Staff and association structure
The Ruahine Kindergarten Association is run by an elected board, and currently employs 75 full-time staff and a considerable number of casual and part-time staff.The Association's current president is Sarah Johnston-Ellis. Sarah is joined by Courtney Manaia, Alan Holmes, Katherine Wheeler, Bruce Pearson,Hilary McKenna and Theresa To'ia.
The
team working out of the association's office in Church Street, Palmerston
North is:
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Jerry Tanguay, General Manager. Jerry has been with the association since early 1999. Originally Canadian, Jerry has lived in New Zealand for 40 years. His background is in social work and social service management. Jerry is married with three grown up children and five grandchildren.
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Elizabeth Leong, Professional Services Manager. Elizabeth has considerable experience with kindergarten, having been a teacher, head teacher and senior teacher before taking on her current role. Elizabeth has three grown up children and five grandchildren.
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Sally Roberts, Professional Services Manager. Sally is a highly experienced Teacher having successfully carried out this role in several Kindergartens. Her passions are reflective practice, assessment for learning, self review, and extending the professional knowledge of Teachers. |
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Gail Fergus, Professional Services Manager. Gail has had sixteen years experience with the Ruahine Kindergarten Association before taking on her current role in May 2009. She is passionate about Early Childhood Education and sees the focus on learning experiences for children, including children with special needs, as a vital part of her role. Special areas of interest include team building and a commitment to innovation, initiative and achieving positive outcomes.
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| Lesley Habrle Receptionist / Secretary. Lesley has the most varied array of tasks imaginable and we couldn't manage without her. If you ring the association office, she is likely to be the one answering the phone. |
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| Mary Gordon, Treasurer. Mary has worked in the association office for 16 years She works closely with committees and teachers on all financial aspects affecting our kindergartens. Mary oversees the payroll system and is the appointments secretary. |
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| The teachers and head teachers for each of the association's 25 member kindergartens are introduced on the individual pages for each kindergarten. Each kindergarten has its own elected committee comprising parents of children currently attending that kindergarten. Each kindergarten committee appoints one member to represent it on the association's council. The council comprises the representatives of each of the 25 kindergartens, the seven-member board, four teacher representatives. The general manager is an ex officio member without voting rights, while the four teacher representatives have just one vote between them. |