Team Tūī

Threes & Up @ 322 Albert Street

  • Lisa

    Head Teacher - Qualified Registered Teacher

    I have my Bachelor of Education – Early Years and I am fully registered. I have been part of Tūī since 2006. I took a year’s maternity leave when I had my daughter and joined Tūī Threes & Up in 2010 where I then became Head Teacher in 2015. I am a bit of a goof ball and bring my sense of fun into my teaching, I enjoy showing children that grown ups can have fun in their work and express their individuality.

  • Fiona

    Qualified Registered Teacher

    I have my Bachelor of Education (teaching) in ECE and I am fully registered, I have been working at Tūī 3 since 2008, taking a 7mth break for maternity leave in 2011. I enjoy carrying out the project approach with this age group and learn something new every time. I also enjoy seeing how children grow and develop during their time with us at Tūī Threes & Up.

  • Megan

    Qualified Registered Teacher

    I have my Bachelor of Teaching in ECE and I have completed my teacher registration process. I have been part of Tūī for a long time, starting as a student in 2012, relieving for 2 years and then working full time at Tūī Threes & Up since Nov 2016. I am a big kid at heart and love to get stuck in with the children, playing alongside them and sharing in their fun and laughter.

  • Maha

    Qualified Registered Teacher

    I have my Bachelor of Education in Early Years (0-8) from Massey University College of Education and am fully registered. I have been working with children since 2000, first as a caregiver through kid start for ten years, then as a teacher at Montessori preschool for two years. I have been working at Tūī Early Learners since 2011. My special passion in early childhood is working with young children while helping them to develop, learn and reach their full potential.

  • Melissa

    Qualified Registered Teacher

    I am passionate about children’s wellbeing and education. I am dedicated to supporting and scaffolding their learning and development within a supportive team environment. I believe that building relationships with family, whanau and their tamariki is the way to understand and respect tamariki as individuals and to be able to be part of their continual learning journey.

  • Champa

    Teacher Aide

    Hi I’m Champa and I have been working at Tūī Twos & Tots since 2001.  I come from Sri Lanka and now live in Palmerston North with my husband and am a mother to two lovely sons.

  • Vai

    Teacher Aide

    I have been at Tūī Threes & Up since 2020. I have been in New Zealand since 2007 where I live with my beautiful family (husband, son and daughter) I studied at Massey University, Palmerston North and I love to work with children as they are our future leaders! I support the children’s physical, emotional and social development. My home country is Sri Lanka and my mother tongue is Thamil, and I am now interested in Te Reo and learning its components.

  • Sarah

    Teacher Aide

    Kia Ora whānau
    Ko Sarah Ahau
    Ko Apiti ahau
    Ēngari kei to noho ahau i Papaioea inainei 

    Hi, I’m Sarah and I am delighted to be a part of the Tūī 3 teaching team. I have been a part of the Tūī whānau for many years as I went to Tūī when I was a young tamariki. 

    I enjoy reading and photography. I can’t wait to continue to work alongside tamariki as they learn and discover the world around them.


  • Robert

    Early Intervention Specialist

    Kia Ora koutou, ko Robert toku ingoa.
    I’m a qualified registered teacher.
    I started working for Tūī in 2007 as a reliever and started teacher training in 2012. I became a Qualified Registered Teacher in 2014 and was the Head Teacher at Tūī Young Investigators from 2016-2022. I am currently completing a 2 year postgraduate diploma in Specialist Teaching: Early Intervention with Massey University.

    I love being an Early Childhood Teacher because I believe it is a privilege to help children to realise their learning potential in their lifelong learning journey.

    I also have a diploma in Performing Arts: Drama. I worked as an actor in film and theatre for many years and worked in event management before moving back to the Manawatū with my wife Larissa to help with the family business. I have two adult sons and two granddaughters.

Tūī Management and Administration

  • Deborah

    Owner - Director

    Hi I am Deborah, owner of Tūī Early Learners in Napier Rd, Albert St and Feilding. I live in Feilding on 10 acres and am married to Lars. We have two sons, one studying in Europe and one at home with us still attending high school. I am proud to be carrying on the legacy my parents started in 1992. I see it as my responsibility to take great care of our teaching teams, as they care for you and your children.

  • Jane

    General Manager

    Kia ora, ko Jane tōkū ingoa. I am so fortunate to have been with Tūī since 2008 and my role has evolved from the Educational Leader, to my recently appointed role as General Manager of Tūī Early Learners. I am committed to my role as GM in being there for tamariki, parents and whānau, through to each and every kaiako across our nine centres. My role focuses on leadership, mentoring and coaching, HR - and especially from a management and educational perspective. Tūī is part of my extended whānau, and I love that my own whānau is so closely connected as well.

  • Larissa

    Operations and Administration Manager

    Hi I am Larissa , I have been at Tūī since 2007, when Suzanne invited me to come back from Auckland to join the family business, and my husband Robert is a teacher at Tūī. Prior to that, I had a career as a professional Temp, and as an Executive Assistant at places like Microsoft, IAG, and Auckland City Council. I enjoy doing my part to keep the Tūī businesses running smoothly, and at home, I enjoy gardening, chatting with our small flock of sheep, photography, and bushwalks.

  • Kylie

    Educational Leader

    Kia ora, ko Kylie tōkū ingoa. I have been at Tūī since June 2007 where I have had the privilege of being a Head Teacher/Centre Leader, to my recently appointed role as Educational Leader. My passion has always been fostering the lifelong love for learning in children as well as working with kaiako to grow them into heart-led empowering early childhood professionals.

Get in touch.

Register your interest in the form below!

Demand for spots can be high, so the best way to ensure your place is by registering your interest below, which we can follow up with enrollment information as well as inclusions and fees.

We understand that this can often be an overwhelming process, so we want you to know that a Tūī Early Learners team member will keep you up to date with your placement needs.