Educators of Bright Sparks
Bright Sparks Early Learning ensures that the quality of care provided at the service is excellent by providing additional staff to ratio requirements and by recruiting quality, trained Educators who are passionate about children's services.
We are continually striving for excellence, and providing quality training, coaching and development opportunities. We are a team of fantastic Educators who are committed to Continual Professional Development, and learning new skills and strategies to better assist our Bright Sparks families.
Our team rallies to find new and exciting experiences for the children, that challenge current thinking, strategy and theory - in new and innovative ways every day. Bright Sparks Educators are professional, highly qualified, dedicated, caring and committed to learning and teaching.
In working collaboratively with families, sharing knowledge, connecting with professional networks and supporting family networks, we create respectful relationships and partnerships, equity and opportunity for learning.
Lesley
Lesley has always known that Early Years education has always been important. She felt there was a difference that could be made to children's lives, and wanted to be an integral part of that.
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She is acutely aware that many children need access to a safe, secure environment, where they have solid relationships with adults who have their best interests at heart. Lesley wanted to make the Bright Sparks environment fully inclusive, ensuring that our own therapists are on hand to help our individual children with any additional needs.
Starting her own business meant that she could create the environment that fits with the best developmental theories. Every day she helps to shape Educators who are passionate about Early Years development and education, and she directly assists in creating a better future for the children in the local area.
Lesley is an AMAZING leader for the Bright Sparks Team- giving counsel and guidance to every member of the team, irrelevant of their experience and qualification. A communicator and trainer, Lesley excels in making sure that people are doing what they passionate about, and are given the freedom to fully explore this, and celebrates their success along the way.
Lesley’s drive is clearly all about the children she works with. She enjoys watching them meeting their milestones, she is genuinely proud (and sad!!) when she has a class of children go off to Kindergarten, and can see that they ready socially, developmentally, and are comfortable moving into a new learning environment.
Lesley can see that all the experiences we have provided for them along the way during the Early Years have truly set them up for success. “We keep our eyes on each little success for each little person along the way. This is the success we are driven to achieve.”
Lesley holds her Bachelor of Teaching (0-5 years), her Diploma and her Certificate 3 of Children’s Services. She has been working in the early education industry for over 2 decades, has 4 of her own beautiful children, Noah, Finlay, Billie and Grace, and has been the BRILLIANT owner operator of Bright Sparks Early Learning since May 2011.
Lauren
Lauren is a super geek, nerding out on numbers, finding the next techy solution to a manual process, and completing all the spreadsheet formulas- so that everyone else can focus on the most important part of Early Education… the children.
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Proud mother to a beautiful daughter with Autism, Lauren is proactive about inclusion, best practices and therapies to improve the lives of children (and families) with additional needs. With so many additional services and resources available within Bright Sparks, and Educators with the highest level of training and experience, Lauren believes there is no better place for her daughter to be.
In her spare time, Lauren performs in musical theatre, is the President of the Appin Chamber of Commerce, supporting local business and local community initiatives, plays soccer for Appin United Soccer Club, and football for Appin Touch Football, and is on the Wollondilly Economic Development Committee.
Cassie
Cassie is the Centre Manager of Bright Sparks Early Learning - Rixon Road Appin. She started her career in Early Childhood as a trainee back in 2010, completing her Certificate III, then moved on to study her Diploma. Cassie completed her Bachelor of Education (Birth- 5years) in 2017 to become an Early Childhood Teacher.
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Cassie has been part of the Bright Sparks Family for many years, and has loved getting to know the community, families and educators she works with on a daily basis. She has spent those years eagerly learning and growing each year- and is a fantastic educator and leader in our organisation.
Cassie has spent time in all age groups, however she truly shines bright when it comes to spending time with our babies. She loves and thrives on learning about baby development, and is tirelessly looking for different ways we can support their learning through play based experiences. “Music and Movement” is her favourite part of the Program, learning and teaching new songs.
Cassie has extended her skills (and stress!!) by upskilling to oversee the day to day running of the service, new enrolments, the many, MANY checklists that all childcare operators love, and making sure all of our regulations are met, and procedures are followed.
She enjoys getting to know new families and children as they settle into care, and recognises that support during transition from home to care is so crucial. Cassie strongly believes in social/emotional development and utilises many strategies to ensure this period is a successful one, and as easy as possible for everyone!
‘A person’s a person - no matter how small’- Dr Seuss
Michelle
Michelle has a Bachelor of Teaching Early Childhood Education. She did her training in Christchurch, New Zealand where she obtained her first preschool job. After working for three years, Michelle travelled to the UK where she worked as a nanny while travelling around America, Europe and the UK.
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After returning from the UK she settled in Sydney and worked at a preschool in Mosman as a Room Leader. During this time Michelle met and married her husband Steve and soon moved to Thirlmere. She has 2 beautiful children, Lara and Toby. Michelle loved being a ’stay at home mum’ and was lucky enough to do this for 6 years.
Michelle started at Bright Sparks Early Learning in 2012- and has proven herself to be a valuable asset to the team, a brilliant educator and an amazing Leader to those around her.
Michelle loves working with the Pre-Schoolers, and finds that there is never a dull moment when working with children and they never cease to amaze her with their knowledge and abilities. Her development and instigation of the “School Readiness Program” is where her skills are truly evident, and the confidence and capabilities of the children who graduate are evidence of that.
When not at Bright Sparks, Michelle enjoys supporting and transporting her children to their many sporting and leisure activities. She also enjoys travelling, cooking and socialising with her friends and family.
Grace
Grace is the Room Leader of the Bright Beginners Room and has a wonderful, natural way with the babies. Grace started with Bright Sparks Early Learning on a traineeship, and has successfully gained both her Certificate 3 in Children’s Services and her Diploma, both qualifications with amazing results and commendations from her trainers.
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Grace strives for perfection and has won awards for her dedication, accountability and her consistently high standards. She is known for being an extreme nagger (in a good way!!) to achieve her ultimate goal- to run the best room in the centre, no, in the world!
Grace feels great pleasure from building positive relationships with all children and goes out of her way to provide them with a place that they look forward to coming to; a safe place filled with fun, laughter and positive learning programs. She is responsible for compliance and documentation in her part of our business, and does this with consummate ease, and an enormous amount of enthusiasm.
Grace is a genuinely kind and compassionate care giver, who has beautiful connections to the babies in her room, and she remains a firm favourite as the children progress through the rooms of the service.
Mathew
Mat is the Out of School Hours (OSHC) Co-Ordinator for Bright Sparks Early Learning. Mat is a true believer in sport, movement and fitness as part of the lives of our young people. As an athlete during his own schooling years, Mat learned the importance of team sport, discipline and commitment.
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Looking for opportunities to minimise sedentary time, Mathew believes in the benefits of playing outside, wherever possible. If it’s cold- with a jumper. If it rains- with an umbrella. Being outdoors and having a strong connection to nature helps to build a sense of belonging, comfort and encourages play.
In 2014, Mathew joined the Coaching Team of Appin Dogs Junior Rugby League, teaching his own son, and his team the sport of Rugby League, sportsmanship, and how to be part of a team. Shortly after, Mathew began his official Performance Coaching role for Youth Athletes for ages 9-18.
Mat is a Qualified Carpenter, holds his First Aid Certificate, CPR, Certificate 3 and 4 in Fitness, and is currently working on his Children’s Services studies.
“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to the youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where there once was only despair.” Nelson Mandela
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