TMET Trustees and Contacts

I have been involved in Montessori education for over 20 years, firstly as a teacher at both pre and primary level. I spent three years at St Nicholas teachers’ college in Dublin, Ireland, where I studied Montessori Education: Birth-12 years. I have worked in a variety of primary and preschools in Ireland and in New Zealand, and I established a preschool called Montessori Helen’s Bay in County Down, Ireland, which I sold before backpacking through Africa.

There I met Grant, a Kiwi, who was heading back to NZ after his OE. After numerous African adventures, I decided to head to New Zealand where we married and have had four children: Henry, Charlotte, Freddie and Patrick, all of whom have attended Montessori@Bellevue.

As a family we are involved in Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service in the summer, along with rugby and hockey. I enjoy triathlons, half Ironmen and have faced and beaten the challenge of Ironman. This was perhaps the biggest challenge I have undertaken but it certainly taught me a great deal about myself and my mental fortitude, and to complete it was an achievement I am truly proud of.

My role as EO allows me to continue my passion for Montessori education. I oversee both of our schools and ensure that our teachers and wider school community are supported in their mission of delivering the NZ curriculum using the Montessori philosophy. This is done through organising professional development, keeping abreast of new curriculum developments and liaising with the principals and BOTs of both schools. I am also involved in supporting parent meetings where we offer education and information around Montessori curriculum and philosophy.

I am always happy to have a coffee and a chat with anyone and am open to all suggestions – you can always catch me in the school car park, at Montessori@Bellevue, or by sending me an email. It is an honour to be part of TMET, and I look forward to the continued success of our Trust and the growth of our current primary schools.

My four children attended Little Sweethearts (now Daisy Cottage) preschool in Mount Maunganui before graduating to Montessori@Bellevue. The oldest three have subsequently moved on to intermediate and college, with the transition to mainstream education from Montessori being seamless. This has given me an added perspective of the life skills that Montessori students accumulate during their time in preschool and primary, and parent trust in the pedagogy being a long game. My children thrived in their respective Montessori classrooms and I feel truly grateful that they were able to experience an education philosophy that celebrated their individual strengths and allowed them to learn and progress at their own pace.

I enjoy being part of our wonderful Montessori community and working with dedicated parents in my role with TMET. Professionally, I spent the bulk of my working life in the City of London’s investment banking sector first as an Economist and then in fixed income derivative sales and the fund of funds space. After having children I undertook wide ranging volunteer roles within Playcentre and Plunket. Currently, I am serving as Chairperson on a local school Board of Trustees.

My personal interests include health and nutrition, music, interior design and property.  I also enjoy watching TED talks and spend way too much time reading about politics overseas.

Karin is a Chartered Accountant, she is on the local committee for Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand BOP and Treasurer of the Karin’s two girls attended Bethlehem and Otumoetai Montossori preschool and have remained on that journey ever since.

Her passion is to support her clients through any challenges they may be facing and focus on forward planning and business growth. Karin along with her husband own Danish Furniture Limited so draws on her own personal experience in running a business to support clients.

You will find Karin running around the estuary Tuesday and Friday mornings and escaping on camping missions with her family at every opportunity.

Julie has a wealth of knowledge and is passionate about the value that Montessori education brings to the lives of our children and wider communities. Julie and her husband Kurt fell in love with the Montessori way when they were up in Auckland and their children, Zach and Isobel, attended Marshwood Montessori, St Heliers. When they moved to Papamoa they continued the children’s Montessori education with Zach enrolling at Montessori@Artaki and Isobel attending Montessori Milestones preschool in Papamoa. Both children are now in the M@A classroom Julie is a working mum and enjoys balancing her job in strategy at Zespri (and eating lots of healthy kiwifruit) with spending quality time with her family. She is excited to join the Trust to support TMET and our schools as we continue to grow our Montessori children and communities, and watch them flourish.

Kia ora, my name is Donna, and it is a great privilege to be given the opportunity to work in the Montessori unit. I have been teaching for the last 20 years, six of these years I have spent teaching at international schools around the world.

I am passionate about children making their own choices.

I read a lovely quote that sums up my philosophy:
“Instead of the teacher reaching up into the world of knowledge and bringing it down for the children to access, the teacher lifts the child up so they can access it themselves.”

I am a qualified chef, beekeeper, Garden to Table expert, and my home gardening demonstrates my commitment to sustainable living.

I have spent two years in Junior Montessori and I can honestly say this is ‘my jam’.