Celebrating Excellence in Early Learning: Meet our 2025 Educational Leader of the Year!
At Kool Kidz Childcare, we celebrate the extraordinary dedication of our educators who shape the future through their passionate work with children. Which is why we’re thrilled to introduce you to Callie, the recipient of our 2025 Educational Leader of the Year award.
Our bi-annual Kool Kidz Childcare Awards were created to recognise the outstanding achievements of team members across our centres.
At our first event, we presented eight awards—three of which focused on educational excellence: Educational Leader of the Year, Educator of the Year, and ECT of the Year.
It was a night of heartfelt celebration, recognising the creativity, commitment, and passion that make Kool Kidz so unique. We are immensely grateful for all our team members who give their best every single day.
Education as a Powerful Tool
Education runs in Callie’s family. With a mother who worked as a kindergarten teacher for 40 years, she grew up immersed in early learning.
In high school, she studied health and human development, which shaped her core belief that education is the most powerful tool for change—a philosophy she carries into her work every day.
After graduating from RMIT with a Bachelor’s in Primary and Early Education, Callie started off in our 3-year-old kindergarten program in Rosanna before joining our Craigieburn centre.
With additional VIT-certified training and her registration as a kindergarten mentor, she teaches, trains, and certifies other educators.
A Leadership Approach That Sets Her Apart
As an educational leader at Kool Kidz, Callie advocates for the teaching team, providing training, leadership, and capacity building for educators while supporting each child’s individual learning journey.
Her motto is “to be flexible, open, and remember we’re all here for the same reason: to support our children.”
Her leadership philosophy acknowledges that “everyone has come from a different walk of life, and one box is not going to fit everyone’s learning style.” This inclusive mindset ensures that both educators and children receive personalised support tailored to their needs.
As the Educational Leader at Kool Kidz Craigieburn, Callie plays a crucial role in shaping the centre’s learning experience. Her work involves mentoring educators, supporting the development of individual learning journeys for children, and advocating for a child-centred approach across the service.
She believes that every child—and every educator—is unique. “One box doesn’t fit all,” she explained. “Everyone learns differently, and how I do something might not be the best way for someone else.”
This flexible and open mindset is at the core of Callie’s leadership style, ensuring each child is supported according to their own needs and pace.
Play-Based Learning with Purpose
At Kool Kidz, learning through play isn’t just encouraged—it’s foundational. Callie integrates our play-based learning curriculum with meaningful, goal-oriented outcomes.
She collaborates with families and educators to create individual learning goals for each child—focusing on areas like communication, social development, and key milestones. Rather than adhering to rigid timelines, the focus is on personal progress and support.
Whether it’s a child who greets her with a high-five, a cuddle, or a shy smile, Callie sees each interaction as a window into who each child is and what they need to thrive.
As a parent herself—with a son enrolled at Kool Kidz—Callie knows exactly what families are looking for in a childcare provider: trust, care, and genuine connection.
“When you walk in the door, every educator greets you by name and makes your child feel special,” she said. “They’re not just another enrolled child. Every child is deserving of an education and is deserving of that journey.”
From morning greetings to well-being check-ins, Kool Kidz provides a welcoming environment where parents feel informed and involved.
A Step Ahead
What also sets Callie apart is her drive to improve systems to benefit families and educators alike. At Craigieburn, she digitised key documents like the Quality Improvement Plan and the Child Safe Standards Toolkit—making them accessible to families via QR codes.
“Before we made them accessible, these were only shared twice a year. Now they’re live, updated, and transparent,” she shared.
This kind of innovation ensures that families always have visibility into the learning goals and standards guiding their child’s education.
It’s one of the reasons Callie was named Educational Leader of the Year. It was a combination of her empathetic leadership, forward-thinking approach, and ability to bring people together.
She also attributed it to the openness of the team at Craigieburn. “I was able to help build a brand new service,” she explained, “and the team was absolutely onboard. It allowed me to lead authentically and create something meaningful.”
The Kool Kidz Difference
Kool Kidz is proud to be a family-owned business, and Callie believes this model makes all the difference.
“Kool Kidz is personable, relatable, and there’s a sense of trust,” she explained. “Having the centre owner present and involved creates a strong relationship between families and the service. It’s not just a business—it’s a resource.”
Our Craigieburn centre was recently recognised with the Child Safe Standards Award, further affirming our commitment to safeguarding and well-being, in full alignment with Victoria’s 11 Child Safe Standards.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a childcare centre where your child is known, nurtured, and inspired every day, we invite you to visit us.
Discover how passionate leadership, personalised learning, and a strong sense of community can shape a brighter future for your little one.
You can find your nearest centre here.
