OUR TEACHING TEAM
Joy Leigh - Acting Head Of School
Joy has grown up locally and now lives in Warkworth with her husband and 3 girls. She has worked in the Primary Sector Since 2012. Her passion lies in offering the community an alternative approach to Primary education, one that places the developmental needs of children at the forefront of teaching methods, fostering their journey toward intellectual independence. She has a Masters Degree in Education and is currently completing the AMI 6 - 12 Montessori diploma completed by July 2025.
"The secret of good teaching is to regard the child's intelligence as a fertile field in which seeds may be sown, to grow under the heat of flaming imagination." Dr Maria Montessori
Jane Watson - Montessori Lead Guide
Jane worked in mainstream education for many years before completing her AMI Montessori 6-12 Diploma in Bergamo, Italy. After working in a Montessori school in Switzerland for 3 months, she returned home to help establish the MMPT Montessori class at Matakana School where she worked as the lead teacher for 7 years. Jane has enthusiastically come out of retirement to help get Nīkau school established.
Sarah Brockie - Outdoor Classroom Lead
Sarah is a New Zealand trained Primary teacher who has recently returned from twenty five years spent as an international educator. During this time she has taught primary children of various ages and held leadership roles in Taiwan, Hungary and Hong Kong. Teaching is one of Sarah’s greatest passions. She loves the reward of knowing her students both personally, and as learners. In fostering a life-long love of learning, Sarah places great importance in planning experiences that promote inquiry, creativity and collaboration. She aims to build a community that cares for each other, values difference and has kindness and respect at its core.
Pui Yinn Liew - Montessori Assistant
Kia ora! Pui Yinn is thrilled to call beautiful Auckland her home since immigrating from Malaysia in 2007. She has over two decades of passion for Montessori, starting out in Early Childhood. It has always been a dream to teach Primary, so she is currently on the AMI 6-12 Diploma, set to be completed in July 2025.
When she isn’t immersed in Montessori education, you can find her exploring the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand through tramping or hiking. In her spare time, she delves into a bit of sewing, crafting Montessori materials by hand, and giving a personalized touch to learning resources.
She is excited to join this vibrant community! She brings with HER a world of experience, passion, warmth, and a touch of adventure.