Marlene Harvey
Te Awamutu,WKO
Summary
Knowledgeable Teacher/Manager with proven track record of successfully managing and growing business.
Strong focus on team collaboration and delivering impactful results. Known for reliability, adaptability, strategic vision, and effective problem-solving.
Experienced with strategic planning, financial management, and team leadership.
Talented owner with excellent abilities in building strong positive working relationships and more than 20 years of experience in the teaching industry. Highly effective and comfortable working with people at all levels within the organization.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Centre Owner/Manager
Happy Sprouts Educare Limited
02.2020 - Current
- Managed daily operations, ensuring efficient workflow and high-quality service delivery.
- Trained and mentored staff, fostering a collaborative team environment.
- Implemented cost-control measures to optimize resource allocation and reduce expenses.
- Established strong relationships with families, enhancing loyalty and retention rates.
- Oversaw financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, and reporting for business sustainability.
- Managed day-to-day operations.
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with families, resulting in repeat business and referrals.
- Oversaw daily operations, ensuring all tasks were completed accurately and efficiently by team members.
- Managed financial aspects of the business, including budgeting, financial reporting, and tax preparation.
- Consulted with families to assess needs and propose optimal solutions.
- Hired trained, and managed a high-performing team of employees dedicated to achieving company goals.
- Trained and motivated employees to perform daily business functions.
- Established a positive workplace culture that fostered employee engagement, collaboration, and loyalty.
- Enhanced operational efficiency and productivity by managing budgets, accounts, and costs.
- Evaluated industry competition regularly to maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
- Ensured regulatory compliance by staying abreast of industry-related changes and implementing necessary policies or procedures as needed.
- Mentored staff members on best practices, leading to increased performance levels.
- Fostered strong relationships with families to boost retention rates, conducting regular feedback sessions.
- Interacted well with families to build connections and nurture relationships.
- Managed purchasing, sales, marketing and family account operations efficiently.
- Cultivated and strengthened lasting client relationships using strong issue resolution and dynamic communication skills.
- Handled problematic customers and clients to assist lower-level employees and maintain excellent relationships with families.
- Recruiting, hiring and training of team members.
- Scheduled employees for shifts, taking into account employee strengths.
- Trained and guided team members to maintain high quality learning environments.
- Observed each employee's individual strengths and initiated mentoring program to improve areas of weakness.
- Tracked employee attendance and punctuality, addressing repeat problems quickly to prevent long-term habits.
- Developed strategic initiatives to enhance performance and achieve organizational goals.
- Mentored staff to foster professional growth and enhance team capabilities.
- Facilitated training programs to elevate skill levels across the centre, ensuring knowledge retention.
- Managed and motivated employees to be productive and engaged in work.
- Accomplished multiple tasks within established timeframes.
- Maintained professional, organized, and safe environment for employees and families.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by resolving disputes promptly, maintaining open lines of communication, and ensuring high-quality service delivery.
- Resolved staff member conflicts, actively listening to concerns and finding appropriate middle ground.
- Maximized performance by monitoring daily activities and mentoring team members.
- Developed a strong company culture focused on employee engagement, collaboration, and continuous learning opportunities.
- Improved safety procedures to create safe working conditions for workers.
- Mentored junior team members for career advancement, fostering a pipeline of future leaders within the organization.
- Oversaw inventory management, optimizing stock levels, and reducing waste.
- Organized professional development programs for staff, leading to improved performance and skill sets.
- Facilitated team brainstorming sessions that led to innovative solutions for long-standing operational challenges.
- Maintained positive relations by addressing problems head-on and implementing successful corrective actions.
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
- Evaluated employee performance and conveyed constructive feedback to improve skills.
- Maintained professional demeanor by staying calm when addressing unhappy or angry families or staff.
- Defined clear targets and objectives and communicated to other team members.
- Used industry expertise, customer service skills and analytical nature to resolve concerns and promote loyalty.
- Established performance goals for employees and provided feedback on methods for reaching those milestones.
Head Teacher
Learning Adventures Educare
04.2017 - 02.2020
- Designed and implemented age-appropriate lesson plans to foster cognitive and emotional development.
- Collaborated with families to create individualized learning goals and support systems for children.
- Led initiatives to improve classroom activities, integrating sensory play that supports learning outcomes.
- Evaluated program effectiveness, implementing feedback mechanisms for continuous improvement in teaching methods.
- Monitored children's progress through assessments, ensuring developmental milestones are met consistently.
- Managed classroom environment, promoting positive behavior and social skills among students.
- Supported diverse learners by differentiating instruction to meet individual needs and abilities.
- Developed strong relationships with families by maintaining open lines of communication about their child''s progress and addressing concerns promptly.
- Increased children's social-emotional development with age-appropriate activities focusing on empathy, self-regulation, and cooperation.
- Strengthened children's language skills through daily exposure to vocabulary-rich stories, songs, and conversations.
