Our teaching team

We are a team of skilled and responsive teachers who work well together and respect children as capable and competent learners. We are all qualified, registered and dedicated to early childhood education and have worked together as a team for a number of years. Michelle and Lorraine have been with the daycare centre since it opened.

OUR TEAM

The teaching team is committed to ongoing learning, especially about the arts, and visual arts in particular. We participate in regular professional development offered by recognised providers, and contribute to the professional development of other early childhood educators through conferences, seminars and workshops.

Margarita

Margarita Sampayo

Owner& Centre Manager

I'm Margarita, owner and centre manager at St Andrews Epsom ECC. Originally from Russia, I discovered my passion for working with young children after moving to NZ. I have a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and have worked in the private sector of early childhood education. My personal philosophy is based on mutual respect and open communication with children, parents, and teachers.

Lorraine Andrewes

Supervisor

I am a talented and enthusiastic teacher with broad experience in early childhood education and the health sector as a play specialist. I bring strengths in the visual arts and general craziness! My qualifications are a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education.

Miriam Hartmann

Teacher

I enjoy bringing music to Kindy. I play the cello and am known for breaking into song! Working with young children keeps me enthusiastic for life! I love their energy. Between my three children they play trumpet, guitar and violin. I volunteer at my local maunga (Big King) Te Tātua-a- Riukiuta. My Qualifications are B.Mus and a Grad Dip in Education.

Dhanu Ravichandar

Teacher

My love for the NZ ECE curriculum brought me to New Zealand to study further and I have worked in NZ ECE since 2016. I enjoy singing, action songs, reading and dancing. I admire our centre’s philosophy and how it values the importance of children’s learning through arts.

We couldn’t ask for a better kindy and staff. We know our daughter will start school all the more prepared because of her time at St AndrewsEpsom.

Matt and Renee Sterne