Our team of highly experienced early childhood education Kaitakawaenga | Facilitators are currently working in the following Strengthening Early Learning Opportunities (SELO) projects. Click on the images below to read more …
Kaitakawaenga | Facilitators
SUJATHA GOMATHINAYAGAM
MEd, MComm, PGDipEd, BEd, GradDipTchg(ECE)
Sujatha has been an educator for over 15 years in New Zealand. Her training, teaching and lecturing experience has given her an understanding of varied philosophies, theories, policies and operations in a range of early childhood services. She is currently researching the discourse of language, culture and identify of migrant families in Aotearoa.
NGAWAI HAITANA-TUHORO
BEd
As an experienced teacher, manager and virtual learning educator in a variety of educational settings from kōhanga reo to secondary school, Ngawai embodies the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in her mahi to promote culturally responsive pedagogical practices in order to raise Māori student outcomes.
HUINGA JACKSON-GREENLAND
MEd, PGDipEd&PLD, BEd, DipTchg(ECE)
Huinga originally trained as a primary school teacher at Epsom Teachers College, Auckland. For more than 25 years she has been involved with advocating for and promoting the value and importance of early childhood education for children and families/whānau. Through working alongside a diverse range of teachers in both the primary and early childhood sectors, she has developed deep cultural knowledge and understanding.
SHELLEY NIKORA
MEd(1st class Hons), BEd(Hons)
Shelley joined the Tātai Angitu team in 2020. She has worked in a range of early childhood services and tertiary organisations, combining her passion for research and inquiry by focusing on high quality outcomes with tamariki and positioning kaiako to engage, learn and extend their knowledge to add to their kete.
MICHELLE SOMERVILLE
DipTchg(ECE)
Michelle has just returned to the Tātai Angitu team having spent the last 10 months as Senior Teacher with He Whānau Manaaki Kindergarten Association in Wellington. Her main areas of strength are in the governance and management of early childhood services across Aotearoa New Zealand.
KAYLA TEFONO McNEILL
BEd(Tchg)(ECE)
With over 18 years’ teaching and leadership experience in early childhood education services in the Wellington and Kāpiti regions, Kayla has a strong understanding of the challenges faced by kaiako and is passionate about equitable opportunities for tamariki and whānau. Using her knowledge of Tātaiako, Tapasā and He Māpuyna te Tamaiti, she has devised strategies and processes to ensure kaupapa and outcomes for the learning community are meaningfully used.
DR LESIELI TONGATI’O
PhD, MEd, BEd(Hons), DipTchg
Lesieli brings authentic Pasifika knowledge, skills and experiences, connecting different contexts and curriculum areas across Te Whāriki and its links to the NZ Curriculum Framework. She has a deep understanding of Tapasā and the cultural competencies framework for teachers of Pacific learners. Lesieli works with kaiako to build knowledge, apply research and evidence across early learning, schools, tertiary education and beyond.
Contact us at SELO@massey.ac.nz for more information.