Our Team

In her role as owner and director, Kylie relishes working with a team of highly motivated and professional educators. Highland Grove has been a passion of Kylies for over 30 years and she delights in the challenge of maintaining this high quality, supportive and collaborative early childhood oasis.

At home, Kylie enjoys gardening with her builder husband, Chris. She also relaxes with trips away and spending time with her two (almost) grown sons, hanging out and watching them play soccer.

Ella worked at Highland Grove part time while completing her teaching degree at Macquarie University, and is a highly valued member of our team.

From October 2023, Ella has filled the Educational Leader role. In this role, Ella is part of HGP’s Management Team and her role is to promote positive outcomes for children through her work supporting staff, challenging and extending our practices and pedagogy.

Ella has a passion for social justice and contemporary early childhood practice. She sets high standards for herself and brings a wonderful warmth and enthusiasm to all that she undertakes.

Karen is the centre Office Manager and an integral part of the HGP team, with her 20 years plus of service beginning when her two children attended Highland Grove. Karen’s background in superannuation, HR and accounting ensure she is quick to respond to those tricky questions, while her warm manner makes certain that families receive a pleasant introduction to HGP.

Now that their 2 children have flown the coop, Karen loves to spend time with her hubby, her beautiful dog and her friends, camping, lunching and travelling.

Melissa is a dynamic and motivated early childhood teacher with a passion for approaching each child individually and supporting their learning and wellbeing. Melissa also displays strength in providing a curriculum rich in visual arts, gross motor opportunities and shared learning experiences.

Melissa is a busy mum to her 2 delightful girls. She spends her free time teaching and competing in Physical Culture (Physy), supporting her husband’s business and socialising with friends and their great big family.

In 2023, Melissa commenced a Post Graduate Certificate in Psychology, which she is completing part time.

Whilst Ali has worked at a few other early learning centres on the coast, to us her arriving at HGP felt like she was coming home. Ali has a warm and thoughtfulness which endears her to all. She has experience with management, assessment and rating and policy development, however it’s her careful and responsive planning for, and supporting of, children which shines through in her role at HGP.

At home, Ali is a wonderful mum to her school-aged daughter, Evie and enjoys special time with family and friends.

Tanya holds a special place in so many hearts and minds of Highland Grove children and their families. Throughout her 25 years at Highland Grove, Tarn has shown an abundance of warmth, compassion, and respect.

It’s been delightful for us to see Tarn’s ‘grandbabies’ recently attending HGP, as her 2 daughters brought their own children. Tanya is also our ‘go to’ lady for all the Highland Grove creatures, great and small. She has a long and wonderful affinity with nature and is a wealth of knowledge.

Sarah has an openness and love for life which shines through in her interactions, relationships and programming. Sarah develops strong bonds with each child and plans experiences and learning which taps into their interest and skills.

Sarah is now a mum to the sweet Eddie and has returned to HGP part time. Sarah, and her teacher hubby, like to take trips away, participate in fun runs together and spend time with extended family.

Hayley has a quiet warmth that the children are drawn to. As our full time, Diploma trained educator, she is thoughtful, reliable and has extensive early childhood knowledge.

Hayley’s delightfully warm and positive outlook has enriched the HGP team and her joy for children and early childhood education is an asset to our centre.

Cathy began her time at HGP supporting children with additional needs. We continue to see Cathy displaying this individual and inclusive approach to each and every child as she thoughtfully works to engage, support and reflect on the learning of each child. Cath’s kind and practical approach to early childhood education is much loved by her peers and our families.

Cathy has 3 lovely grown daughters and when away from HGP, Cath and her hubby fill their days with family, friends and when they can, travel.

It has been a joy to watch Jade blossom from a quiet, composed trainee into a dynamic and reflective educator. Jade is quite a magnet to the children, with the HGP preschoolers flocking to her, clearly responding to her kind and gentle manner.

Jade has wonderful attention to even the smallest of details and is the ideal full-time educator, as she ensures warmth and continuity is provided across the week for all children.

