“MIT has given me practical and theoretical knowledge about early childhood education that has enabled me to be the teacher that I am today.”

Early childhood education graduate Steffi Webb-Butler started her journey at MIT with a study and career preparation course in 2020. As a 17-year-old at the time, she had to get special approval to attend the course at such a young age.

A severe ankle injury had derailed her hope of finishing secondary school with enough credits to move straight to tertiary study, and the bridging course provided the impetus needed to get her into the education pathway.

“Education is important to my family and me and I had always wanted to be a teacher, so we began looking at options,” she says. “My grandmother was the first female Pacific Island primary school principal in Aotearoa New Zealand and she’s always been one of my biggest supporters, along with my mum, who’s also in education, and my older sister.

“They’ve always encouraged me to be the best that I can be, that nothing is impossible, and to take hold of every opportunity that you get.

“In my first week I was moved into the Early Childhood Education and Care certificate programme by (Head of School) Kylie Smith who had to get approval for me to be in that course as I didn’t meet the age requirement at the time.”

Steffi passed quickly through to diploma level, before completing her Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Teaching last June.

She credits the ECE teaching staff with encouraging a sense of whanaungatanga among the students which she says helped nurture a strong sense of belonging, regardless of who you are or where you come from.

“Jo Perry was one of my first lecturers when I did my certificate paper. It was daunting, only being sixteen, turning seventeen, but she believed in me from the beginning.

“She encouraged me in everything that I did and showed genuine passion for guiding students to be capable, competent, and confident. I remember when I had my interviews for the diploma course, she came to find me as I anxiously waited for my name to be called for the interview. She gave me the biggest hug and said, you’re a star, you’ll be fine. Those words stuck with me throughout my time at MIT.”

On the strength of Steffi’s achievements, she was asked to join the School’s external advisory committee this year, and it’s a role she has embraced.

“Steffi’s a wonderful advocate for children and was for her classmates during her studies,” says Kylie Smith, Head of the School of Education at MIT.

“For a learner so young she’s mature beyond her years and is an asset to the profession.”

Steffi is currently teaching at Gaia (Earth) Forest Preschool in Hillpark, where she’s recently taken on a role as team leader, and working on gaining her full teaching registration. She’s also considering further study, either a postgraduate in primary teaching or a Masters’ of Education, building on the solid foundation she gained at MIT.

“MIT has given me practical and theoretical knowledge about early childhood education that has enabled me to be the teacher that I am today,” she says.

“On finishing my degree, I felt ready to step into the kaiako (teacher) role and was confident that I was fully equipped to be out in the field, doing the best job I can.”