Early Childhood Educator in Newmarket, Ontario

It has been my pleasure and my passion to be involved in the Early Childhood Education field for many successful years. My E.C.E. journey began with a diploma in Recreation Leadership & Community Services from Centennial College. I began my career at the Richmond Hill, Ont., Y.M.C.A., supervising a group of after school programs, March and Christmas breaks along with directing two summer camps. I moved on to Blue Hills Preschool Consultation Services as a consultant to child care centers, York Region Boards of Education and other human services. It was during this challenging position that I completed my Early Childhood Education diploma. The consultation services was in it's infancy and was a perfect opportunity for community collaboration, developing new partnerships while focusing on the social and emotional well being of children 0 to 6 years and their families. In the early 1980's, I was hired by York Region Children's and Family Services as a Supervisor for one of their four licensed child care centers, Thornhill Ontario. Throughout the over twenty years with The Region I was promoted twice, once to Director of Child Care Fee Assistance and Wage Enhancement. Second to Manager of the four Regional Child Care Centers. Some of the tasks, skills and responsibilities required to administer these programs include, not limited to: creating and maintaining an environment to motivate children, staff and students to achieve learning goals through the art of children's play, the integration of children with special needs, facilitate positive team building, integration of core competencies including customer service, team work, management, budget development, accountability and strong working knowledge of child development and programming. In closing, The Region of York sold the four child care centers in 1997 and I ventured out as a self-employed Early Childhood Specialist consultant.