New opening hours: 8:00AM - 5.30PM

Our wonderful Kaiako

Meet our wonderful kaiako. The rich fabric of Montessori Preschool - Belmont is made up of a wealth of talented, passionate, and experienced people.

Renata McIlroy
Teacher/Owner

Renata, originally from Brazil, is the mother of a ten-year-old girl and twin eight-year-old boys. When she's not busy with them, she's out walking Daisy, her Cavoodle.

She values the respectful, responsive, and reciprocal relationships she builds with children, their whānau, and her colleagues. By engaging with others, we can participate in experiences that are meaningful and enriching to all of us.

As one of the owners and teacher of Belmont Montessori Preschool, she embraces diversity and the authenticity of every child. She believes children should be respected for who they are, and that everyone is unique. The individuality of each person adds colour to the world.

Grace Frewin
Teacher/Owner

As an early childhood teacher and one of the owners, Grace's goal is to create a safe and warm learning environment where experiences are tailored to each child's interests and abilities.

She is inspired by the Montessori philosophy and believes that her role as an ECE teacher is to help children learn and grow.

Her teaching philosophy is based on relationships; she values collaborations between children, their families, the community, and the environment. These relationships are based on a culture of kindness, intending to provide children with the support they need to be confident and capable learners.

Hayley Richmond
Preschool Teacher

Hayley is a dedicated and passionate early childhood teacher with a love for nurturing young minds. As a mother of two, she understands the importance of creating a supportive and stimulating environment where children can grow and thrive.

Hayley believes every child is unique and deserving of care, compassion, and respect. Her teaching approach focuses on fostering curiosity, creativity, and confidence, while building strong relationships with children, families, and the wider community. She is committed to culturally responsive and inclusive practice and feels privileged to support each child’s learning journey.

Gina Kim
Preschool Teacher

Gina is originally from South Korea and moved to Aotearoa New Zealand with her two children in 2009. She has lived in Auckland for over 15 years and brings a wealth of life and teaching experience to her role.

Gina holds a background in Child Study and has worked across a range of educational settings. She is passionate about holistic education and supporting each child’s individual development. Gina enjoys creating enriching learning experiences, including music, movement, and creative activities. Her practice reflects a strong belief in nurturing the whole child - body, mind, and spirit - aligning with the Montessori philosophy.

Susannah Jaques
Preschool Teacher

Susannah is a passionate early childhood teacher who has been working in the sector since 2015. She values building strong, respectful relationships with children and their whānau, and enjoys the meaningful learning that comes through everyday interactions.

Susannah has experience in both Montessori and kindergarten settings and has a particular interest in supporting children and families through transitions to school. She is passionate about fostering independence, confidence, and social-emotional skills, and feels privileged to be part of each child’s journey.

Teresa Scott
Preschool Teacher

Teresa lives in Bayview, Auckland, with her husband. She has two stepsons, now in their early 20s. Teresa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going fishing, and likes to keep fit and healthy. Teresa is a qualified and fully registered, having worked in childcare since 2009. Teresa likes to engage and support all children at their level, ensuring everyone is included in play to make them feel like equals. Teresa focus' on supporting children's social and emotional skills where needed, and she likes to notice the great joy on children's faces as they achieve their goals, learn, and develop alongside each other.

Danny Li
Preschool Teacher

Danny was born and raised in China and moved to New Zealand when he was 16 years old. Danny graduated from AUT with a Bachelor of Hospitality Management in 2010. After few years working in the hospitality industry, Danny found his real passion in ECE teaching, so he studied and graduated from New Zealand Tertiary College with a Graduated Diploma in Early Childhood Education. Danny has been enjoying working with children in Montessori inspired early childhood centers for the last ten years. Danny believes that it is important to meet each child’s individual needs at their own pace and encourages children to explore, learn and grow.

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