Kate Harker
Kate Harker, an au pair living in Ridgefield, was nominated for the International Au Pair Assocation 2014 Au Pair of the Year Award. She was one of 55 nominees out of thousands of au pairs in the cultural exchange program living with host families in the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America, according to Au Pair in America.
Ms. Harker, who is from New Zealand, is staying for 12 months with the Rosellas, who have three children under 3 years of age and are first-time host parents.
Ms. Harker moved with the Rosellas from Chicago to Boston to Danbury and finally to Ridgefield.
“We settled in our permanent house once the school year started. Kate is consistently looking for new things to try with the kids. She actively works with our oldest son with letters and numbers. She finds creative ways to engage him in the learning process. Whether it’s a whiteboard letter book or alphabet crackers, he has excelled while she has been here,” said host mom Diana Rosella.
Ms. Harker sings nursery rhymes, dances and seeks out new adventures with the twins while their older brother attends preschool.
Ms. Harker has a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Victoria University in New Zealand and spent two years as a teacher before deciding to spend a year as an au pair in the United States.
“Ever since I was young, visiting America has been on my bucket list, and being able to take care of and teach young children while over there would be the icing on the cake,” wrote Kate in her essay for Au Pair in America.
The Rosellas have been learning about New Zealand. They now know that kiwis are birds, that ketchup is “sauce,” that “puku” is Maori for belly, and that trash is now “rubbish.”