Meet our Amazing Team…
Pauline Iacono
Director
The Nominated Supervisor/Director and the Educational Leader (Diploma of Teaching-Early Childhood Education). Has been the Director/Teacher at Mittagong Preschool since 2005, teacher since 1997. Has been teaching for more than twenty five years, with most of these at Mittagong Preschool. Keenly interested in innovative approaches to Early Childhood Education, striving for quality service provision and engagement with all stakeholders, especially the children!
“I love to dance and 80’s disco music is the best! I also enjoy cooking, reading, gardening and Zumba! My passion is spending time with my family .. closely followed by my commitment to Early Childhood Education … particularly engaging with the Mittagong community!”
Sandra Galea
Administration Officer
Works in accounts and payroll on Monday, Tuesday and a Wednesday morning. Sandra has a bachelor of commerce with a major in accountancy. Sandra has worked in business services for 14 years and community services for 9 years. Sandra started working with Mittagong Preschool in 2023 with the position involving all aspects of accounts and admin.
“Sandra enjoys travelling, spending time with her family and going for walks on the weekend with her two dogs Lola and Daisy”
Rhiannon Ingenhoff
Administration Officer
In 2025, Rhiannon is on Maternity Leave.
Works as a Clerical Assistant Wednesday to Friday. Rhiannon has a bachelor of Business with a major in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations. Rhiannon has gained work experience in her roles at the Australian Bureau of Statistics and in an administration management role for a NDIS provider. Rhiannon’s role will focus on supporting all administration duties including maintaining enrolment and waitlist records.
“I love spending quality time with my family going on bushwalks and travelling both locally and internationally!”
Karen Stevens
Support Educator
Karen is a Support Educator on Monday and Tuesday in the Possum Room.
“On the weekend I love spending time with family. I like visiting local parks, forests or the beach to have picnic”
Friedel Gorman
Early Childhood Teacher
Friedel works as a Teacher (Diploma of Teaching- Early Childhood Education) in the Possum Room on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Friedel has worked in a variety of roles since graduating in 1990. Predominantly working in Long Day Care as a Teacher and Director, but has also spent time as a Nanny and Summer Camp Counsellor. Has been teaching at Mittagong Preschool since 2014.
“My passions are horses, books and challenging the IPad to a game of solitaire!”
Georgie Spong
Early Childhood Teacher
Georgie is a Teacher in the Possum Room on Monday and Tuesdays, across the preschool on a Wednesday, Playgroup on a Thursday and Leadership tasks from home (Masters of Primary Teaching, and a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care). With a background in primary teaching, Georgie has returned to teaching after updating her qualifications to include Early Childhood, after spending time at home with her three children. Georgie has lived in the Southern Highlands for over a decade, and loves the local area, and everything it has to offer young families.
“I love spending time with my family and friends, enjoying time outdoors, either at the beach or in the country. I feel privileged to be able to contribute to children’s early development during their formative years. I love watching my children enjoy sport, and started playing hockey again a few years ago for Mittagong, after too many years cheering on from the sidelines. I have a love for quality children’s literature and music and enjoy incorporating these into my daily teaching practices. I also love reading!”
Sarah Gregory
Early Childhood Educator | Support
Sarah started in early 2025 at Mittagong Preschool. She works in a Support Educator Role from Tuesday-Friday in the Possum Room. Sarah holds a Diploma and comes with a varied work history, working in Early Childhood for many years.
“I love spending time with my family. Which consists of many hours at different motocross tracks and races. I love live music and have a new interest in gardening since making a move to the country”.
Janel Burns
Early Childhood Teacher
Janel is an ECT in our Koala Room on Monday and Tuesday. She has recently taken on Leadership requirements such as rostering. Janel also gathers the program for Mittagong Community Playgroup.
“I have been in Early Childhood for 20 years and decided to further my education in 2023. I recently completing my studies in Early Childhood Education, becoming an ECT. I have a passion for play based learning, incorporating visual arts and nature-based play into my practice. I enjoy setting up environments that entice children’s play. I am also known for my play dough making skills!”
Kristy Griffith
Support Educator
Kristy comes with a wealth of knowledge surrounding Support Educator experience, working previously in an Autism specific setting. Kristy started at Mittagong Preschool in mid 2024. She currently supports in the Koala Room, Monday and Tuesday.
“I hold a Diploma in Children's Services and have been actively working in the Early Childhood sector for over 20 years. I am driven by my passion in supporting young minds to thrive, inclusion and additional needs.
I am a Mum to two boys who keep me extra busy when I am not at work. I love time spent with family and friends, curling up with a good book, Lego building, music, playing hockey and travel”.
