MEET THE TEAM

WHO ARE WE?

Little Saints Preschool staff are dedicated, highly qualified professionals who strive to deliver the highest possible education and care in early childhood. Our preschool recognises the fundamental importance of diversity and inclusiveness in our society and strongly advocates for providing accessible and equitable early childhood education to everyone. At Little Saints, we recognise each community member as a unique child of God with their own cultural beliefs and value the diversity of learners; we encourage and develop respect for others, a love for learning and a desire to grow to maturity in Christ.

Belinda Crothers
Little Saints Early Childhood Teacher & Pedagogical Leader

Hello, I'm Belinda Crothers (Mrs Belinda), and I am the Early Childhood Teacher of Little Saints. Early Childhood Education intertwines relationships and knowledge building. All stakeholders at this time hold a role in supporting these through opportunities and engagement. I know that my role is to create an inclusive environment, using an eclectic base of educational theorists such as Steiner, Bronfenbrenner or Malaguzzi. I draw upon my professional knowledge through study, research, pedagogical discussions and experience. These include The Pyramid Model, The Curiosity Approach and a thorough understanding of special and inclusive educational settings. Through these, I am an advocate for play, social justice and a strength-based approach.

This philosophy draws upon 30 plus years of experience in our profession. I have worked in a broad range of early childhood roles each culminating in my own intertwined relationships and knowledge building. The blank canvas of my early teaching career has been coloured by the sweeping strokes by the brush of relationships and knowledge. It is a picture that changes constantly.

Penny Baker
Little Saints Service Leader

Hello everyone, my name is Penny Baker (Miss Penny) and I am the Service Leader of Little Saints Preschool. As an educator with 11 years of experience, I have learnt that we are constantly growing and evolving as educators to lead the learning that matters. My philosophy of education for children comes from Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences, Reggio Emilia, and The Curiosity Approach. These theories blend to show who I am as an Educator. When working alongside children, families, and other educators, it's important to advocate for creating a personalised and safe environment for the community. Where respect and diversity are valued. When children feel safe and secure, they are built up to succeed. Providing children with open-ended, play-based, and child-interest provocations encourages them to collaborate in their program. Educators co-construct the learning environment by allowing children to research and enquire about their learning through play and stimulating their minds by listening and responding. I am passionate about promoting our service as a Learning Community and maintaining strong connections with St John's Lutheran School and the wider community of Jindera. Providing our community with a safe, nurturing and exciting space for all children, families and community members past, present and future.

Amy Sonter
Little Saints Educator

Nicole Parker
Little Saints Educator

Hello, I’m Amy Sonter (Miss Amy) and I am an educator in Little Saints full time. In my preschool philosophy, I believe in creating a nurturing and inclusive environment where every child feels valued and supported. My goal is to foster a sense of belonging and encourage each child to embrace their unique qualities and abilities. Love, laughter, and joy are essential to me, as I strive to create a fun and engaging atmosphere where children can freely express themselves and explore their creativity. Building strong relationships with children and their families is at the heart of my philosophy, as it promotes their growth and development. I also believe in promoting kindness, and empathy, and celebrating diversity in the preschool room. Teaching children about compassion and understanding helps them develop essential social skills and build positive relationships with their peers. I also value the importance of outdoor play and free play, by providing opportunities for hands-on exploration, open-ended activities and projects that inspire their natural curiosity. By encouraging children to ask questions, problem-solve, and find their own solutions. I aim to instil a sense of wonder and environmental and cultural understanding in young minds. Additionally, I strongly believe in giving children a voice and ensuring they are heard and understood with a sense of agency. I value their perspectives and provide a safe and supportive environment where their voices truly matter.

Hello, I’m Nicole Parker (Mrs Nic), currently working at Little Saints as an Assistant Educator. As an educator of 30 years, I believe that children are individuals who learn through their interests in a play-based setting. Children have a natural sense of curiosity and wonder when exploring their environment. Giving long uninterrupted times of play allows the children to engage in the activities and experiences provided. Positive relationships are important to develop with the families/caregivers, educators, and children. Communication is essential for all stakeholders. Professional development is important to me to keep up with best practices. This includes research, attending courses, reading, and being mentored. Positive interactions based on respect and supporting each child will help with their growth and education. Children need to feel happy, safe, and secure and have a bond with their educator. This will provide a sense of belonging.

Melisa Russell
Little Saints Educator

My name is Melisa Russell (Mrs Mel.) I have a family of four. We have 3 dogs Tipsy, Cookie and James. In my free time, I like going for walks, spending some quiet time on my own and camping at relaxing spots close to water to be able to relax and wind down. As an educator for nearly 8 years, my passion is building great connections with children to enable children to feel safe and secure in their environments so they can learn and build on their strengths with supportive educators. I also have a strong belief in working in a strong team environment in which we as a group can be involved in children’s daily routines to observe children build and grow into strong individuals. My passion as an educator is building great connections with families to ensure all families and children feel they are in an environment that is like a home away from home setting. I believe great care for children includes collaborating with parents and allowing parents to input regularly on what is happening at home and asking parents for regular input on what they would like to see in the room setups to build on children’s development and learning. As a previous family daycare educator, I enjoyed connecting with the local community and allowing children to explore nature utilising natural resources for experiences letting children be children understanding their abilities and taking risks with the guidance of a supportive educator.