Staff

Ellen Hsu

4 Year Old Teacher
Rosellas Program

Ellen joined Heathmont East Preschool in 2023. She holds a masters degree of Teaching in Early Years and Primary School at Monash University and has been teaching for 3 years.

She worked as an Early Childhood teacher in long-day care in both 3-year-old and 4-year-old for the past 3 years and has attended many Professional Development courses especially in learning about children with additional needs.

Ellen believes that relationships are the foundation of teaching so she strives to make connections with children and their families.

She believes that children are capable learners so her pedagogies centre around providing children support and guidance to explore the purposely designed environment.


Mary-Ann van der Leeuw

3 and 4 Year Old Educator
Rosella and Kookaburras Programs

Mary-Ann has a long history at Heathmont East Preschool working with both 3 and 4 year old groups from 2006. She has completed First Aid Level 2, Asthma, Anaphylaxis and CPR certificates and in 2011 completed her Certificate III in Children's Services.

Maryann's style is nurturing and encouraging. She enjoys helping children to reach their full potential and build confidence by 'having a go', and in turn watching them mature and develop throughout the year. While not working, Maryann enjoys travelling with her husband, watching her 3 adult children achieve their dreams, reading, spending time with friends and walking the very spoilt family dog!


Ruth Carter

4 Year Old Teacher
Rosellas Program

Ruth has relieved in the 3 years and 4 years as both Assistant and Teacher at Heathmont East Preschool, since 2015 and has had all 3 of her children attend the preschool.

She has a kindergarten teaching background and is First Aid and Anaphylaxis trained.

She loves connecting with pre-schoolers at their level, encouraging them to grow and stretch their abilities, and seeing their self esteem and confidence blossom.

Ruth enjoys gardening, family time, reading and bushwalking when she gets the chance!


Sarah Black

4 Year Old Educator
Rosellas Program

Sarah joined the Heathmont East Preschool team in 2020 after seeing how her daughter blossomed after attending both the 3-year and 4-year programs. Her background is in science and she loves to share a love of experiments and exploration of the natural world with the children.

Sarah is a bubbly enthusiastic member of the staff whose nurturing style of teaching encourages the natural curiosity of children and subsequent growth of their abilities and self-confidence.

When not at work she is a scout leader at the 1st Vermont mob and enjoys designing and running weekly programs for the 20 attending Joeys. Her other interests include reading, bike riding, swimming and keeping up with her two very active primary school children.


Nadine Williams

3 year-old Teacher & Educational Leader
Kookaburras Program

Nadine joined the Kinder staff at Heathmont East Preschool in 2020.

She holds a Post Graduate Diploma of Teaching in Early Childhood Education at Deakin University.

She has over 10 years experience working in both 3 and 4 year old programs and has attended many professional development courses ranging from leadership courses, creating inclusive learning environments including how tohelp children with development delays.

She strives on creating a program that is accessible for all children and will work closely with families that need extra support.

She strives to form strong relationsjips with children and their families and most of all loves watching children grow and develop into their personalities and become confident learners.


Nicole Angus

3 Year Old Educator
Kookaburras Program

Nicole joined the Kinder team in 2017 after filling in as a relief member in 2016, though she has a relationship spanning back to 2008 when her eldest child attended Kinder. She has an Associate Diploma in Child care and level 2 first aid as well as asthma and anaphylaxis training.

Nicole had taken a 14 year break from working with children in childcare while enjoying raising her 3 children who have all attended Heathmont East Preschool.

She is thoroughly enjoying re-entering the childhood education field and loves the kinder age group. She is looking forward mostly to the reward of watching and encouraging the children in achieving new skills all while becoming more independent and developing a greater sense of self.

Outside of kinder she enjoys watching her kids sporting events, camping, reading (anything but sci-fi) and spending time away with the family at their holiday house in the country.


Kitty Laredo

3 and 4 Year Old Educator
Rosella and Kookaburras Programs

Kitty has joined the Heathmont East Kindergarten Team in February 2021. Kitty is diploma qualified with over 15 years’ experience in childcare and kindergarten settings. Kitty is a creative and caring person, focused on developing a positive relationship with all the children under her care. Kitty’s focus is on allowing children time for critical thinking in a play-based environment, to assist the children to express themselves in creative ways through arts and craft and group work.

Kitty is passionate about her family, animals, the environment and sustainability


Kathy Sutton

3 and 4 Year Old Educator
Rosella and Kookaburras Programs

Kathy has been with the Heathmont East Preschool since 2023, starting out as a reliever then going permanently shortly after.

She has been in the industry for 26 years and done many roles across the sector.

Kathy holds an Advanced Diploma of Children's services, Level 2 first aid, Anaphylaxis, asthma and CPR.

She believes that children thrive in an environment in which they feel confident to be themselves.

Kathy is passionate about Bush kinder and the benefits it has on children, staff and the greater community.


Testimonials

I just wanted to say how much I have appreciated your tireless efforts with the Rosellas this year. Your ability to engage the children and read their progress, strengths and interests is quite amazing. I was extremely impressed by the effort that went into transition statement and the progress report you completed earlier in the year. It's so encouraging as a parent to see your child's strengths acknowledged and extended. I can only imagine what it takes for you to do that for so many little people, but I trust as well that you feel rewarded in your role.

You have set a great course for commencing formal schooling. Thank you for instilling her with the confidence to take risks and participate, and for opening her mind to the world in which we live. She has thoroughly enjoyed her year and is already talking about how much she will miss kinder.


I am constantly blown-away by the support, effort and interest taken by the teachers at Heathmont East Kindy in each of their students and in the learning opportunities and environment they provide. A huge amount of thought is put into the quality and variety of the experiences offered to the children.

The attention and willingness taken with each child's individual needs is astonishing. We have had to deal with some developmental issues which has resulted in additional requirements. The staff have responded to such situations with tremendous support and understanding - we are truly grateful! There is an impressive amount of effort put into special occasions eg: mother's day - devonshire tea, games, crown for mum to wear, decorated pot plant and card, treasure hunt. Not just one thing, but many beautiful elements. WOW!!! Every step of development if the children, no matter how small (eg: being able to hang on the monkey bars), is acknowledged and celebrated. It is a great sense of comfort knowing I have left my child in such caring, nurturing and supportive hands, a preschool that is passionate about what they do.