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
Works in accounts and payroll on Monday, Tuesday and 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
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!”
Friedel Gorman
Early Childhood
Teacher
Friedel works as a teacher (Diploma of Teaching- Early Childhood Education) in the Outdoor Environment on Monday and Tuesday and the Koala Room on 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 and has a 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 12 years, 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!”
Janel McBride
Second in Charge Educator
Janel is an Educator in our Koala Room on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (Diploma Children’s Services). Janel started at Mittagong Preschool in 2018 and has been working in the child care sector for more than sixteen years. Janel is currently studying to become an ECT!
“My hobbies include baking and drawing. On weekends I enjoy visiting new places!”
Amanda Scott
Second in Charge Educator
Amanda (Diploma in children’s services), works in the Koala Room every Monday, Tuesday & Thursday and Friday.
Amanda has worked within the early childhood sector for more than 16 years.
“I love spending time with my family and friends both here and in Fiji. I am a mum to four amazing kids. I enjoy going on adventures especially to the beach and camping. I really love sea turtles and my favourite colour is purple”
Kristy Griffith
Fenella Duxfield
Early Childhood
Support
My current role at Mittagong preschool is a Support Educator in the 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.
Jen Gilroy
Early Childhood
Support
Educator (Certificate III in Children’s Services). Jen has worked as a casual educator at our preschool since 2019. Jen currently works Monday-Friday.
Chanice Apps
Helen McDonald
Early Childhood
Teacher
The Teacher in the Koala Room Monday to Wednesday (Bachelor of Education - Early Childhood). Helen also works in the office every Thursday. 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 Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (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. Rose also runs art and drama workshops for kids in the school holidays in the local area.
“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 and has been working at Mittagong Preschool in a variety of roles since 2017. My main interest areas are music, children's books, science exploration and messy play. I delight 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 going for a stroll on the bike track.
Fun fact: I know almost every book plus their location in our library.
Noriko Tunnell-Jones
OutdoorEducator
Educator in the Outdoor environment on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (Diploma of Children’s Services). Noriko commenced part time at the preschool at the beginning of 2021 and is currently studying to become an ECT!
“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 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
Support
Nikolet is a Support Educator in the Possum Room on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday.
Rachel McKinnon
Early Childhood
Support
Rachel is a Support Educator at our preschool and works in our Koala Room on Thursday and Friday.
“I love spending time with my family and our two pups, going on bush adventures, photography and painting”
René Fouche
Early Childhood
Support
René works Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the Possum room as a Support Educator. (Diploma in children’s services). René has worked in the sector in Australia for over 11 years. René is currently studying to become and ECT!
“I love spending time with my husband and 4 children. I enjoy cooking and reading.”
Karen Stevens
Early Childhood
Support
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”
Joann Middleton
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!”
