Our Staff

Abby Mattock Managing Director

Bachelor of Fashion, Degree Business Management and a Post Graduate Diploma in ECE. 

Kia Ora, 

I am one of the new owners at The Village Preschool and I have taken over the role of Centre Manager. My early years I was a fashion buyer for Farmers where I was designing and importing clothing for Teeny Weeny and Little bundle. 

I found myself back in the beautiful Mount Maunganui where I grew up, ready to take on a challenge. Together with whānau we purchased The Village Preschool, Jan2025. I completed my ECE post graduate education to ensure that I am able to help provide the best opportunities for our villagers. 

Sharon MacRury | Owner and Teacher

Bachelor of Education in Primary teaching, Post Graduate Diploma in ECE

Kia ora! Ko Sharron tōku ingoa.

It’s great to be back on the team at The Village! This was home to us in the early 2000s. My hubby, Coll and I have two adult children and we love our river and bush walks with our dog, Ben. I come fresh with current practice and have a Bachelor of Education degree in Primary Teaching and a Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education.

The Village is an amazing preschool. We know that when children have a strong sense of belonging, they build confidence to thrive. Our aim is to enhance your child’s natural curiosity through fun and a stimulating approach that is both planned and spontaneous. Our spacious, nature rich environment and amazing teacher to child ratios, set us apart from other preschools. I love it here at The Village!

Kelsey McLauchlan- Team Leader

Bachelors in Teaching (Primary), Post graduate diploma in Early Childhood

Kia Ora my name is Kelsey, I am the Team leader in Preschool. I am originally from Gisborne, I moved to the sunny Bay of Plenty when I was eight years old. I have a husband Matt and together we have three children, Lucas, Piper and Marlie. We live on a lifestyle property and have numerous animals such as chickens, cows and lambs. We are also very lucky to have an orchard that has many different types of fruit trees.

I began my Early Childhood teaching in 2015 and have mostly worked with infants and toddlers and am now proudly leading a team in Preschool. I really enjoy being a part of children’s learning and development and find it very rewarding to see their progress and overcoming milestones. I love to observe and recognise a child’s interest and provide learning opportunities based around these interests.

I believe strongly in building quality relationships with not only your child but also you and their whānau.I look forward to getting to know you and your whānau. Arohanui. 

Jennifer Settle

Bachelor of Teaching (ECE)

Kia ora,

I’m Jen, and I’ve been teaching in early childhood education for over 10 years in and around Tauranga. I’ve always loved working with preschool-aged tamariki and supporting them as they grow in confidence, independence and prepare for their transition to school.

Outside of preschool, you’ll usually find me spending time with my family, keeping active at Zumba or enjoying the outdoors. I was a Girl Guide growing up, which sparked my love for nature and adventure, making The Village’s nature-based philosophy a perfect fit for me.

I’m also a proud mum, and becoming a parent has strengthened my appreciation for the importance of building genuine relationships with children and their whānau. I believe every child deserves to feel safe, capable and valued, and I love creating meaningful learning experiences that help tamariki thrive. I’m proud to be part of The Village whānau and to support our children as they learn, grow and discover the world around them.

Min Hoi

Masters of Teaching (ECE)

Kia Ora everyone! I am Min, a Chinese Malaysian who was born and raised in Malaysia. I traveled to New Zealand in 2020 with my partner and decided to study early childhood education after being amazed by the outstanding child-led curriculum – Te Wharaki.

I like to explore children’s interests and extend their learning with them. It is a pleasure for me to witness a child’s growth and learn alongside them. I have joined the Village since 2023 and am still enjoying my days in here with our tamariki.

Nicole Jenner

Bachelor of Teaching (ECE)

Kia ora, I’m Nicole! I’m one of the explorers kaiako here at The Village Preschool, and I absolutely thrive in the nurturing world of our toddlers. With over 18 years of qualified teaching experience, my passion lies in building strong, loving connections with our youngest tamariki and supporting them through those precious early milestones.

I believe these early years lay the foundation for a lifetime of learning, and I’m dedicated to creating a calm, safe, and responsive environment where every child feels secure, valued, and encouraged to explore at their own pace.

Outside of the preschool, I have a beautiful whānau of my own, including two wonderful boys—Bodhi and Jesse—who keep life full of fun and adventure. In my spare time, I also teach dance, which brings me so much joy and allows me to share my love of movement and expression with others.

I look forward to getting to know your whānau and supporting your little one’s journey with love and care.

