Anna Keno
Speech Language Therapist
Anna is the creative driving force behind GIANT LEAPS Speech Company - established in response to the demand for quality and specialist Speech Therapy and Speech + Drama Classes for all ages and abilities. A qualified Speech Therapist (BSLT) and Speech + Drama Teacher (ATCL, ASB), Anna has over 20 years experience working with young people to develop confidence, creativity and most importantly communication skills for life. Anna is a mother to four young children and understands the importance and emotion involved in wanting to see your children succeed.
Louise Erskine
Speech Language Therapist
Louise graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Speech & Language Therapy with first class honours. Before joining the GIANT LEAPS team, Louise worked as a Speech Therapist in both the public education and health sector. She has worked extensively with pre-school and school aged children presenting with a variety of speech and language disorders and delays. Louise is a wife and mother to three young children, so understands first hand the developmental and social importance of every young person achieving their speech and language potential.
Bella Stewart
Speech Language Therapist
Bella graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor of Speech and Language Pathology with first class honours. Before joining the Giant Leaps team, Bella worked as a speech therapist at a private clinic on the Gold Coast working extensively with preschool and school children. Bella is passionate about working with children to promote their communication and believes it is important to build a strong rapport with each child to help create a fun and supportive therapy environment. In her spare time, Bella enjoys getting outdoors, keeping fit, and spending time with friends and family
Francesca Black
Intern Speech Language Therapist
Francesca is Giant Leaps very first student turned teacher! Once a delightfully diligent Giant Leaps speech and drama student… now an exciting and energetic speech and drama teacher, Francesca started her journey with Giant Leaps while at primary school and carried on to complete her Speech NZ senior examinations throughout her secondary school years. Not only teaching... Francesca is also completing her Sounds-Write structured literacy training and starting her Bachelors degree in Speech and Language Therapy… she's got a lot more to give!
Alice Sollis
Speech and Drama Teacher
Alice Sollis has achieved an impressive list of theatre and performing accomplishments. Alice is a well respected director having directed over 50 stage productions. Alice writes compilation shows, has worked in radio, creates sound effects for plays, performs as a soloist, and sings in the very busy band “The Drama Queens” at corporate and private functions. Alice works as event & production manager for festivals and concerts, has acted in two locally produced movies, judged numerous talent quests, and leads school holiday drama programmes all over Canterbury. Alice loves teaching and nurturing all aspects of theatre and the spoken word.
Hayley Goodman
Speech and Drama Teacher
Hayley is a qualified primary school teacher with 13 years of teaching experience. Hayley discovered her passion for drama during her high school years when participating in musicals. Hayley has taught and directed school musicals in London, Christchurch and Timaru which have ranged from involving 30-250 students. Since moving to Timaru in 2019, Hayley has become the lead teacher for Performing Arts, written and directed a musical for the senior school and directed a middle school musical earlier this year. Hayley is passionate about the performing arts and therefore decided to join the South Canterbury Drama League in 2019. Hayley has enjoyed appearing in the musicals Legally Blonde, Motherhood the Musical and Broadway Melody.
Ben Donaldson
Speech and Drama Teacher
Benjamin (Ben) is a Unitec Performing and Screen Arts graduate with a diverse career in the Stage and Screen industry including crewing credits in episodic dramas for production companies like Netflix and Nickelodeon. He has experience in a variety of areas in film and theatre such as writing, directing, lighting, set design and performance. With years of experience acting and constructing scenes, he looks forward to sharing what he has learnt from his journey so far to the storytellers and performers of tomorrow.. future.
Sarah Prentice
Speech and Drama Teacher
Sarah studied at the National Institute of Performing Arts (NIDA) and has taught drama and performance to students all over Australia and New Zealand. Sarah has a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Film and Television) and an Advanced Diploma in Directing, Producing and Writing at JMC Academy and the International Film School (IFSS) as well as further study at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS). Sarah has been involved as a professional on several film and television productions including Home and Away, Peter Rabbit, and Wyrmwood. Sarah has been involved in short films, web series, and music videos that have been screened locally and in international festivals throughout the world.
Join our Team
Our vision is that every young New Zealander can achieve their very best communication + performance skills to succeed in life. In today's noisy world, the demand for these skills is needed more than ever before. We need superstar speech + drama teachers and speech therapists to join our team throughout Otago and Canterbury. If you like what you see + think you have got something to add... then lets talk!
