Melody Stuckey (BEd, Dip Tch ECE)
Melody has been working in the field of Early Years education for the last 25 years.
She is an experienced teacher, lecturer and Early Years leader. Melody has a background and passion for Christian Education and her international perspective has added to her ‘kete’ of knowledge in regards to best practice.
She has recently returned to NZ from working in a large international school in China where she was Deputy Head of College and Head of Early Years.
Prior to working in China, it was a privilege for Melody to serve at Bethlehem Tertiary Institute for seven years as a Lecturer and Programme Leader for Early Years. This experience helped her develop a strong understanding of Christian Early Childhood Education and Leadership.
Melody is no stranger to CECEAA as she has previously been an executive member for 10 years. During this time, she was passionate about supporting the organisation with providing high quality Professional Learning for their member centres’.
She is enthusiastic about developing learning communities and her recent action research interests have been around the topics of teacher wellbeing and coaching. In the role of National Coordinator, Melody is keen to hear the ‘voice’ of the members and assess the current needs and interests of our teachers and leaders to support them in their journey of Christian Education.
Melody and her husband Jason have two biological children, Josh is 15 and Luke is 8. They also have been blessed with Lily-Mei who was adopted from China as a baby. Melody feels living in China for the last 10 years, was an important part of ensuring her daughter gained a strong sense of cultural identity. This experience has enriched her whole family’s understanding of multiculturalism.
It feels really right for Melody and her family now to return to their NZ roots and embrace her homeland’s commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi.