ngā mihi nui.

Anna.jpg

Anna Du Pisani

Kia Ora, my name is Anna-Patricia but you can just call me Anna.  I'm from South Africa and I have a Bachelor's Degree in Pre-School and Foundation Phase and my NZ ProvisionalTeacher Certification.  I love working with children, reading books, doing messy play and some creative activities.  

I like to relax on weekends and do fun things with my husband and two wonderful children.  I am so excited to get to know everyone! 

Melissa Groenewegen

Melissa G.jpg

Hi, my name is Melissa. I moved to Rolleston from Wellington with my partner and our 5 year old daughter in 2016. I enjoy working with children and have previously been a reliever before joining the Bright Beginnings teaching team in the nursery. In my spare time I enjoy reading, swimming and spending time with family. 

Dolores.jpg

Dolores Caballero

Kia ora, my name is Dolores. I am from Argentina. I arrived in New Zealand in 2019 with my husband. In 2021, our little boy Isidro was born.

 

I am an Educational Psychologist. Before coming, I used to work in a Neurology Institute, doing neuropsychological assessments and rehabilitation to children with learning disabilities and neurodevelopmental disorders.

I have worked in Bright Beginnings since I came to NZ in 2019. I really enjoy being part of children’s growth and learning, and my motivation is to contribute my grain of sand in these future adults’ hearts, by providing them a loving, caring, welcoming and inviting environment.

 

I love spending time with my family and friends. We like going camping, swimming and for picnics.

Preschool

Butterfly Room

Hannah Green

Butterfly Room 

 Head Teacher

Hello my name is Hannah and I am a teacher in the Butterfly Room. I hold a Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education and I am provisionally certificated. I have been working at Bright Beginnings Montessori for 5 years. I live with my partner, baby boy and dog. In my spare time, I play football and love to do anything adventures. I also have a passion for circus arts and enjoy juggling and riding my unicycle.

Tanyka.jpg

Butterfly Room 

 Acting Head Teacher

Hi, I'm Tanyka! I am orignally from Wales but moved to NZ when I was 14 so I have been here a fair few years now (however if my accent can sound a bit funny at times -this is why!) I have recently returned to Rolleston after living in Timaru for the past 4 years with my husband Luke and our border collie Alfie. I have been teaching for over 6 years now and I am a fully registered teacher. I hold a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Performing Arts and a Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education with full NZ teacher certification.
Areas of interests of mine are ensuring the environment is set up in an engaging way that ignites the children’s play in a fun and exciting way. I also have a passion around nurturing our emotional wellbeing and talking to the children about the way they are feeling, supporting them through their emotions and reading stories around this ensuring we are building up their emotional literacy. I look forward to getting to know you and your family more and finding out all the fun things you enjoy doing too!

Nykita.jpg

Kia ora, My name is Nykita and I have been working in ECE since
2018. I am currently working towards my Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) while I study online through New Zealand Tertiary College.
I am passionate about building reciprocal relationships filled with
care and aroha and value implementing and role modelling respectful practice.
My interests outside of work include trying to keep active and
spending as much time as I can with my family and friends. Ever since
I was young, I have been passionate towards children. This has become more evident since becoming an aunty in the past few years. I am looking forward to meeting and working together with you all!

Nykita Graham

Diana.jpg

Diana (Xiaowen) Hu

On Maternity Leave October 2022

Kia ora, my name is Diana and I am a teacher in the Butterfly room as well as supporting the Pukeko room some days. I have previously worked as a preschool teacher for 3 years in China and then have been continuing my passion for this career in New Zealand since 2019. I am provisionally certificated with Graduate Diploma in Teaching (ECE). I am keen on providing children with different types of indoor and outdoor learning experiences which can facilitate their holistic development. I love baking, jogging and hiking with my husband and friends in my leisure time. I look forward to getting to know all tamariki and whanau.

Ngā mihi nui. 

Kimberly Mcleod

unnamed.jpg

Kia ora, my name is Kim,

I am pleased to be one of your Child’s Kaiako in the Butterfly room at Bright Beginnings Montessori . I am currently working towards my Bachelor of teaching (ECE). I have worked at another Montessori preschool for 4 years in Christchurch but have recently moved to the Rolleston area. I have a 6 year old Son called Cayden who is at Burnham school.

