Our Mission
A home away from home environment for all our tamariki, ensuring every child is nurtured and cared for every day.
We aim to create a staff culture of care and appreciation, teamwork and continuous improvement.
Vickie’s Story
I am lucky enough to say I absolutely love what I do. Teaching at Butterfly’s is more of a passion project than a simple job.
Butterfly Preschool opened in February 2014 at the time my daughters Isla was 3 years old and Zoe was only 10 months old. My husband and I worked hard to set up the original centre - creating and painting everything by hand to ensure that everything was perfect. Since the doors opened to the present day I have always wanted one thing - happy and content children with their families feeling totally comfortable to leave their children at Butterfly. I am present every day, teaching alongside the other teachers, all striving for the common goal where children's learning is celebrated and friendships are nurtured. I take huge pride in seeing the children graduate Butterfly and start school, we like to make the children's last day special, as we feel like we have done our job well. I personally believe Butterfly has one of the best teaching teams in Taranaki.
Kaiako
Our Teachers
Cheryl Cooksley
Teacher - Preschool Room
Kia ora koutou katoa. My name is Cheryl Cooksley. I’m a registered teacher and have worked in Early Childhood for over 20 years now. I have held a number of positions and still have a great passion for working with and alongside children. I live in the beautiful Fitzroy community with my husband Dion and our tamariki Kohin and Addision. As a family we love spending time at the local beach, getting out fishing and being involved in many different sports.
My teaching philosophy is all about confidence, kindness, respect and most of all fun. I believe these attributes support our tamariki to grow into confident and capable learners.
I love working alongside the wonderful teachers at Butterfly Preschool - the small group sizes allow us to have quality teaching experiences with the tamariki every day.
Melissa Kearvell
Teacher - Preschool Room
Kia ora koutou. My name is Melissa Kearvell. I’m an enthusiastic, motivated and qualified early childhood teacher with 20 years’ experience working with a range of of ages - from infants to young children. I live with my partner Chris, our son Monty, three crazy cats and four precious chickens. I have a love for the beautiful world we live in and my lifestyle reflects this. I am both a vegetarian and a keen gardener, so I take pride in being respectful and considerate to the environment around me. I really enjoy working in our wonderful teaching team at Butterfly Preschool.
My teaching philosophy is surrounded by respect, with a teaching style that is wrapped in calmness and kindness. I believe tamariki need time and space to explore and learn at their own pace. Creating learning environments that are intriguing and beautiful - that encourage children to discover and become Independent life long learners, is my passion.
Jo McLean
Teacher - Caterpillar Room
Hello. My name is Joanne McLean (Jo) and I’m the Head Teacher in the Caterpillar Room. I have two teenage boys Morgan and Braden, and live locally in Strandon. In my spare time I enjoy biking on our beautiful walkways and looking after my 100 plus house plants.
I have been teaching for the past eighteen years with the majority of that time being with under 2s which is my passion. My philosophy is based on respectful interactions and natural movement which we apply to our everyday teaching practice in the Caterpillar Room.
Karla Mora
Teacher - Caterpillar Room
Kia ora. My name is Karla Mora. I have always had a real interest in working with children and spent many years working in London as a Nanny. After returning from travelling, I became a reliever at an Early Childhood Centre and realised that teaching is what I really wanted to do. So, with two children under the age of three I decided it was finally the time to start studying for my Bachelor of Teaching.
Four long years later, after juggling being a mum, wife, working and studying full time I achieved my goal and in 2009 received by Bachelor of Teaching. This highlighted to me that with support, determination and encouragement we can achieve anything we set our minds too. I take this philosophy into my daily practice.
I have had 20 years’ experience in early childhood and have taught all age groups. I love working with children and find my career to be one that I am extremely fortunate to have. I am proud to work alongside such a wonderful, kind passionate team of teachers - many that I have known for a number of years and whom in fact taught my own daughters who are now teenagers.
Natasha Gardner
Teacher - Preschool Room
Kia ora. I began my career in early childhood over twenty years ago as a Nanny working and travelling with families for seven years abroad. On my return to New Plymouth I gained my Diploma of Teaching in Early Childhood Education. I am passionate about the early years, nurturing curiosity, creativity and growing young minds and have worked in various settings with infants, toddlers and young children.
I came to Butterfly at the end of 2018 to join a passionate team of qualified teachers that nurture children within a small group setting. The Butterfly philosophy of having fun and the importance of kindness and respect towards others and the environment fits with my own personal teaching philosophy.
I live near Brooklands Park with my busy blended family, consisting of my own two children Sam and Zoe, my partner Tim and his two children Sienna and Robbie, our dog Brax and three cats. Our children are all heading into their teen years which I am sure will bring many new challenges. I am interested in living sustainably. I love walking through the park with my dog, going to the beach and supporting our children with their different sports and hobbies.
Latesha McLean
Teacher Support
Kia ora. My name is Latesha McLean but I am commonly known as Tesh. I have been working in early childhood since 2012. I have a strong passion for teaching and find it completely rewarding watching the children develop.
I live in New Plymouth and have a horse named Sprite whom I love dearly. In my spare time I enjoy running along the walkway and spending time socialising with friends and family.
“An amazing centre with awesome teachers who go above and beyond”
— Dannielle Gilbert