About Us
Our Team
Shelley
Hi, my name is Shelley Horton and I have owned AppleSeed Educare since October 2021. I am married to Greg, we have three very active teenagers, a slightly overweight Golden Retriever and a very overweight cat.
I am a commercial lawyer by profession but I have always been passionate about giving children the very best start in the world and giving all kids the opportunity to access great education. I firmly believe that education is directly linked to success and happiness. I also believe that children need to be in a caring, supportive environment to allow them to thrive. AppleSeed provides this environment to children. It allows them to be curious and develop a love of learning – all while feeling supported and happy.
If you would like your child to experience this environment, I would love to talk to you further.
Neelika
Kia ora- Ᾱubōwan- (Greetings from Sri Lanka)
My name is Neelika. I am originally from Sri Lanka, but New Zealand has been my home for the last 24 years. Before coming to New Zealand, I have worked in Sri Lanka Educational Administrative service where my passion for teaching and educational management was sparked.
I joined ECE teaching in New Zealand in 2007 and truly feel honoured to be part of Appleseed since 2014. I love the opportunities, challenges, and precious memories that Appleseed given to me, allowing me to grow professionally with and alongside of our beautiful tamariki, whānau and the team.
I am a mother of one son who has recently graduated and started his career path in the NZ health sector. I live in Remuera with my husband and son. We enjoy the peaceful environment close to Orakei basin where I have an opportunity to take short walks after a busy day. I love decorating cakes and indoor gardening, as well as spending time meditating. Collecting elephant ornaments is one of my interests - wherever I go I look for the elephants to increase my collection.
I strongly believe that children are unique individuals who can lead their own learning. As teachers we have a responsibility to support them build a good foundation of learning skills in their early years of life, that lead to be successful in their lifelong learning journey. Valuing children’s dispositional learning is a great way to develop these lifelong learning skills that I am passionate about. Thank you for trusting me to be part of your child’s first years of life! I strive to support our little learners to reach their potential while growing as lifelong learners.
Annika
Kia Ora. My name is Annika and I am originally from Tauranga. I moved to Auckland when I graduated from the University of Waikato to find the perfect teaching position and love the diversity Auckland has to offer. I have a passion for travel and enjoy taking a trip somewhere warm, enjoying the sunshine, as well as trips back to Tauranga to spend time with family and friends. I have always had a passion for teaching since I was at school and loved caring for children of family friends. I enjoy working in our centre as we have smaller numbers of children and families which means we can work together more effectively to help grow confident and competent learners. I have a particular passion for working with children under two, supporting their wellbeing and development as they learn and grow alongside their older peers.
Susan
Kia Ora! My name is Susan and I belong to the Indian origin. My passion for teaching and love for children has driven me to complete my graduate diploma in Early childhood Education in New Zealand. Teaching children of this age group is unique and fulfilling as it enables me to help children develop essential skills and knowledge that will shape their future success in learning and growth. I take teaching as an opportunity to build a positive and nurturing environment that can shape the minds and hearts of young children and to inspire their curiosity, creativity and confidence. Apart from teaching, I thrive on maintaining a healthy lifestyle through activities like Zumba and badminton. During my spare time, I can be found diving into a good book or exploring new travel destinations with my husband and daughter.
Nimesha
Kia Ora! My name is Nimesha and I m originally from Sri Lanka. I’m a qualified early childhood teacher who graduated from New Zealand Tertiary College with a Bachelor of Teaching (ECE). Early childhood education and care is a deep passion of mine. I believe that it is fundamental for children. It is a time of tremendous growth where children develop their own unique personalities and establish an understanding of the world around them. At home I live with my husband and if I am not buried in a book, reading or writing then, you will most likely find me delighting in the natural world somewhere wild and forgotten. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside your children and family and look forward to getting to know you. Aroha nui -Nimesha
Karina
Kia ora! My name is Karina and I am originally from Bolivia but I moved to New Zealand in 2000.
I graduated from New Zealand Tertiary College in 2022 with a Bachelor of Teaching.
