Kellie Dawson

Tena koe,

My name is Kellie Dawson and I am a Visiting Teacher for Paua in Wanganui. I have two children, Holly 13 and Jack 10. We also have two dogs, Maggie and BeaBea, and a cat called Stripey. So it is certainly a busy household.

I grew up in Wanganui. As a teenager I loved babysitting and helping to look after young children of family and friends. Several years after I left school I made the decision to go back to study and in 1995 gained my Diploma in Teaching in Early Childhood. My first full-time position was actually working in a kindergarten in Qatar in the Middle East!! This was a fantastic experience where I was able to work with a wide range of cultures. It was a wonderful way to develop and extend my teaching skills.

I returned to New Zealand just before my daughter was born at the end of 1997. While my own children were pre-schoolers I was able to enjoy being at home with them, doing a little part-time work in kindergartens and centres. I was also on the committee of the kindergarten that my children attended.

I have prior experience in being involved with home-based care and am passionate about the many benefits that occur for children being cared for in this environment.

I look forward to meeting and working with everyone, children, whanau and educators. I am very excited to be part of the PAUA team.