- Promoted creativity through imaginative play activities that encouraged expression of thoughts and feelings in a supportive setting.
- Collaborated with colleagues to develop cross-curricular projects that connected subject areas, fostering deeper understanding for children.
- Established a nurturing learning environment where children felt safe, supported, and motivated to learn.
- Reduced behavioral issues by creating a positive classroom environment with clear expectations and consistent consequences.
- Assessed children's progress regularly using various assessment tools and adjusted instruction accordingly for optimal growth.
- Coordinated events like family nights or field trips to build community connections between families, teachers, and administrators.
- Enhanced parent-teacher communication through regular updates on children's progress and collaborative problem-solving approaches.
- Established positive relationships with students and families.
- Monitored learning spaces to verify safe and secure environment.
- Created a safe and nurturing learning environment
- Organized and supervised large and small group activities.
- Modeled positive behavior and communication skills for children.
- Planned and executed activities to stimulate physical, social and intellectual growth.
- Guided students to develop social, emotional and physical skills.
- Implemented age-appropriate curricula to meet needs of young learners.
- Collaborated with teachers and parents to facilitate positive outcomes for students.
- Protected children with observational skills and positive reinforcement for good behavior.
- Helped new children transition into the service by giving one-on-one support.
- Developed and implemented behavior management plans.
- Assessed children's progress and provided feedback on educational development.
Teacher
Hopscotch Early Learning Centre
01.2012 - 08.2016
- Developed engaging lesson plans to foster creativity and learning in preschool-aged children.
- Implemented age-appropriate activities that promote social, emotional, and cognitive development.
- Collaborated with parents to support children's progress and address developmental concerns.
- Assessed individual children's needs to tailor instruction for diverse learning styles.
- Created a positive learning environment conducive to learning and exploration.
- Evaluated curriculum effectiveness, suggesting improvements to enhance educational outcomes for children.
- Developed strong relationships with parents and caregivers, providing regular updates on their child''s progress and addressing any concerns proactively.
- Developed weekly lesson plans and activities to engage children and promote learning.
- Maintained organized, fun and interactive learning environment to help children feel safe.
- Sanitized toys and play equipment each day to maintain safety and cleanliness.
- Designed creative lesson plans that incorporated hands-on activities and interactive learning experiences to foster curiosity and engagement in young learners.
- Ensured a safe and nurturing environment for all children, adhering to health and safety guidelines in the centre.
- Established positive communication with parents in daily conversation and formal conferences.
- Applied play-based strategies to provide diverse approaches to learning.
- Gave one-on-one attention to children while maintaining overall focus on entire group.
- Boosted children's social development by promoting positive interactions among peers through group activities and collaborative projects.
- Monitored children's social, and emotional progress and recorded in individual plans and learning stories.
- Observed children to identify individuals in need of additional support and developed strategies to improve assistance.
- Maintained accurate records of each child''s progress throughout the year using various documentation methods such as portfolios.
- Evaluated student performance regularly through observation, assessment tools, and parent-teacher conferences to ensure growth was being achieved consistently across all areas of development.
- Worked with teaching staff to evaluate individual progress and recommend appropriate learning plans.
- Increased parent involvement by effectively communicating with families about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and children's progress.
- Contributed to the successful implementation of centre-wide initiatives by collaborating with colleagues on curriculum development, professional development, and other projects.
- Promoted physical health through organized outdoor play and activities, supporting overall well-being.
- Supported emotional development by teaching and modeling empathy and kindness in daily interactions.
- Nurtured creativity in children by incorporating arts and crafts into curriculum, showcasing their talents.
- Fostered independence in students by encouraging self-help skills and personal responsibility.
- Enhanced children's social skills by organizing group activities that encouraged collaboration and communication.
- Created safe and nurturing learning environment for children.
- Established positive relationships with children and families.
- Monitored classroom to verify safe and secure environment.
- Modeled positive behavior and communication skills for children.
- Planned and executed activities to stimulate physical, social and intellectual growth.
- Organized and supervised large and small group activities.
- Implemented age-appropriate curricula to meet needs of young learners.
- Guided students to develop social, emotional and physical skills.
- Collaborated with teachers and parents to facilitate positive outcomes for students.
- Helped new children transition into the centre by giving one-on-one support.
- Supported students in developing self-esteem and self-confidence.
- Protected children with observational skills and positive reinforcement for good behavior.
Teacher
Kainga Tamariki
05.2007 - 01.2011
- Developed engaging lesson plans that fostered creativity and learning in diverse age groups.
- Supervised daily activities, ensuring a safe and nurturing environment for children.
- Collaborated with parents to discuss child development and address concerns effectively.
- Implemented educational programs promoting social skills and emotional growth among children.
- Evaluated individual child progress, adapting teaching methods to meet varying needs.
