Craig Johnson
Craig is the owner of Kelburn Preschool & Nursery.
He has been involved with Early Childhood Education for the past 20 years and understands the importance of quality early education to create and nurture inquisitive minds.
In the last few years he has also opened a sister school in Wuxi, China and looks forward to fostering this relationship to allow the children of Kelburn Preschool and Nursery to create new friendships internationally.
“It is a privilege to work with our amazing team of early childhood educators led by Megan Watson but also to be part of the day to day journey of learning and discovery for our tamariki. As a parent myself, I know just how quickly these early childhood years go and I am honoured that our team have an opportunity to be a part of each and every family’s journey.”
Megan Watson
Megan is our Centre Manager and licensee of Kelburn Preschool & Nursery. She has been working in early childhood education for almost 20 years and values relationships while being committed to building reciprocal, responsive and meaningful connections with tamariki, their families/whānau and teachers. She is a mother to a teenage son and enjoys spending time with her family and going on bike rides.
“I am passionate about Early Childhood education because it provides the foundation in curiosity and confidence that children will need as they learn and develop valuable social, mental, emotional and physical skills and knowledge in preparation for their next challenge in life.”
Abby Luff
Abby is one of our teachers.
Abby has been teaching for 7 years and has a genuine love for spending time with children.
She is passionate and enthusiastic about creating sensory experiences through play including music, dancing and of course messy play.
“I am excited to join the Kelburn Preschool & Nursery family and look forward to creating a warm and welcoming environment for your children flourish in. I value forming strong connections with children so that they feel safe and comfortable to fully express and discover themselves.”
Aude Luciathe
Aude is one of teachers. Aude moved to New Zealand from the beautiful region of Champagne, France and has been calling Wellington home since 2008. She has spent the last 12 years teaching French while raising her daughter in the windy city. 2 years ago, she was compelled to complete her postgraduate diploma in early childhood education as she enjoyed engaging with children and is passionate about understanding what truly interests them to support their curiosity.
“I believe in treating children with respect and providing warm loving interactions. I aim to provide children with a safe, fun and stimulating environment in which they can learn new skills and develop their interests. Et voilà!”.
Gillian Lanham
Gillian is our is one of our teachers. With 3 grown tamariki and 1 grandson, Gillian has a wealth of early childhood education knowledge. She is passionate about understanding tamariki at a deeper level to provide reciprocal teaching and learning opportunities while guiding them to explore their surroundings in preparation to make their mark on the world.
She is an avid cook who enjoys whipping up a meal for her family gathering and going for ocean swims out at Island Bay.
“Kaiako can make an important contribution to a child’s growth and achievements. I believe that it is important to support tamariki to thrive to the best of their abilities. It is important to provide opportunities for children to make their thinking visible and then foster further learning and engagement.”
Emily O’Connor
Emily is our accounts and administration manager. Originally from Nelson, Emily attended Victoria University where she studied accounting.
Growing up in a household with two older brothers and a younger sister, she enjoyed the quality time she was able spend with her family and more recently with her nieces and nephews.