| Our Team
Petrea Paterson
Certificate in Froebel & Childhood Practice (University of Edinburgh), Diploma in Teaching (Kindergarten), Higher Diploma of Teaching, B Ed (ECE)
Petrea is our Lead Teacher & Kaiako Extraordinaire with 30 years experience in early learning with roles spanning the areas of Teaching, Head Teaching, funding support and mentoring.
With a well-earned reputation for her relationship building skills with tamariki, whanau and the wider community, Petrea is well-liked and respected by her peers.
Petrea is inspired and guided by the principles and pedagogy of Friedrich Froebel and Te Whāriki and is committed to fostering a sense of Kaitiakitanga for our Seven Stars children
Bailey Gareze
Bailey is our Administrator. Mum to Theo and Everly, she has been at home cooking, baking and playing with Theo and Evvy for the past five years. Previously she enjoyed her role as a flight attendant with both Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia.
Bailey loves meeting new families and introducing them to the wonderful world of Seven Stars and is very much looking forward to meeting you.
Chances are it will be Bailey who will answer the phone when you call!
Cecilia Sukmadjaja
Graduate Diploma in Teaching (ECE)
Japan-born, West Auckland-raised and of Chinese-Indonesian descent, Cecilia associates herself with a myriad of cultures. This, as well as her humble roots babysitting relatives then leading Sunday School have paved the way for her journey into ECE.
Cecilia studied child psychology, before pursuing her teaching degree.
Her intentions as a kaiako are to foster a sense of belonging within each tamariki through unlocking and empowering their unique creativity.
Valerie Fletcher
Bachelor of Teaching (ECE)
Valerie has been in in the teaching profession for many years beginning with roles in Waitakere City Council after school school programmes.
During her time in ECE she has taken on a host of roles including Kaiako and Centre Director, until she made the decision to return to her passion of being on the floor building responsive, reciprocal and respectful relationships with tamariki, kaiako and whānau.
Valerie is looking forward to continuing her teaching journey as part of the Seven Stars Kindergarten family.
Sela Tamatoa
Sela began working at her first childcare centre in 2021 and found it a very rewarding and fulfilling experience.
She grew up around a lot of children and found her passion for working with children came from those early experiences.
Sela plans to begin her studies towards a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Teaching early next year and is looking forward to becoming a fully qualified Kaiako.
In her spare time, Sela enjoys delving into the world of crystals and herbal teas and learning about their healing properties and benefits.
Louisa Mohan-Druce
Louisa (Lou) is of Cook Island and British descent and lives with her husband and son on their farm in Waitakere.
She is a nurturing and passionate teacher with more than 12 years working in Early Childhood Education.
When she enrolled her son into Seven Stars, she says she fell in love with the centre, its values and, of course, the amazing teachers … she started working for us not long after!
Mina Prip
He maha tonu ngā tū momo mahi-kaupapa mātauranga, kaupapa hāpori hoki- kua tutuki i a Mina i ngā tau rua tekau kua hipa. Ko tāna mahi ki Seven Stars, he tautoko, he whakamanawa hoki i ngā kaiako kia pakari ake, kia māia ake ki te kōrero i te reo, ki te poipoi hoki i ngā uara me te ahurea Māori kia whai tikanga ai mō ngā tamariki me ngā whānau ō Seven Stars.
Mina, No Tūhoe, has worked in community and education based roles for more than 20 years. At Seven Stars she will guide and support kaiako to develop their knowledge and grow their confidence to weave Te Reo Māori and culture into everyday practice, contributing to a rich environment where language, identity and culture are valued.
Kanitta Sirkham
Kanitta was born in Thailand and raised in Kaitaia in the Far North.
Mum to two beautiful daughters, Kanitta has developed her passion for ECE working at the local play centre and she currently runs the SPACE programme when she’s not with us at Seven Stars.
Kanitta started with us as a reliever in 2023 and has since developed strong bonds with the tamariki and their whānau and is excited to continue building these relationships in her permanent role.
Anne Denham & Lynda Harris
Anne and Lynda run and are co-directors of AMA Associates and Seven Stars Kindergarten is one of a number of ECE initiatives that they have recently brought to fruition.
They are passionate educators with a broad range of experience, each with more than 30 years in the sector, both in front of children and families and in the background working on policy and professional development training.
Anne is of Te Rarawa and Te Aupouri descent, and has worked as Teacher, Head and Specialist Teacher, ECE Advisor and Consultant in New Zealand and the UK.
Lynda has worked as Teacher, Head Teacher, Oranga Tamariki specialist, a Child and Family Advocate and sector consultant.
Lea Delanto
Lea was born and raised in the Philippines and moved to New Zealand in 2015. She previously worked as a full-time Kaiako Assistant with us in 2021 and is now back as one of our Casuals team.
The eldest of five, Lea has always been interested in teaching and began assisting her Aunt with Sunday school when she was just 12 years old.
Lea is inspired by her two grandmothers who were both strong and talented women who had a significant influence on her life.
In 2024, Lea is studying ECE at Unitech.