~ Our Teachers ~

Jo, Louise & Kim are a great team to have looking after our 'Caterpillars & Butterflies', this page provides some background information from them.

We are incredibly fortunate to have such a wonderful and dedicated team looking after our children during their Preschool years. These are such important years for our children and it is reassuring to know they have an imaginative and safe environment with staff who love their jobs and enjoy teaching the children.

~ Jo Gaissl ~

My Mum and Dad would probably say that my teaching career began in my beloved Cubby house which at the age of eight (or there abouts), I created playspaces for the neighbourhood children such as Hospitals, restaurants , office complexes, banks or a post office.

I began dancing at the age of three and by 12 had my junior ballet teachers certificate and was assisting with the classes at Binzer School of Ballet. My Dad loved music and played the piano accordian and piano and my brother is a musician and
teaches music today. So, song and music is a very large part of who I am. The decision to become an Early Childhood educator was like a smooth evolutionary journey for me and I entered The Institute of Early Childhood Education after finishing high school and completed my Diploma of Early Childhood and continued my teaching experiences.

Over the next twenty eight years I have taught sessional kindergarten, ballet classes with jazz, tap and creative dance, supported training students with in a variety of early childhood fields of Kindergarten as well as Child Care, run work shops for teachers in the area of Dance, Drama and Music and programming, run a pre school funded program in a long Day care and received the wonderous gift of motherhood to my three children who are now 21 , 17 and 10.

Everyday I spend in the kindergarten playroom at Mount Dandenong Pre School is a completely new experience and I have the delight in saying that everyday is an adventure waiting to unfold, not only with the children but also in the relationships that are made in the pre school community.
It's a fantastic place to be!

Jo runs a wonderful music group for small children.....

~ Louise Borg ~

   I am employed at the Mt. Dandenong Pre-School as Assistant to Jo for the 3 and 4 year old groups – the caterpillars and butterflies.

            I have lived in the hills for 28 years; Don and I buying our first home in Emerald where we raised our two wonderful daughters.

My working background has been in Nursing beginning at Southern Memorial Caulfield and Caulfield Rehabilitation Centre and then to many aged care facilities. Approximately 8 years ago my interest in the care and development of children prompted me to obtain a Certificate 3 in children’s service at Chisholm TAFE and so began a happy journey working with and caring for many beautiful children. I feel fortunate to be working at Mt. Dandenong Pre-School with its ideal environment and nurturing philosophy for the children who attend.

I have found children to be great teachers as I watch their delight and amazement in the simple things. They remind me of the importance of living in the moment and appreciating the beauty in the simplest form.

~ Kim Judy ~

I am employed as an additional assistant in the pre-school supporting the funded 4 year old programme. My employment with the pre-school began in 2003, assisting in the occi care programme and supporting some children with additional needs in the 3 year old caterpillar group.

My education is a bachelor's degree of science in psychology. Prior experience with children was in my role as a child protection service worker in Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

I've lived in Australia for 7 years and my association with the pre-school began in 2001 when my son attended 3 year old kinder. I have been a past committee member and have had a major role in facilitating the Chestnut Festival for the past 5 years.

... might I add... Kim was committee President for 2 years and co-ordinator of the Chestnut Festival for 5 years whilst also organising our 'festival bags' and so much more, despite not having a child at our Kinder for a lot of that time. Plus she gives a large amount of time to the Mt Dandenong Primary School with fundraising and such!