Mikayla Brooker - Upstairs Team Leader & Kākano Teacher

Kia ora, 

I graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts double majoring in Psychology and Criminology and joined TLC after graduation where I worked as a centre-wide reliever.

I quickly decided that the RIE® philosophy, collaborative partnerships with colleagues, whānau and beautiful relationships with tamariki was something I wished to be apart of and completed a Graduate diploma in Early childhood education and the RIE® foundations course.

I am now fully registered and certified as a Kaiako. I am passionate about Tikanga, Te reo Māori and Te ao Māori which I always incorporate into my day at TLC. 

I recently saw a cohort of children I started with as infants off to school, and have started a new continuity of care cycle with a new cohort of infants.

Holly Sinkinson - Kākano Teacher

Holly has a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and is Provisionally certificated teacher with 3 years of teaching Experience.

Holly has attended the RIE® Foundations training.

Holly has been working with tamariki since she was 15 years old, nannying, babysitting and working in after school programs before starting her degree in Early Childhood Education.

Holly’s teaching philosophy is rooted in the well-being of each child. Key principles include creating a bicultural environment that respects Māori culture, Te Tiriti o Waitangi partnership, and practising Tikanga Māori. Holly strives for a a learning-focused culture that values individual learning and understanding each child's unique strengths, needs, and interests. Holly prioritises building professional, empathetic relationships based on trust and care to create a safe and motivating learning environment. Holly’s philosophy aims to uplift holistic child development, promoting curiosity, self- regulation, and lifelong learning.

Mya Thorburn - Weka Teacher

Mya has a Bachelor of Health Science majoring in Psychology from the Auckland University of Technology. Mya is enrolled in the Graduate Diploma ECE.

I have always had an interest in working with children and I am fascinated by how they learn and grow. I have had the privilege of working directly with children in various capacities, including in a previous daycare centre and as a nanny.

Joy Sheehan - Kākano Teacher

Joy has a Bachelors of Communication and Graduate Diploma In Teaching (ECE) and is a Certificated Teacher with 6 years of teaching experience as a qualified teacher, but 12 years of experience working with children.

Joy moved from Oamaru Kindergarten to Auckland, and chose TLC due to a good fit of values and philosophy.

Janine Brooker  - Kea Teacher & Educational Leader Teacher

Janine is a qualified and fully certificated teacher, who has completed the RIE® Foundations training and attended the RIE® Conference in Los Angeles. 

I am a mother of 3 children and have lived in  the beautiful Waitakere area for over 35 yrs.  I found my passion for working with young children  15yrs ago when I worked in homebased care. I enjoyed meeting the wonderful families and loved the diversity of my community. I was also a passionate playcentre mum and was able to see the benefits of free play for young children, and how adults could support them. I began my formal qualifications in 2005 and gained my diploma in ECE in 2010.  I worked with infants and toddlers in a large centre for 4yrs and it was there, I discovered Magda Gerber's RIE® philosophy and Emmi Piklers revolutionary beliefs about how infants learn and develop.  It was a life changing moment and shaped my teaching practice, personal beliefs and values from then on. In my practice I also worked alongside young children and  found magical moments, surprises, challenges and inspiration in each age group. Teaching children under the RIE® philosophy just made sense to me, and as I learned more, it answered many questions. It became a way of understanding infants, toddlers and young children as unique individuals and seeing relationships as an integral part of teaching young children.  As my learning journey continued I was honoured to be a part of the RIE® foundations course and eventually my biggest wish came true when I got a job at TLC The Learning Centre™. I am excited to be part of this learning journey and to meet amazing children and their families.  My goal is to continue to learn and grow as a RIE® inspired teacher and to feel the joy, working alongside  unique, capable and confident children who teach me something new everyday.

Vera Yang - Kea Teacher

Vera has a Bachelor of Teaching (ECE), and is a provisionally certificated teacher, she has completed the RIE® foundations training.

Vera is mother to Goldwyn, who is a TLC The Learning Centre™ alumni and now at school. 

Kia ora and Ni hao, 

I’m from China and I call New Zealand my second home as I have been living here for nearly two decades. I had the opportunity to learn the RIE® philosophy from Kathrine Bussey when I first started working upstairs at The Learning Centre™ as my home centre during my training. Having worked with Katherine, Elena and Ania in the past and working with the current team, I have developed a deep understanding about our philosophy and teaching approaches.

