Kristy has been working in Early Childhood Education for over 10 years, joining New Horizons Preschool in 2016. She has worked within a variety of settings and with different ages of children, ranging from birth to five years. She holds a Certificate III and Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Having worked with other educational frameworks, Kristy is an advocate for and passionate about the Reggio Emilia Educational Project.
She is enthusiastic about co-researching alongside staff and children. She is passionate about developing relationships with the children and families to enable a collaborative and nurturing learning environment.
Kristy enjoys exploring new places with her husband and two children and spending time with family and friends.
Pedagogical Coordinating Team
Leah Ryan
Educational Leader
Leah is a qualified primary school teacher with over 10 years of experience across a variety of learning environments including preschool, primary school and secondary college. Leah has recently completed her Graduate Certificate specifically in Early Childhood Education and Care. Leah loves the authenticity, honesty and inquisitive nature of children and enjoys working alongside them to express their learning through The Hundred Languages.
Leah is passionate about fostering a warm and welcoming environment, where children feel included, cared for and encouraged to forever be curious about the world around them.
Chelsea Ryan
Early Childhood Teacher – Battery Point Campus
Chelsea joined the New Horizons team in early 2017, she completed a Bachelor of Primary Teaching, Sport and Outdoor Recreation at Monash University. In 2017 Chelsea completed her Graduate Certificate in Early Years Education and Care with Griffith University. Chelsea has over 16 years’ experience and has held numerous roles within Early Childhood Education.
Chelsea has been inspired and provoked by the many challenges that the Reggio Emilia Educational Project offers to educators. She is passionate about fostering children’s abilities to become active and participatory citizens, both now and for the future. Chelsea places great significance on the theory of The Hundred Languages and is committed to providing a range of experiences and opportunities for children to express their voices and theories in a multiplicity of ways.
Meredith Geeves
Early Childhood Teacher – Battery Point Campus
Meredith has over 18 years’ experience working in Early Education and Care and joined New Horizons Preschool in 2015. She has a Bachelor of Arts, Masters of Teaching and Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care.
The Reggio Emilia Educational Project has inspired Meredith to work alongside children as citizens of the present and active protagonists of their learning. She is committed to empowering children to engage in learning through inquiry-based pedagogies, learning on country and reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
In her spare time, Meredith enjoys spending time in nature, yoga and being with family and friends.
Annie Newman
Educator
Annie has been a part of the New Horizons team since 2020. She has undertaken her first year of Primary Education and deferred to pursue her other passion, Graphic Design. Annie’s growth and experiences over the last few years have brought her interest back towards early childhood education and the Reggio Emilia Educational Approach. Annie is currently undertaking her Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and is eager to further her studies in education.
Growing up in rural Tasmania, Annie has developed an eager desire to lead a creative and thoughtful life. Through respect, listening and support, Annie believes that children can be given the environment needed to gain further understanding of their true selves and their capabilities.
Charlotte Williams
Educator
Charlotte joined the New Horizons team after completing her final kindergarten placement for her Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care at New Horizons Preschool in 2024. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing and Journalism finding the blend between the creative arts and education to form her own teaching practice.
Ellie Ferguson
Educator
Ellie joined New Horizons Preschool in 2018. She has a Certificate III and Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care, and has over 17 years’ experience working with young children.
Ellie continues to be inspired with the values and principles of the Reggio Emilia Educational Approach, and incorporating these into her pedagogical thinking and practice.
Ellie possesses a caring nature and an innate ability to connect with families and children. She is passionate about working alongside the children and advocating for their voices to be valued and heard within the wider community.
Ellie is interested in fostering independence and resilience in children, through supportive and positive relationships.
Ellie loves spending time exploring our beautiful state with her husband Alex and two children; Arlo and Layla.
Jess Fodor
Educator
Jess joined the New Horizons Team at the end of 2022. Growing up by the ocean, Jess has sought to embody the lessons of her own nature-based upbringing within her life.
Trained as a market gardener and permaculturist with a background in social sciences, Jess has come to discover that the connecting link between her many passions lies in early years education.