I have always loved being a part of children's lives and helping them thrive successfully in all areas of live. I love children that is why I want to work with children. I am passionate about the tamariki and supporting them to become confident individuals. Children are a precious jewel given to us to nurture, love and care for therefore I view our role as a teacher as a second mother to these special bundle of joys. I enjoy singing, walks in nature, spending time with my daughter, children, friends and family.
I love working with children of all age groups and I want to make a difference in their lives. I am excited that I have joined the Appleseed family and I look forward to embarking on this new chapter and adventure in my life.
Glenda - Registered Relief Teacher
Hi, I am Glenda, mother and grandmother.
I have been welcomed into the Appleseed family as a regular reliever, having recently given up full time teaching to look after my Auckland grand daughter 2 days a week (I have 3 other grandchildren who live in Nelson).
I love being a part of children’s early learning - their natural curiosity and joy in learning new things. I believe this needs to be fostered in a caring environment where each child feels valued and knows they have a place. I think it it’s important that children have clear boundaries where they learn respect, resilience, and good manners. Most importantly they should have fun, playing and learning.
Mariz - Relief Teacher
Kia Ora. My name is Mariz and I am from the Philippines. I moved to Auckland, New Zealand to pursue my lifelong dream to become a ECE teacher. I am currently studying towards my post Graduate Diploma in Teaching - ECE. I am married, and a mother of two wonderful boys aged 7 and 10. My family loves outdoor activities like fishing, and my boys likes going to different parks. Travelling is also our hobby to experience diverse culture. I have been in the teaching field for more than 7 years as a secondary teacher and the decision to move to New Zealand is a leap of faith to pursue my dream to change my teaching field to ECE. I love being with children. Even when I was young, I took care of my nieces and nephews and volunteered in our communities Sunday School. What makes me happy is the smile in the Tamariki’s faces every time they learned something new - it might seem very simple for us, but its amazing for them. I want to continue to inspire children and help in their development in every simple way that I can.
Niluka - Unregistered Teacher
Kia Ora! My name is Niluka and I am originally from Sri Lanka. After high school, I was graduated as an Attorney-at-Law from Sri Lanka Law College. I have 17 years hands on experience as an Attorney and also had held the position of Deputy Head Mistress in OKI International School, Sri Lanka. I was bestowed with a Diploma in Early Childhood Education from AIBT, Sri Lanka in 2023. I have over two years’ experience worked with in different age groups during my tenure at OKI International School, Sri Lanka and I love to see children grow and develop new skills while they are at childcare. I have recently arrived in New Zealand with my family. I love the culture and diversity here in New Zealand. I am fond of spending most of my leisure time with my family and friends as well as preparing different sorts of foods for my kids. I have just begun a new journey with AppleSeed and this is obviously an exciting experience for me. I love to learn and gain knowledge to continue my career with AppleSeed.
Prachi
Namaste! My name is Prachi Patel, and I’m originally from Gujarat, India. I was born and raised there. I am passionate about cooking and excited to connect and learn more from others. It’s great to be here! I am passionate about creating delicious, memorable dishes that bring people together. I am always excited to experiment with new flavors and techniques. I believe food is more than just substance; it’s an experience that should delight all the senses. I am crafting a simple meal or complex feast; my goal is to share the joy of great food with others. I started my career at Burger King as a team leader. Working at Burger King was a fast- paced environment. It was essential to stay organized and work efficiently. Moreover, I have experience as both a cook and reliever teacher at Auckland Girls Grammar School in the childcare department. I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with children, ensuring they have nutritious meals while also stepping in as an unqualified teacher when needed. I’m passionate about creating a positive and supportive atmosphere where children can learn, grow and feel cared for. I have a wonderful family. My husband Brijesh is a mechanical engineer by profession as well as he runs a cleaning business successfully. My 11-year-old son Henil is full of energy and loves reading books, while my 4 years old son Jivaan is always curious and enjoys playing hot wheels cars. Together, they bring so much joy and laughter into our home! We have lived in Sandringham for the last six years and we enjoy the location here. There are parks, the mall and the restaurants where I mostly walk with my kids and husband.
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