Meet some Elements team members
Kim Tenebaum
(Director)
Kia ora, I am Kim the Director and owner of Elements Education. I’ve had 20 years of experience in education in both the Secondary and Early Childhood Education sectors where I have held a variety of teaching and leadership positions both locally and at national levels. I’ve been a Playcentre Coordinator, Teacher, Preschool Manager & Owner and tutored as a Professional Development Facilitator & also seconded to Ministry of Education as an Senior Advisor.
With regards to supporting children's learning, I have an interest for exploring natural environments & resources, literacy and art. I am passionate in supporting children and families in whichever way is best for them.
One of my favourite parts of the day is at pack down when I can get into the children’s huts and play-spaces and see all the creativity, problem solving and little details that have been added - devine! It is a privilege to have an insight into their thinking. Kids are amazing I love being part of empowering them!
I am also proud to be a small business owner offering employment to quality educators during the school holiday periods when their usual employer may not be operational.
Alex White
(Leader - Christchurch)
Kia ora koutou, my name is Alex White and I have been working with Kim since February 2017 in the outdoor nature play groups! I have had a close connection with the outdoors and nature for a lot of my life. I have been part of the New Zealand Scouting movement for 10 years and still going today as I am a Cub Leader. I have received many awards from scouting which include outdoor related activities such as tying knots, building huts, going for tramps and learning about the New Zealand native species. I have also learnt leadership skills throughout scouting.
I am also very connected to the outdoors through my family - we love the mountains and my grandfather was good friends with Sir Edmund Hillary and did multiple expeditions with him.
All of these skills have been put into my work at Elements and I look forward to working with your children and helping them have the best life they can have! Haere rā
Rachael Williams
(Leader Ako Elements - Christchurch)
My name is Rachael and I have been getting muddy at Elements for a few years now! Initially I began relieving and now I love coming along every Thursday for the one-day school, and holiday programmes.
I grew up on 300 acres of bush and farmland in the North Island: barefoot by summer and (sometimes) gumboots in the winter! Growing up, my siblings and I played outside all day, no matter the weather.
I have a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning in ECE, and worked for several years in early childhood before having my daughter Imogen. As a new mum I made it my mission to be outside in nature with my daughter as much as possible, though playgroups, playcentre and nature groups. I also have a passion for health and natural movement, so I teach restorative yoga one evening a week.
I love the freedom and invitations to creativity that Elements offers: a much needed antidote to our current screen-heavy world. I especially love seeing how children are so amazing at working together and forming strong friendships when they come together for the day. It is inspiring seeing how they figure out creative solutions with just a few resources and their imaginations!
I live in Southshore with my daughter Imogen who also loves the freedom, fun and learning that Elements provides!
James Lowe
(Leader Christchurch)
Kia Ora everyone! My name is James Lowe, I have worked on a couple of Elements programmes and I am very excited to be involved in many more! I am a qualified and registered teacher and have experience working with children for the past 8 years in various roles. I graduated at the University of Canterbury with a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning.
I have a passion for volunteering and the outdoors which got me into doing lots of camps including, Camp America, YMCA Camp, Camp Purple, Camp Quality and Camp Diabetes. In the school term I work as a specialist IEP teacher for the Ministry of Education, working with children and teenagers with complex trauma and disabilities.
I am a firm believer that the best education doesn’t happen at a desk or in a classroom but in nature and the outdoors. It’s all about being present and focusing on the here and now. Being attuned to your senses and learning with a hands on approach. Nature gives us the tools to experiment, take risks explore, be gentle, be happy and be ourselves, and many many more. I am looking forward to meet past and future children and their families in the next school holidays at Elements!
Cassie Tenebaum
(Leader Christchurch)
Hi, I'm Creative Cassie, an art student who’s been with Elements since the very start - that's over 8 years now! My favourite part of the programmes is seeing the children's mind whirling, from problem solving the best way to make a hut, imaginative play and the characters and stories they create from the simplist of objects and the social aspect of teamwork. You can see by my name that I love all things creative. I paint or draw daily and like to assist children with their creative endeavours or viewing the beauty of nature.
I also like seeing friendships blossom between children as they band together to create amazing things.
Jack Haines
(Leader Christchurch)
Hi my name’s Jack. I’ve been assisting at Elements for about 4 years. One of my many favourite things about Elements is seeing how quickly the kids accept each other and then go make some amazing creations with each other. It’s incredible seeing their imaginations to either whether to act like heroes or animals. It is also fun as kids can be kids and run around and get wet and muddy - I know I do!