Harpreet Kaur

Bachelor of Teaching (ECE)

Kia Ora Whānau

I am a part of The Village Kaiako team within the Explorers room. My roots are connected to Punjab, a state in the north west of India. In 2007, I migrated to New Zealand as an international student and have been living in Tauranga ever since. I live with my husband and two lovely boys.

I completed my Masters and Bachelor of Education from India. In India I taught Maths and Science. My passion for working with children inspired me to pursue my studies and completed a Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood from the university of Waikato.

I have been in the ECE Sector for the last 6 years and enjoy messy play. I am a good team player, flexible and always ready to learn new things.

Ashley Trusler

Kia ora! I’m Ashley and I’m so excited to be part of The Village Preschool whānau. I’ve been working in early childhood education for the past five years as an unqualified teacher, and I absolutely love being part of this amazing, ever-changing world of tamariki.

My passion lies in fostering curiosity, independence, and a strong sense of belonging through child-led play. I believe that children thrive when they feel safe, valued, and free to explore the world around them at their own pace. It’s a real privilege to support their learning journeys and be a part of those special moments of discovery.

You’ll find me working across the different rooms, assisting the wonderful teaching teams wherever I’m needed. I love the variety and the chance to build relationships with children of all ages.

Outside of preschool life, I’m a proud mum to Molly and Archie, who keep me very busy! As a family, we love spending our weekends out on the boat, exploring nature, and enjoying time together in the outdoors.

Sam Hintz | Team Leader

Bachelor of Teaching (Primary)

Kia ora,

I’m Sam! I have a Bachelor of Teaching in Primary Education and have been teaching since 2015. I love working with children and feel incredibly lucky to be part of their learning journey as they grow, develop, and discover what makes them unique.

My journey into early childhood education has been inspired by becoming a mum. My husband, Soul, and I have two beautiful boys, Ryder and Felix. Watching them learn and grow every day has given me an even greater appreciation for how important the early years are and has strengthened my passion for working with young children.

I believe every child is unique and learns in their own way and at their own pace. As kaiako, it’s our role to provide a safe, caring, and nurturing environment where tamariki feel confident to explore, be creative, take risks, and simply enjoy being children.

Building strong, genuine relationships with tamariki and their whānau is something I really value. I believe children thrive when they feel seen, supported, and connected, and when families and kaiako work together to support their learning and wellbeing.

I’m excited to get to know you and your whānau and look forward to sharing in your child’s learning journey.
Arohanui,
Sam

Cearah Loomans

Bachelor of Teaching (ECE)

Kia ora,

My name is Cearah and I am so excited to be part of the Tots room here at The Village Preschool. I am passionate about creating a calm, nurturing and loving environment where our youngest tamariki feel safe, secure and supported during these important early years.

I believe that strong relationships are at the heart of quality early childhood education, and I value building warm, responsive connections with both tamariki and their whānau. I enjoy supporting children through everyday care moments, sensory play, music, exploration and meaningful interactions that help foster a strong sense of belonging and wellbeing.

Arohanui,
Cearah

Victoria Falemaka

Bachelor of Teaching (ECE)

Kia Ora, my name is Victoria but many know me as Vicky.

I come from Niue, born in Auckland and have lived there all my life before recently moving to Tauranga in February 2023. I moved down with my partner, step son Kaleb (17) and our daughter Qria (2), who is here in the Explorers room as well.

I have worked in ECE for 10 years, I started my teaching journey at the Village in March 2023. I was with my last center for almost 7 years since opening in 2017. I enjoy learning and teaching, going on a journey with children, their families, a new team and community. It’s wonderful to see a child grow, with all the many accomplishments and memories they make in the early years.

Karen Hurley

Kia ora,

My name is Karen and I have worked in the early childhood sector for many years, supporting tamariki across a range of ages and stages. One of the things I enjoy most about ECE is that every day is different, and each age group brings its own energy, personality and learning opportunities.

You may see me working across all rooms at The Village Preschool, as I truly enjoy working with children of all ages. I love being able to build relationships throughout the centre and support tamariki as they grow and transition through different stages of their learning journey.

Over the years, I have developed a strong passion for creating genuine relationships with children and whānau and fostering environments where tamariki feel happy, confident and comfortable to explore. I enjoy being alongside children as they discover new interests, develop friendships and grow in confidence through play and everyday experiences.

Ngā mihi,
Karen