As our school grows, so too does our staff. Welcome to our newest members of the Te Ao Mārama Team!

This week, we welcomed Buffy Nepia and Deborah Anderson as Inclusive Learning Assistants, and Danielle Head as a part-time teacher. 

Buffy Nepia
Tēnā koutou katoa, Ko Buffy Nepia tõku ingoa. Ko Tõngariro te maunga Ko Taupo te moana Ko Tūwharetoa te iwi Ko Te Heuheu te tangata! He uri ano no Te Atihaunui a paparangi.

I'm very humbled and excited to join an amazing learning environment Te Ao Mārama whānau as new inclusive learning assistant.

I am mother of 3 adult children and grandmother of 7 mokopuna, four of whom are foundation students of the Te Ao Mārama community.

I have many years of experience working in Kohanga reo preschool and Kura kaupapa Māori both in Turangi and Whanganui. Other areas of skill health disability advocacy oral health educator whanauora family whānau services also volunteer for cancer society.

I enjoy baking jewellery making, yoga, holistic healing and quality time with my whānau.

Deborah Anderson
Kia Ora! Aroha ki te whānau o Te Ao Mārama! Hello to my new family here at Te Ao Mārama school. My name is Deborah Anderson and I am thrilled to be joining an incredible team of learners and staff as an Inclusive Learning Assistant.

My background is in education and I am passionate about learning and language. I look forward to guiding our tamariki with English as a second language and becoming a part of this vibrant community.

My home is Kirikiriroa and I live here with my husband Kris and our two children Eli (six) and Lucy (four). As a whānau we are avid gardeners, love exploring nature, enjoy cooking (and eating!) and getting messy with arts and crafts!

Thank you all for welcoming me, I look forward to our journey together. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou!

Danielle Head
Kia Ora Koutou, my name is Danielle Head and I am very excited to be joining the team at Te Ao Mārama.

I am currently working part time at Vardon School combined with being a stay at home mum. One of my passions is dance and I am looking forward to sharing this with the students at Te Ao Mārama.  As a teacher I love finding creative ways to integrate curriculum areas, making learning fun. I re-trained as a teacher after working as a journalist for a few years so I enjoy sharing my love of literacy with children as well.

I am married and have two very active children, the eldest of whom has just turned five and has started at Te Ao Mārama, following many friends from Cumberland Early Education Centre. Together we love exploring our beautiful country with picnics, bush walks and trips to the beach.