Nicole Labarces Himiob
Early Childhood Educator | 2IC
Nicole works at Mittagong Preschool full time and started mid 2024. She is an ELLA champion and shares her first language, Spanish with the children. Nicole works in the Koala Room on Monday and Tuesday as a 2IC (Diploma). She works across the preschool on a Wednesday and is a 2IC in the Possum Room on Thursday and Friday.
Nicole brings varied experience from working in large services in Sydney.
Fenella Duxfield
Support Educator
My current role at Mittagong Preschool is a Support Educator Monday and Tuesday (Possum Room) and Wednesday (Possum Room).
“I have had my diploma in children’s services for 13 years but never previously applied my studies within the childcare sector just within my home life. I completed one of my pracs at Mittagong Preschool and instantly felt a lovely connection. All four of my children have attended so it is lovely to be able to continue being part of this embracing community.
I really enjoy playing hockey and being somewhat fit. I have a bit of love for baking and being creative in the kitchen”.
Helen McDonald
Early Childhood Teacher
The Teacher in the Koala Room Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (Bachelor of Education - Early Childhood). Helen also works in the office every Tuesday, assisting with Leadership and writing policies. Helen has worked as a teacher and director in long day care and Preschool settings since graduating in 1989. Helen worked with Bowral Community Health in the late 1990’s to develop and pilot the PALS program. Helen started teaching at Mittagong Preschool in 2019.
“I love spending time with my four children, going to Crossfit and travelling. I am also interested in archaeology”
Rose Hoskins
Early Childhood Teacher
Rose is the Teacher in the Possum Room on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Leadership on a Monday supporting policy development and other behind the scenes tasks (Master of Teaching - Early Childhood). Rose worked for many years in Early Childhood as an educator, graduating as a teacher in 2013. Moved to the Southern Highlands with her husband and two children in 2017.
“I love to spend time with family and friends, sharing meals and enjoying life. I love yoga, being in the great outdoors, travelling and getting stuck into a good book. I am passionate about literature, drama and the arts, and love to weave these themes through my teaching practice.”
Michelle Hinton
Early Childhood Teacher
Michelle is a passionate Early Childhood Teacher (Bachelor of Education: The Early Years (0-12 years)) and has been working at Mittagong Preschool in a variety of roles since 2017. However, her connection started much longer ago, attending Mittagong Preschool as a child herself in 1995.
She currently teaches on a Monday and Wednesday. Michelle writes the program for our Facilitated Playgroup and New Cubs Club. She runs sessions at Mittagong Community Playgroup on a Tuesday and completes Leadership tasks on a Thursday from home.
Her main interest areas are music, children's books, science exploration and messy play. She delights in setting up aesthetically pleasing environments.
“I am also a Mummy to two little girls and on the weekend, you can find me baking or learning how to garden”.
Fun fact: I know almost every book plus their location in our library.
Carolyn Carr
Support Educator
My current role at Mittagong Preschool is a Support Educator Wednesday to Friday in the Koala room.
Carolyn has a certificate III in early childhood education & care and is currently studying a Diploma in early childhood.
“I have been in childcare for just over 3 years and I am excited to continue my studies with the amazing support of all the teachers at Mittagong Preschool. In my free time I love spending time with my family, shoe shopping and drinking yummy coffee"
Noriko Tunnell-Jones
Early Childhood Teacher
Noriko is the Outdoor Educator on Monday and Tuesday. She is an Room Leader as an ECT on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (Bachelor of Education - The Early Years). Noriko commenced part time at the preschool at the beginning of 2021 and completed her study to become an ECT in July, 2025!
“I love spending time with my family, going for a bushwalk and catching waves at the beach. I also love reading!”
Susan Hill-Thomson
Second in Charge | Early Childhood Educator
Susan is an Educator on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in our Koala Room (Diploma of Children’s Services). Susan has worked in child care sector for over twenty years, since 2004 at Mittagong Preschool.
“Valuing life at every stage and, yes, I still LOVE working with preschoolers'“
Nikolet Colling
Early Childhood Educator and Support Educator
Nikolet is a Support Educator in the Possum Room on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. She shares her love of gardening with the children via her role as an Outdoor Educator on Thursday and Friday.
Rachel McKinnon
Support Educator
Rachel is a Support Educator at our preschool and works in our Koala Room on Monday and Tuesday.
“I love spending time with my family and our two pups, going on bush adventures, photography and painting”
Joann Middleton
Preschool centre cleaner
Our Cleaner Monday to Friday. You may catch a glimpse of her in the background near drop-off time! Has been cleaning for many years; since 2009 at Mittagong Preschool and she especially loves vacuuming up glitter at Christmas time!
“Christmas & family …. that sums me up!”
Jen Gilroy
Early Childhood Educator
Educator (Certificate III in Children’s Services). Jen has worked as a casual educator at our preschool since 2019. Jen currently works Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. She does casual work on Wednesdays.