- Developed strong relationships with children and their families, fostering mutual trust and respect that contributed to overall success.
- Engaged with children on individual basis to build positive relationships and promote learning.
- Instructed children in health and personal habits, such as eating, resting, and toileting.
- Increased student participation by implementing creative and interactive learning activities.
- Organized small groups of children while transitioning to and from outdoor play.
- Continually sought professional development opportunities to stay current in educational research and best practices, applying this knowledge to enhance teaching effectiveness.
- Actively encouraged children to develop their communication, problem-solving and social skills.
- Documented behavior, development and learning of children to enable tracking history and maintain accurate records.
- Assisted in preparation of meals and snacks to provide children with proper nutrition.
- Gathered materials and resources to prepare for lessons and activities.
- Created safe and nurturing learning environment for all children.
- Modeled positive behavior and communication skills for children.
- Helped new children to transition into the centre by giving one-on-one support.
- Established positive relationships with children and families.
- Sanitized toys and play equipment to maintain safety and cleanliness.
- Monitored the learning environment to verify is remained safe and secure.
- Planned and executed activities to stimulate physical, social and intellectual growth.
- Organized and supervised large and small group activities.
- Implemented age-appropriate curricula to meet needs of young learners.
- Guided students to develop social, emotional and physical skills.
- Supported students in developing self-esteem and self-confidence.
Unqualified Teacher
Manawanui Nurseries
05.2003 - 05.2007
- Manawanui Nursery is operated by the same owner as Kainga Tamariki. I was employed on a full time basis which was also run on a rotating shift roster. I worked with up to 15 0-2 year olds and up to 25 2 – 5 year olds. My responsibilities included supervising children at all times, nappy changing and toileting routines, sleep routines, music and outside activities, supervising children at meal times, day to day cleaning of the centre, closing up with the supervisor at the end of each day, computer data entry, children’s portfolios, liaising with parents and other staff members, liaising with senior staff on a regular basis, preparing meals for children and basic hygiene.
Forecourt Attendant
Shell Service Station Ltd
07.2002 - 04.2003
- I was employed on a permanent part time basis and my duties included customer services as my main key role, in which I received multiple customer service awards. On a daily basis I would restock shelves, clean petrol pumps, cash handling, regular meetings with senior staff, cash register balancing and float balancing, and general cleaning duties. I was studying full time during this period at the University of Waikato.
Education
Bachelor of Teaching - Bachelor of Teaching
New Zealand Tertiary College
08-2016
Bachelor of Business - Marketing
University of Waikato
Hamilton11.2003
Skills
- Sound knowledge of childcare
- Effectively demonstrate positive teaching strategies
- Actively encourage children to be responsible for their own learning
- Offer children positive learning experiences
- Participate in all activities
- Demonstrate positive role modelling
- Show respect to all children
- Respect all cultures
- Reflect (as a teacher) on my own practices
- Implement teaching plans
- Ability to work successfully as a member of a team
- Team work is a key part of my current role, which involves working as part of a small team, communicating with other staff members to ensure the children’s requirements are being met
- Communicate effectively with children, their whanau and other staff members to achieve acceptable outcomes
- Constructive input at team meetings
- Lead and work closely with all staff members to identify children’s interests and implement individual plans and programme planning
- Commitment to success in the industry
- Commitment to complete NZ teachers registration process
- Enthusiastic participation in professional development and ongoing workplace learning
- Planning and evaluation
- Individual Plans
- Art and crafts
- Building relationships with children
- Understanding children’s personal needs
- Positive attitude
- Excellent work ethic
- Confidence in using Te Whariki
- Small business operations
- Relationship building
- Verbal and written communication
- Operations management
- Business management
- Business planning
- Strategic planning
- Staff management
- Marketing
- Team oversight
- Financial management
- Staff hiring
- Business development
- Business administration
- Business marketing
- Employee development
- Budget development
- Regulatory compliance
- Human resource management
- Human resources
- Quality management systems
- Contract negotiation expertise
- Hiring and staffing
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Team leadership
- Effective leader
- Inventory control
- Business leadership
- Schedule management
- Records organization and management
- Employee relations
- Employee scheduling
- Budget control
- Staff training/development
- Delegating work
- Performance improvement
- Employee motivation
- Hiring and onboarding
Timeline
Centre Owner/Manager
Happy Sprouts Educare Limited
02.2020 - Current
Head Teacher
Learning Adventures Educare
04.2017 - 02.2020
Teacher
Hopscotch Early Learning Centre
01.2012 - 08.2016
Teacher
Kainga Tamariki
05.2007 - 01.2011
Unqualified Teacher
Manawanui Nurseries
05.2003 - 05.2007
Forecourt Attendant
Shell Service Station Ltd
07.2002 - 04.2003
Bachelor of Business - Marketing
University of Waikato
Bachelor of Teaching - Bachelor of Teaching
New Zealand Tertiary College