When Ebony started working at HGP, she was familiar with our centre, as both her and her sister attended. The team has relished supporting Ebony’s growth and have admired her enthusiasm, initiative and care.

Ebony completed her Diploma to extend further upon her knowledge of early childhood development.

She also has a passion for travel and is very creative, particularly enjoying planning and decorating.

Michelle is a sensitive and intuitive educator who now works part time after completing her certificate 3 in 2021. She has become part of an integral part of the HGP team.

Michelle brings to her role parenting experience, as she is a mum to 3 delightful children, two of which attended Highland Grove.

Zoe has very quickly become a relied upon member of the HGP team and we are delighted that she will be remaining with us after the completion of her Certificate in Early childhood education and care.

Zoe is mature beyond her years, relating to children, staff and families with a warmth and genuine sensitivity that we treasure.

In February 2025, Zoe commenced her Teaching Degree and will now work regularly at HGP while she attends University.

Mia commenced her Certificate 3 in ECEC in July 2023 and has impressed us with her initiative and enthusiasm.

Mia floats between all 3 rooms, and the children enjoy having her Mia in their room.

Mia is one of 4 close siblings. When she is not at preschool, she keeps very busy, as she is an avid dancer.

Bella came to us after starting a career in the hospital system and this shines through in her practicality and common sense.

Bella is enthusiastic and her warm smile brightens our day.

Bella became a mum to gorgeous young Evie in 2024, and now works part time at Highland Grove.

We are delighted to have Amy as part of our team. She is very familiar with Highland Grove as 2 of her boys have already attended, and her third little man is just beginning his journey.

Amy completed her Diploma in Education and Care prior to having her children, and she is excited to be returning to early learning initially in casual role.

We know that everyone is going to enjoy her kind and sensitive manner.

Cath completed her Certificate 3 at the end of 2024 and was recommended to Highland Grove by the TAFE.

She is a kind and compassionate mother of 2 teenagers, who are currently in high school.

Cath loves walks on the beach, reading and arts and craft.

Cath approaches children calmy and always with consideration for the individual personality of the child. We are delighted that she has joined our team in a more permanent role in 2025 and look forward to Cath bringing her quiet, thoughtful approach to our preschool.

Aline began her Traineeship with us in July 2024. She is completing the Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education and Care.

Aline is new to early childhood, previously having worked in a receptionist role.

Aline is originally from Brazil. She is bilingual, speaking Brazilian/Portuguese.

Aline moved with her husband to the Central Coast fairly recently, and she is loving taking long walks and exploring our natural environments.

Aline brings a sincerity and kindness to her work with young children. She is so approachable, and as she becomes even more comfortable, we have admired the thoughtful way she is working individually with each child.

Matilda began her traineeship to complete her Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education and Care in January 2025. She will complete this qualification over 18 months and work full-time at Highland Grove during this time.
Matilda is a warm and friendly person, with a background in hospitality and customer service. She lives at home with her parents and younger twin sisters.
Matilda enjoys the beach and is interested in fashion. She has previously worked as a babysitter for a gorgeous little one from when she was a bub. This is when Matilda developed her interest in working with young children.
Matilda will be ‘floating’ throughout the centre and spending time in all 3 rooms.

Kirsten has recently completed her training in ECEC and initially worked casually at Highland Grove. We were delighted to bring Kirsten on with a fixed-term contract for Mondays and Tuesdays in 2025.
On the other 3 days per week, Kirsten runs the canteen at Erina height Public School, so she may be a familiar face to families from that community.
Kirsten has 3 grown children and enjoys long walks, the gym and gardening.

Jackie comes to Highland Grove with a background in swim teaching. She is very well known by many of our families, which will make her transition to Early Learning even smoother.
Jackie is a mother of 4 grown children. Jackie plays netball, likes camping and the great outdoors.
Jackie is excited about the challenge of new learning and shows enthusiasm for all aspects of our work with young children.