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.

Michelle is Kylie’s Co-Director and is responsible for the day to day running of the centre in Kylie’s absence. Michelle brings to her role extensive early childhood experience. She completed her Diploma prior to her Teaching Degree and has now worked at Highland Grove for over 20 years.

Michelle has a keen interest in providing an inclusive and responsive program for all children.
Michelle has a very close family, with her two teenage daughters growing up fast. She loves to spend special time with her extended family, taking trips and eating out. The staff at HGP have been known to refer to Michelle, as ‘Mumma Bear’.

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.

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.

Sharyn came to her early childhood education career 20 years ago and it was like bringing a duck to water. Her knowledge of contemporary practice combined with her very practical, considered approach and her unlimited empathy ensure that the children and families of HGP are wonderfully valued and supported.

Sharyn’s grown children are a delight for her, becoming grandparents provides her and her husband with a very special and joyful relationship.

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.

We are delighted that Kim found her way back, again, to Highland Grove Preschool. The establishment of our 2-3 room enticed Kimmie, and she brought with her experience and expertise in working with toddlers. Kim’s background was in toddler rooms in Sydney. She relocated to the coast and began working at HGP, however retired several years ago, returning to cover staff on leave from time to time. We are thrilled that Kimmie has now joined us more permanently to lead the curriculum in the Sunshine Room.

Kim and her hubby are keen travellers and have experienced much of the world together. They have now returned to regular travel, particularly enjoying regular trips to Braidwood to visit extended family.

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.

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 warmth 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 is very busy completing her Bachelor of Education (Birth to 5).

Vicki is one of the longest servicing members of the team and a much-loved educator. Vicki began with us as a busy mother of 4 daughters, who are all now grown, two with children of their own.

Vicki brings to HGP wonderful skills in organisation and a wide knowledge of all things practical, she is the queen of getting things done. Recently she has brought ‘cooking with Vicki’ to the Moonbeam Room and the children delight in the next wonderful plan Vicki has for their day at HGP.

Tina completed her traineeship at Highland Grove and began a career which suits her completely. Tina relishes the opportunity to work with all children and is completely contented when putting into practice a plan to engage children in their passions, interests or to explore their feelings.

Tina epitomises family and she is forever helping someone with a task or job. This is perfect for Tina, as she loves a project! Our resident gardener, Tina brings enthusiasm and joy.

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.

We are delighted to support Jade as she completes a Diploma in ECEC.

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.

Mackenzie completed his teaching degree in October 2020. The combination of study and experience at Highland Grove has grown Mackenzie’s knowledge, confidence and skills. Mackenzie brings an energy and warmth, which the children respond to and enjoy. He provides curriculum rich in literacy, numeracy and science, while also encouraging children’s understanding of teamwork and co-operation.

Mackenzie will now be working casually at HGP, as he will also be teaching in local primary schools. He fills his free time playing soccer, gardening and caring for his gorgeous pup, Nasa.

Emma is a thoughtful and gentle full-time member of our team.

She is patient, with an innate ability to get to know each child individually and notice even the smallest of things.

Emma spends her time away from HGP with close family, she is one of three lovely girls, and friends.

Emma enjoys travel and exploring new places and ideas

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.

In 2023, Ebony began 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.

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 impresses us as she diligently works through her Certificate 3 in Early childhood education and care.

It has been so lovely to have Pip return to HGP to work again in a fixed term role in 2023.

We love benefiting by Pip’s happy manner and kind approach.

Pip is a mum to 2 beautiful girls and balances her busy family life with casual work as a thoughtful and dedicated early childhood teacher.

We are delighted to welcome Amy to 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 in a casual role.

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