Cherie comes to Raffles from Auckland, New Zealand along with her husband David. She has three adult sons, a foster son, and a foster daughter. Cherie and her family have enjoyed hosting children of different nationalities and have some ongoing relationships with people around the world. Cherie has a Bachelor of Teaching and Worldview Studies and worked for five years in a mainly Pasifika and Maori community. Prior to this, Cherie worked in a special needs school for seven years. Cherie believes that getting to know and understand a child is the key to a successful partnership in learning. She is particularly interested in helping students develop a healthy sense of self-esteem and self-management skills. Character development and self-responsibility are integral aspects of Cherie’s holistic approach to teaching.