Jess is a practicing artist and is currently undertaking a masters of counselling. She holds a bachelor of International Studies and a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education. Jess is thrilled to be at New Horizons where she can continue to help foster children’s discovery of their own unique wisdoms through creative play and nature.
Jess Lang
Educator
Jess joined the New Horizons team at Battery Point in 2022 and is currently undertaking a Diploma in early childhood education. Jess is deeply inspired by the Reggio Emilia educational approach and believes this philosophy connects to her values as an educator.
Coming from a family background of horticulturists Jess has a strong interest for plants and is keen to share this love of nature with the children, particularly with the use of our Tasmanian native flora as an educational tool. As a painter Jess is passionate about creating experiences that engage the children’s imagination and allow them to express themselves through the language of visual art. She aims to create strong relationships with the children that she works alongside and build a safe and comfortable environment for the children whilst meeting their individual needs.
Kym Donaldson
Educator
Kim has recently joined the New Horizons team and has been collaborating with the Battery Point and Lenah Valley staff and families. Kym has a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and a Diploma in Montessori Education. Kym has over ten years experience working with children in Australia and Ireland.
Kym is passionate about social and emotional development in children and inspired by the way the Reggio Emilia approach fosters connection through collaboration, creativity, curiosity and questioning. Kym also draws on her experience with the Montessori philosophy and how it fosters confidence in children through age appropriate independence.
Maggie Bell
Educator
Maggie joined the New Horizons Team at the beginning of 2024. Maggie holds a Certificate III and Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Maggie has more than 10 years working experience as an Early Childhood educator . She is now undertaking Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood).
Maggie is excited to build respectful relationships with the children, believing in children’s capacity. She believes children are competent, capable and curious. Maggie is passionate about Reggio Emilia approach.
Maggie is excited about the next stage of her educational journey and future in teaching and working alongside with children.
Olivia Legge
Educator
Olivia joined the New Horizons Team at the end of 2018. She has over 11 years’ experience working in Early Childhood Education.
Olivia has a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and is currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education with the University of Tasmania. She is embracing learning more about the Reggio Emilia Educational Approach alongside the New Horizons Team.
Olivia is passionate about the pedagogy of listening and values strongly children’s voices, opinions and theories. She regards children as capable and competent learners, with reciprocal rights as active and participatory citizens.
Olivia enjoys working alongside the staff, families and children to build resilience, independence and positive relationships. She values the Hundred Languages and is adept at using multi-media platforms to support children’s interest in digital technologies.
Pearl Lark
Educator
Pearl joined the New Horizons Preschool in 2023. She has a Certificate III and Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Pearl strongly believes that when a familiar caregiver responds warmly and consistently to young children, they form strong self-identities and emotional bonds. This is important for healthy emotional and social development. She also believes that fostering relationships with children and their families is vital development of the child. The way we interact with and support those families will affect the child’s development.
Pearl’s goal as an early childhood educator is to provide children with a rich environment where they feel safe to explore, initiate learning and feel free to express themselves.
Pearl enjoys knitting and spending quality time with family and friends during her free time.
Rini (Aryani) Sulistyorini
Educator
Rini newly joined New Horizons Preschool as a Diploma in Early Childhood Educator and has more than 7 years experience working with young children in various settings.
Rini values children as active participant in their learning and continues to be inspired with the values and principles of the Reggio Emilia Educational Project. She advocates for the rights of children to receive high quality learning opportunities.
Rini is passionate about fostering children’s social, emotional, intellectual and cognitive development through inquiry learning, nature exploration, and collaborative projects.
Theresa Fiotakis
Educator
Theresa has been working in Early Childhood Education for fourteen years, joining the New Horizons Preschool team in 2022. Theresa holds a Certificate III and Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care and has worked within a variety of settings and with different ages of children ranging from birth to five years. Theresa is currently studying her Bachelor of Early Years.
Theresa is passionate about working with children and building valued, supportive and positive relationships with the children and their families. Theresa has experience in the Reggio Emilia approach and is passionate about extending her learning and understanding to enhance her knowledge.
In her spare time, Theresa enjoys being outdoors, playing soccer and spending time with her friends and family.
Visit us at our next open morning!
we would love to share with you a moment of inspiration, insight and imagination.
Maggie Bell