I believe that the first five years of life are a period of fundamental growth in all areas of a child’s development. The quality of care is essential and I am so fortunate to be able to work with children, their families and the team, to observe the children to explore, discover and build social, emotional and language development through child-led free play, and I appreciate every little beautiful and heartwarming moment/learning experience that the children have shared with me. I love the honest enthusiasm that children bring to life and love being part of their journey here at The Learning Centre™

In my leisure time, I like  spending time outdoors (travelling, hiking and tramping), listening to music and spending time with my family.

Dianne Dawson - Tūī Teacher

I am a qualified and fully registered Early Childhood Teacher. I have over 20 years experience caring for a range of age groups, and love meeting new families and children from diverse backgrounds. I describe myself as very organised, honest, reliable and hard working. I am friendly, with a sense of humour, and I promote respectful relationships with children and families. My approach to teaching is one of dedication and enthusiasm, and I’m aware that I am always learning and adapting my practice.

I live in Mt Wellington with my husband Peter. I have two adult children Scott and Gemma, and four grandchildren aged four years and under and they are all my pride and joy.

I fell in love with TLC’s natural play environment and I am very excited to be part of their team. I am looking forward to getting to know the children and families that attend the centre as I love the relationships that can be built with families that can last long after they’ve finished at TLC The Learning Centre.

Violet Geradts - Tūī Teacher

Master of Teaching and Learning (Primary). Bachelor of Arts in Media and Education, Kōrero Mai - Year long te reo Māori Course.

Violet started her teaching journey as a new entrants teacher, but chose to move to Early Childhood. Her teaching philosophy is centred around respectful relationships, exploration, whanaungatanga, culturally responsive teaching, and developing independence.

Stephanie Burke - Centre Manager

Stephanie has a Bachelor of Education (Teaching) from the University of Auckland and over 10 years of teaching experience. Stephanie is a fully certificated Teacher. Stephanie has moved back to Aotearoa from Melbourne where she was a Centre Director. The centre’s that Stephanie managed in Melbourne followed the Reggio Emilia philosophy which Stephanie utlised to create beautiful learning environments, while also emphasising the importance of respectful and reciprocal relationships with tamariki and the entire community.

Stephanie joined TLC in February 2023 immediately attended the RIE® Foundations Intensive Training.

Helen Holmes - TLC Kuki

Helen was the TLC Kuki for 10 years, but left in 2022 to support her whānau. Helen is now able to return to TLC working Mondays and Fridays, and also preparing the lunches for two other days.

Helen was a long time Ponsonby resident, and is also a jewelry designer.

Debbie Clark - Downstairs Reliever

Debbie is an ECE qualified and fully certificated Teacher, and has X years of teaching experience.

Debbie has been relieving at TLC The Learning Centre™for nearly two years now, and originally chose us due to her interest in Magda Gerber's RIE® philosophy, and it’s good fit with her own teaching values.

Ellie Sharpe - Support Teacher

As a support teacher, Ellie steps in when other teachers are doing their documentation and to cover breaks.

Ellie has attended the RIE® Foundations 10 day intensive.

Ellie commenced her professional journey in 2017 at a Pikler-inspired center in Pukekohe, where she discovered a deep resonance between the center's philosophy and her own teaching ethos. Motivated by this alignment, Ellie embarked on a dedicated pursuit to deepen her understanding of both Pikler and RIE® philosophies. She diligently invested her personal time in attending various conferences, workshops, and courses, thereby enhancing her understanding of child development and early childhood education.

Her overarching aspiration is to foster meaningful connections, provide thoughtful guidance, and inspire children within an environment characterized by nurturing and safety.

Marie Hindle - Managing Director

TLC The Learning Centre™ is a family business, owned by myself, my husband Chris Barrett, and the Hindle Family Trust (my father Liam Hindle, my mother Pauline Hindle, and my sister Kate Vusoniwailala). 

I am originally from an IT background, and TLC came into being as the result of my search for childcare for my children Zach and Annelise, who are both TLC The Learning Centre™Alumni. What has grown into the TLC The Learning Centre™ philosophy is the result of the kind of loving care that I wanted for my children. I have attended the RIE® Foundations Intensive Training and am fully committed to seeing TLC The Learning Centre™ align as closely as possible Magda Gerber's Educaring® Approach.