I am passionate about helping tamariki to be the best versions of themselves. I also share a passion for music and dancing, believing it is important to be part of the children’s everyday life. I look forward to getting to know you and your children more. Feel free to come and introduce yourself to me and say hello.

08.jpg
IMG-2150.jpg

Wei Jiang

Ni Hao, Kia Ora! My name is Wei and I am originally from China. When I arrived in New Zealand in 2011, I fell in love with this beautiful country and was determined to be an early childhood teacher.

I have lived in Auckland for 8 years and then moved down to Rolleston with my husband and son in 2019. I have been teaching for nearly 9 years now and I am a fully registered teacher. I hold a Master of Foreign Linguistic and Applied Linguistics and a Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood). I strongly believe that every child is unique and must be provided time and space to fulfil their potential; family/ whānau are the core of early childhood education and they should be respected and valued all the time. I love gardening, reading and yoga.

Bernie Gray 

Hi my name is Bernie, I've been teaching at Bright Beginnings for nearly six years, with a small break to do some retirement work. I live with my partner and three children on a farm. I am currently studying for my diploma in Montessori. I love spending time with my family going to various mini golf courses, walks and working out in the paddocks with the livestock. I have always had a passion for working with children of all ages.

Preschool

Fantail Room

Serena.jpg

Serena Costello

Kia ora my name is Serena.  I hold a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning in Primary and a Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood and I’m a fully certificated teacher. Developing children’s music and movement is a passion of mine. I love to set up new obstacle courses to further extend tamariki.  I have recently returned to teaching after being on maternity leave. In my spare time I like to go for walks with my partner and son Joshua. I look forward to meeting the tamariki and whānau.

Ngā mihi nui

IMG-2147.jpg

Maria Pia Caballero Sonzini

My name is Pia and I am from Argentina. I have recently arrived in New Zealand with my husband and my two daughters, Julia and Jacinta. We are all so excited to be in such an amazing country!
I have a degree in English language teaching, and I have worked in a preschool for 15 years. I have a passion for helping children reach their full potential and develop their skills, by providing them with opportunities, experiences, and meaningful learning situations. My favourite teaching resources are singing, acting and playing.
Also, I have a certificate in Positive Discipline. I strongly believe that children do better when they feel better, and that mutual respect, firmness and kindness at the same time are the basis for their learning and development.
In my free time, I love spending time with my family and friends.
I can’t wait to meet you all!

Aysha Shahid

Hi I'm Rach, I have been teaching for over 20 years and I love seeing children blossom to their true potential. I live in Rolleston with my husband and two children. In my spare time I love to catch up with my family, friends and pets, potter in the garden, do crafty stuff, bake  and read. I hold a Diploma of Teaching and I hold a full NZ teachers certification.

Rachael Jones

Kate.jpg

Kia ora whānau and tamariki, my name is Kate. I live here in Rolleston with my Husband, Will and our two children, Victoria and Arthur. We spend our weekends in the garden trying to cram in more fruit trees or out on adventures on the many playgrounds around. I am passionate about creating a love of learning and tamariki learning to face challenges with a smile. I hold a Bachelors of Teaching and Learning in ECE, a Diploma in Montessori Education and a Full NZ Teachers certification.

Kate Chaney 

IMG-2150.jpg

Ni Hao, Kia Ora! My name is Wei and I am originally from China. When I arrived in New Zealand in 2011, I fell in love with this beautiful country and was determined to be an early childhood teacher.

I have lived in Auckland for 8 years and then moved down to Rolleston with my husband and son in 2019. I have been teaching for nearly 9 years now and I am a fully registered teacher. I hold a Master of Foreign Linguistic and Applied Linguistics and a Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood). I strongly believe that every child is unique and must be provided time and space to fulfil their potential; family/ whānau are the core of early childhood education and they should be respected and valued all the time. I love gardening, reading and yoga.

Wei Jiang

Regular Relieving Teachers

bottom of page