Naketa Ferguson

 Cook Island Māori/Ngā Puhi

Early childhood supervisor

Naketa’s dramatic career path from centre cleaner to centre team leader over a number of years has been an enormous inspiration to her family. “It opened up my whole family’s eyes to the value of education,” Naketa remembers. “To the extent that my father returned to study a business diploma, so we were both studying together,” she recalls fondly.

Naketa has spent all her life in Otara, something she believes is an incredible enabler.  “You get so many opportunities to interact with lots of different people being brought up here.  Although I didn’t do myself justice academically at school, my mother taught me to be strong and gave me the drive to accept challenges.”

Naketa also acknowledges the strong support of Jan her employer who saw her potential and encouraged her.  “Jan even took me to my interview for teacher training. She continued to support me with direction as I didn’t then understand the dynamics of study,” Naketa remembers.

Once Naketa began studying towards her early childhood teaching degree, her thirst for knowledge increased enormously.  “My horizons got bigger and brighter.  I could see myself growing so dramatically that it inspired me professionally.  I’m currently studying towards my masters degree in early years and want to do further study.”

However it wasn’t until Naketa had been through teacher education that she really understood what the word professional meant. “It gave me the tools to access and extend children’s learning. For example, to apply the curriculum areas appropriately, such as change of state, explaining what happens when you freeze water or add water to jelly crystals, all the time extracting science out of play.”

For five months in 2004, Naketa worked for the Ministry of Education as an early childhood recruitment broker in Auckland, helping to address teacher supply issues and inform centres about the qualification requirements.  “I really understand now the whole dynamics and issues with early childhood teacher supply.  There are huge pressures right now – the day everyone in the sector is qualified will be such a special day.”

Now she is back at Play & Learn, Naketa is relishing providing quality education and care for South Auckland children. “I really enjoy the day-to-day contact with children and encouraging their learning. Every day we take a group of children on trips to the community.  The Play & Learn philosophy has a strong commitment to including the community in its curriculum.”