Team - Little Captains Auckland

Meet Our Team

At Little Captains, our crew—led by a qualified ECE teacher—sets sail each day with big hearts, bright ideas, and a love for building strong bonds with our little learners and their whānau.

Hao Zhou

Centre Manager

Kia ora, I’m Hao, Centre Manager at Little Captains Early Learning. I have worked in early childhood education since 2017, including two years teaching in Tauranga before settling in Auckland. These experiences have shaped my belief that children thrive when they feel safe, valued, and deeply connected to the adults around them. I strongly believe in building warm, reciprocal relationships with families, as trust and partnership create the foundation for children to feel secure and confident. I also value the diversity of our community and the richness it brings to children’s learning. I am also a parent to my four-year-old son, Seb, and like many of you, I understand the joys and challenges of parenting — experiences that continue to ground my work. I look forward to meeting you, learning what matters most to your family, and growing our community together. Please feel free to connect with me anytime.

Jenena

Qualified Teacher

Mabuhay! My name is Jenena, but you can call me Jen. I completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education in March 2017 at the University of the Visayas in the Philippines. Since then, I have been passionately teaching and supporting children in their learning journeys. As a mother of two lovely children, I understand the importance of creating a safe, nurturing, and positive environment where every child feels valued and supported. I am excited to be part of the Little Captains Early Learning team and look forward to building meaningful relationships with our tamariki and your families.

Amanda

Centre Cook

Hi, I’m Amanda. I’m Māori (Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Porou) and have spent around the last 15 years working in the hospitality industry. During that time, I’ve worked as a chef in several restaurants across Auckland City. I love being in the kitchen, and baking is my true passion. I strongly believe that “cooking is a caring and nurturing act.” In my spare time, you’ll usually find me at American Bully dog shows with my American Bully, Duchess, or at home baking homemade dog treats for my Rottweiler, Jax.

Kyra

Qualified Teacher

Kia ora, my name is Kyra, and I am excited to be part of the Little Captains whānau. I believe that every child is unique and brings their own strengths, personality, and potential. I have always enjoyed working with children, and I am passionate about supporting their learning and development in meaningful ways. I look forward to working alongside you and your whānau to create a rich, nurturing, and inclusive environment where our tamariki feel safe, supported, and valued.

Olivia

Qualified Teacher

MALO E LELEI AND KIA ORA! Ko Olivia toku ingoa, I am so excited to be joining the team here at Little Captains as a kaiako! I recently completed my Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) at Unitec (Mt Albert) and have worked over 5 years in the Education sector. I am from the beautiful islands of Kiribati and Tonga. I have lived in Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati, and Fiji. I enjoy new food spots and spending time with family and friends. As I also work part-time at a shoe store, I have a love for great sneakers! I believe every child is unique and brings their own culture, languages, and identity into each learning environment. As a kaiako, I strive to create inclusive, respectful, and nurturing spaces where tamariki feel seen, safe, and whakamana to confidently be themselves. I deeply value cultural identity and celebrate diversity. I love learning new phrases and languages, and I am committed to honouring and embracing the cultures of the families within our centre community. Through inclusive practices, I aim to support children in developing confidence, independence, and a genuine love for learning. I feel truly blessed, excited and privileged to be part of the Little Captains whānau, and I look forward to meeting you all!

Grace

Teacher

Kia ora, I recently moved from Sydney to New Zealand and feel so grateful to be a part of this learning centre. I believe children learn best through play, exploration, and positive relationships, and I enjoy supporting each child’s confidence, creativity, and independence. Building strong connections with tamariki and their whānau is very important to me, and I love spending time alongside the children through play, outdoor experiences, and everyday learning.

Ysabela

Teacher

My name is Ysabela Amor B. Dimaayo but you can call me Ysa. I’m Licensed Professional Teacher with a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from the Philippines. I have one year and six months of teaching experience as a shadow teacher for students with special needs and nursery head teacher. As a Teacher of young children, I am passionate about supporting children’s learning through play-based and meaningful experiences while also respecting each child’s culture, identity and individuality. My priority is to provide a safe and nurturing environment in which children can feel confident to explore, communicate, and develop social skills that are crucial for success lifelong learning. More importantly, I value strong relationships with children and families, and I am committed to continuous learning and reflective practice in order to give the best outcomes for the children. I’m looking forward to engaging in interesting and exciting learning experiences with our tiny explorers, Little Captain’s!

Tuba

Teacher

Kia ora, I’m Tuba. I am an experienced Early Childhood Education teacher. I enjoy supporting tamariki in their learning and development and creating meaningful relationships with children, whānau, and teaching teams. I am passionate about providing a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment where children feel a sense of belonging and are encouraged to explore, learn, and grow. I feel privileged to be part of their learning journey and look forward to contributing to Little Captains ELC.