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Our Team

At Maitland Community Preschool we are very lucky to have a team of highly qualified and experienced educators and administrative staff; being not-for-profit has allowed our service to invest strongly in the recruitment and retention of our staff, many of whom have worked at the preschool for a long time. We greatly value the wonderfully diverse range of skills and interests that all our staff members bring with them.

Because all our educators work part-time, it means that we have a familiar and reliable pool of educators available for relief, thus causing minimal disruption to our groups. This continuity of care is something we value greatly, and has enabled us to build strong and enduring relationships with our families, many of whom return again and again. It is not unusual for us to have two or even three generations of the same family pass through our doors.

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Director

Emily Woodger

Director / Nominated Supervisor
Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education), Diploma of Children's Services (Early Childhood Education and Care), Cert III in Children's Services (Chidren's Services)

Director 5 days per week (Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fri)

Teachers

(Degree Trained)

Melissa Chalker

Educational Leader / Disability and Inclusion Program Co-Ordinator
B. Teaching (Early Childhood); Dip. Community Services (Children's Services); Cert 111 Community services (Children's services)

Mel joined our team in 2014

Jessica Petherbridge

Teacher
B. Ed (Early Childhood)

Jess joined our team in 2021 and is our Mon/Tues teacher

Dannielle Bullock

Teacher
B. of Early Childhood Education and Care

Dannielle has been working for Maitland Community Preschool since 2020. She is our Mon/Tues/Wed teacher

Jules Sutherland

Teacher
B. Ed (Early Childhood)

Jules joined our team in 2024 and is our Thurs/Fri teacher

Educators

Jillian Compton

Educator
Assoc. Dip. Child Studies; Dip. Teaching (Primary); Dip. in General Nursing (Registered Nurse).

Jillian currently works Wed/Thurs/Fri, as a primary classroom educator.

Sally-Anne Fitzpatrick

Educator
Dip. Children's Services; Cert. III Children's Services.

Sal has worked at preschool in various capacities since 2004. Currently, she works Mon/Tues, as a primary classroom educator.

Kelly Worboys

Educator
Dip. Children's Services; Cert. III Children's Services.

Kelly has been employed by Maitland Community Preschool since 2010. Currently, she works Mon/Tue/Wed, as a primary classroom educator

Katrina Baker

Educator
Assoc. Dip. Child Studies

Katrina joined our team in 2018, and is a primary classroom educator on a Thurs/Fri

Kay Hipwell

Administration Assistant / Maintenance Officer
Kay is one of the longest standing staff members at preschool, having worked here since 1987. Kay performs a range of roles daily, including support educator, admin assistant, and maintainence co-ordinator

Sally Morris

Educator
Assoc. Dip. of Child Studies

Sally has worked for us in a variety of roles since 2010. She is currently working as a Disability and Inclusion Support Educator on a Mon/Tues

Claire Watson

Educator
Dip. Children's Services; Cert. III Children's Services

Claire joined our team as a Disability and Inclusion Support Educator in 2015. She works on a Wed/Thurs/Fri

Stana Maslin

Educator
Dip. Children's Services

Stana joined out team as a Disability and Inclusion support educator on Thurs/Fri

Mandy Innes

Educator
Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

Mandy joined our team as a disability and inclusion support educator and works on a Mon/Tues/Wed

Belinda Steinerts

Educator
Cert III in Early Childhood Education and Care

Belinda joined our team as a disability and inclusion support educator and works on a Wed/Thurs/Fri

Lauren Watson

Educator
Cert III in Early Childhood Education and Care.

Lauren joined our team as a Disability and Inclusion support education and relief education and works mon-Fri

Kristy-Lee Stocks

Educator
Diploma of Children Services

Kristy joined our team as a Disability Inclusion support and relief education and works on a Thurs/Fri

Office Staff

Karla Macey

Administration Officer
Dip. Human resource management; Dip of Business

Karla has been employed by Maitland Community Preschool since 2022, and is our adminstration officer. She works Mon-Fri.