Belinda Slade
Owner
Kia ora, my name is Belinda
I am a trained early childhood teacher and primary teacher with special needs experience. I have always aspired to owning a very unique and special preschool and am thrilled that there are now three Pebbles Preschools in the Christchurch area! I moved from England to Christchurch in 2000 with my husband and two children, Sam and Daisy.
I enjoy being on the teaching floor, walking my labradoodle dogs, reading and swimming.
Kelly Black
Office Manager
Kia ora, my name is Kelly.
I am excited to be back as the office manager of Pebbles after a few years spent at other jobs.
I enjoy working with the different Pebbles teams and supporting on the floor when I can. I am the person behind the admin emails and accounts so now you can put a face to the name!
Daisy Slade
Centre Manager
Kia ora, my name is Daisy
I am the centre manager at Pebbles Montessori Preschool, Sumner. I love being on the floor with the tamariki as well as organising the office and making sure paper work is up to date! I started off gaining a Bachelor of Criminal Justice at University but quickly decided that teaching was where my passion lay and completed a Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Teaching, which led me to where I am today.
In my spare time I love spending time exploring new walks with my fiance and our dog, Jimmy. I also enjoy gardening and spending time at home.
I enjoy learning and growing alongside the great team of teachers, as well as the children, and I look forward to building my relationships with our whanau here at Pebbles.
Andy Collins
Kaiako
Kia ora, my name is Andy,
I have been teaching in early childhood since 2013, I have a passion for education and I look forward to learning and playing alongside your tamariki. I will strive to listen to their voices, observe and encourage their interests, understand their feelings and recognize their potential! I have a wide range of interests and hobbies with a passion for the outdoors. Outside of teaching you can usually find me in the ocean on my surfboard, in the mountains on my snowboard, or at the park with my wife Alex, dog Max and daughter Olive.Before teaching, I travelled a lot building snowboarding jumps in Japan, Canada and America. I love travelling New Zealand searching for waves and new environments to explore.
I look forward to getting to know the whānau here at Pebbles!
Joanna Beadle
Kaiako
Kia ora, my name is Joanna
I am excited to be a part of the Pebbles Montessori team as a key teacher. I have 15 years' experience in early childhood education including five years in a Montessori Preschool. I have 2 grown up daughters who live in Dunedin and work in the hospital there; one as a sonographer and the other as a registered nurse. They are both graduates from a Montessori Preschool and I believe the wonderful foundation of learning they experienced at a young age, set them on their respective successful pathways. I am a firm advocate for the Montessori approach to education and I am delighted to be a part of your child's learning journey as we work through the beautifully prepared environment at Pebbles Montessori together.
Pip Smith
Kaiako
Kia ora, My name is Pip
I have been teaching in the Early Childhood for over 35 years in the role of owner, manager and as a teacher.
I am passionate about the Montessori Philosophy and how it enriches a child's life. It is a joy to see children florish in a positive, holistic environment and I feel very privileged to be a part of it here at Pebbles Preschool.
