ROCKMYBABY - Key Persons
Alisha's kind and caring personality has led her into a long standing career in recruitment. She finds great reward and satisfaction helping others in all aspects of life.
Alisha has 2 gorgeous Labradors which are the highlight of her world. On the weekend you will find them right by her side. Alisha loves taking Riley and Ezra on outings and giving them treats, in her eyes they are her babies.
Born and breed in Hawkes Bay, Alisha is excited to settle down, grow her family and career, and make her house a home in Napier.
Angela Stone's role at Rockmybaby® is as a Visiting Teacher.
As a fully registered ECE Teacher with a Bachelor of Teaching (ECE), gained at Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa, she has 9 years of experience teaching in private/corporate centres. Angela has worked as a liaison teacher, mentor and Head teacher and strongly believes that respectful, reciprocal and authentic relationships between whanau, educators, children and the wider community are essential for children's lifelong learning and development.
Angela has a strong interest in infants and toddlers and believes that calm, small group sizes and authentic environments, are key to their healthy brain development. She is an advocate heuristic play and allowing children to learn and develop naturally as nature indented it to. Her professional inspirations include: Pennie Brownlee, Kimberly Crisp, Magda Gerber, Dr Emmi Pikler, Nathan Wallis and Janet Lansbury.
In her spare time Angela is a mother, wife, small business owner (Project Play www.projectplay.nz), cook, cleaner, house renovator, movie watcher, casual gym goer and social bunny!
Cushla is one of the consultants at Rockmybaby® and her role revolves around understanding a family or child carer's needs and ensuring that those are met.
Cushla's background is in the communication industry where listening, understanding & delivering people's needs is paramount! Her values lie in being kind, gentle, nurturing, patient and reflect in her work and parenting style.
Cushla has a beautiful 12 year old daughter with her partner Kelvyn. Cushla's hobbies include studying herbal medicine, cooking nutritious meals, healthy living and she is a passionate advocate for the environment.
Jo is the visiting teacher for Rockmybaby for the Auckland region. She is a fully qualified and registered teacher and has over 30 years' experience working as an Early Childhood teacher, nanny and au pair.
Jo feels honoured to be part of each and every child's learning journey that she has had the privilege of caring for. Jo has a passion for supporting tamariki on their learning journey to reach their full potential as happy, confident and inquisitive learners. She believes children learn through play based experiences and particularly loves being involved in messy play, music and movement and the natural outdoor environment.
Jo has had a great deal of experience with infants and toddlers and believes that this age group thieves in a calming, respectful environment where strong, reciprocal relationships with tamariki, whānau and kaiako are formed. This is the foundation for lifelong learning. Jo's personal inspirations include Madga Gerber, Emmi Pikker, and Kimberly Crisp
Jo has two grown children and lives in a beautiful corner of Auckland called Beachlands with her fiancé and two dogs.
Louise has a passion for childcare software and has a wealth of MOE funding knowledge thanks to being in the field for over 10 years.
Ngaio Lewis has been with the Rockmybaby® team for almost 5 years now. She began as our Office Manager where she was involved in Payroll & Administration and has now (thanks to COVID) evolved into a role as a Recruitment Consultant within the Consultants Team.
Originally from Christchurch, Ngaio has a Business Studies Degree in Marketing and has worked in hospitality in Japan, UK & NZ, Air New Zealand in Palmerston North, STA Travel in Auckland, and as an Office Manager for a Property Developer in Auckland.
Since coming to Hawke's Bay 16 years ago, her roles have been specifically in Office Management, and during this time she has graced the offices of Driving Miss Daisy NZ Ltd, and more recently dm consult mortgages + insurance.
Ngaio and her husband Ash have two children, Lewis (26) and Bella (19) who live in Auckland and they are about to move back to Auckland shortly. They love walking their dog Stanley, cooking up great meals, drinking lovely wine, travelling where possible, and celebrating when they can with friends and family.
Sharni Woodward is the Senior visiting teacher for Rockmybaby® New Zealand. Sharni's background includes 16 years of teaching and managing corporate childcare centres. Sharni really enjoys being part of the dynamic team of professionals at Rockmybaby®.
Sharni believes each child is a unique individual that needs to be respected. A child's ability to thrive and learn is reliant on the establishment of a reciprocal, responsive and trusting relationship. Children need a secure, caring and stimulating atmosphere in which to grow and learn. It is her desire as a visiting teacher to help educators meet their fullest potential in an environment that invites a sharing of ideas.
Sharni has a Diploma of Teaching and Learning through the New Zealand College of Early Childhood Education, a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning, and a Certificate in Management in ECE through Christchurch College of Education and a Certificate in Adult Education. Sharni gained Full Teacher's Registration through the Education Council. Sharni also has Level one and two of Te Ara Māori gained from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Sharni lives with her husband Ash and her 3 beautiful children Petra, Charlotte and Ethan, on an orchard in Haumoana.
Ursula Maidens - Founder, Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Managing Director
- Founding and Managing Director
Ursula Maidens is the founding and managing director of the Rockmybaby® Group.
Wendy is a Visiting Teacher for Rockmybaby. She graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor in Education (Early years 0-8). Her background includes working at centers and has also previously worked as a teacher aide and nanny.
Wendy has a passion for supporting tamariki with the skills they need for a smooth transition for school as well as language, literacy and communication. She believes a child's well-being comes foremost as this is when learning can truly happen along with close, responsive relationships. She strives to enhance the mana of all tamariki to have a voice, to be proud and feel connected to the natural world. Her inspirations at present include Nathan Mikaere-Wallace and Kathryn Burkett.
Wendy moved to Central Hawkes Bay six years ago with her partner and two daughters and enjoys being outdoors, being in the garden, at the beach and biking.