Dannevirke: When uni and kindy combine knowledge

Chrissy Lepper (left) project director, from Massey University, with Appleton Kindergarten head teacher, Julie Chatham. Photo / Christine McKay

The Dannevirke Kindergarten Association has taken an innovative approach to the way they coach and mentor the staff at two local kindergartens.

This week Chrissy Lepper from Massey University began working with Appleton and Central Kindergarten teachers in a project which is unique and innovative, Antoinette Perry, the manager of the Dannevirke Kindergarten Association said.

Chrissy, a Massey University graduate, has worked with the university for 13 years and before that was a kindergarten teacher for 12 years.

"With the emphasis these days on early childhood education, my job is to help amazing teachers in the sector continue to be amazing teachers," she said. "It's certainly different coming back into a kindergarten, there's water in your hair and paint within inches.

"My role is about the strategic direction for the local association and its two kindergartens. Things don't need fixing but rather teachers feel like someone is now helping mentor them. The agenda is collaborative and I haven't come here with my own. Instead it's a continual process for teachers in all sectors who are constantly being asked to review their practices based on research and practical wisdom. I'm pumped about what I'll be doing here as I listen and help teachers to navigate through their own learning."

While Chrissy is the up-front person, kindergarten staff have a much bigger Massey team they can go to and the most up-to-date literature they can access.

"Massey University is one of the biggest online and distance learning providers and staff at the kindergartens can use those online tools and face-to-face interaction through cyber space," she said.

For Julie Chatham, the head teacher at Appleton Kindergarten for the past three years, the arrival of Chrissy at the centre this week was an exciting moment.

"I've been teaching for 15 years and when I first began all those years ago I met Chrissy, I immediately thought, wow, I want to be like her one day. She inspired me and now her input will be hugely important for us," she said. "We are extremely good at what we do but it will be fantastic to have constructive feedback because we want to make this place an amazing place for our children. As teachers we are learners too and through Chrissy there are some awesome resources we can easily access."

Chrissy has started a blog for the Dannevirke kindergartens which she hopes will spark enthusiasm amongst the teachers. "The Dannevirke Kindergarten Association has made a substantial investment and have put a large portion of their budget into the professional support I'll be delivering," she said. "As educators and teachers we never know the reach of our influence, but in turn, working with children, our world is enriched too.

"Children have a lot to teach us and we look to them to inspire us to be better teachers."

Appleton Kindergarten teacher William Knight is looking forward to the learning process.

"Chrissy and Julie are both quite phenomenal teachers and I feel extremely fortunate as a new graduate to be working alongside someone as dynamic as Julie," he said.

Chrissy said the early childhood years are the time when children are turned on to learning. "Our key focus is helping children experience success," she said.