Meet The Educators

Hello everyone. My name is Negin. I’m originally from Iran, but for the past 4 years I have lived in Canada. I am a mom of 2. I graduated from Herzing college in Montreal in 2022.

I love being a teacher and this is my passion. Because as a teacher I can be a positive influence in children’s lives. I can help children build self-esteem and believe in themselves. I can draw and paint and like to work activities that involve creativity. I enjoy watching infants grow up and do amazing things. I love working out.

If you need anything please let me know.

Hi, my name is Natalie and I have been working as an ECE for the past 10 years. During that time, I have worked with a variety of age groups from infant to preschool. I love to see the wonder on children’s faces when they discover something new.

When I am not working, I enjoy reading and traveling. I look forward to meeting you and your children here at Young Minds.

Hello! My name is Elsa Reshiti and I am the toddler teacher here at Young Minds!
I have about 5 years of experience in the field, I’ve worked with toddlers, preschoolers and infants.

I have enjoyed the opportunities and learned a lot while working in early learning centres and public schools.
With that being said, I have a passion for nurturing young minds.

A little about me… I enjoy traveling, photography and art. I am fluent in Albanian and English and I am a mommy to a baby boy.

I look forward to seeing you and continuing getting to know the children and the wonderful families at the centre.

Hi my name is Natasha, I am a mother with two girls. Over the past 10 years I’ve worked with children of all ages and I’ve gathered a lot of knowledge. I am a Registered Early Childhood Educator , and also a Certified Infant/Toddler Montessori Teacher. Working with children in all stages of their life can be such a fulfilling adventure. Each child is unique and with proper guidance and love it’s amazing to witness their true potential. If there is a will there’s a way.

I like to sing and dance, something I’ve always been fond of doing. I hope we can get to know each other. See you around the center.

Hello! I’m Courtney, a passionate and dedicated Registered Early Childhood Educator with a diploma from George Brown and over three years of experience working with toddlers. I am deeply committed to fostering the growth and development of young minds. Watching children achieve their milestones is not just a job for me—it’s my true calling. Every day, I bring love, care, and a nurturing spirit to the classroom, treating each child as if they were my own.

A little about me: I’m very creative and love to paint and draw. When it comes to choosing between summer and winter, it’s a tough call—I enjoy snowboarding just as much as water skiing! I’m an outdoor enthusiast, no matter the weather, and I’m a bug lover too.
Together, we’ll embark on a joyful journey of learning, creativity, and outdoor adventures!

Hi there, my name is Latoya Kennedy and I am one of your child’s educators here at Young Minds Preschool.

I am a mother of 3 girls (26, 24 and 7) , 3 boys (11, 9 and 6) and a grandmother to 1 grandson (almost 3) and I love them all with all my and everything in me.

I believe in the children of the future and would love to continue on this journey with you of shaping your children, our children’s minds in order for them to become the powerful young man and woman that they were predestined to be.

Hello my name is Nardeen Khbeis, I have worked in childcare since 2018. I graduated from the ECE program at Sheridan college. I enjoy working with children because I love to see them grow and learn! I’m here at young minds to help your children grow and learn in the best way that I can! I look forward to working with you in achieving this.

Hello, my name is Eva Kabouris , I am the assistant supervisor and an Educator in the preschool room. I happily joined Young Minds Preschool September of 2022.

I come from a childcare center where I worked for the last 25 years. I was always eager for change and excited to offer my experience and knowledge to Young Minds Preschool. I’ve always had a passion working with children at a very young age and find it rewarding to watch children succeed in their early years. I enjoy studying and learning each individual child as they present different traits of uniqueness.

Coming from a play based center and now currently working for a Reggio inspired program, I have grown to love and appreciate the Reggio inspired approach to learning as it offers children to construct their knowledge and develop skills through exploration , self-expression and collaborations with their teachers and peers. I’m looking forward to Working with your children closely and ensuring your children are offered the best quality care during their time in the Preschool room.

My name is Najwa Nooristani, and I am a preschool educator at Young Minds Preschool. I am a certified Child and Youth Worker with a background in supporting children and young people across various developmental settings.

Having worked as a supply teacher for several years, I discovered my passion for education and decided to pursue it further. This year, I joined Young Minds Preschool to create a dynamic and nurturing environment where young children can flourish.

I am dedicated to early childhood education because I believe it is a pivotal time for growth and development. I am committed to helping each child explore their interests, build essential skills, and reach their full potential.

I look forward to being a part of your child’s journey and helping them thrive at Young Minds Preschool.

I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and share a little about who I am. My name is Angelica Pechene and I am thrilled to be a part of your child’s life as their Preschool teacher.

I have about over 9 years of experience in the field. I believe that every child is unique and has their own individual strengths and abilities. My goal is to create a nurturing and inclusive environment where each child feels valued and supported.

Communication is important to me, and I am committed to maintaining an open line of communication with parents which has helped create beautiful relationships with families throughout the years.

I enjoy dancing, photography, going on hikes and traveling. My beautiful family consists of my husband, my son and daughter, 2 cats and a dog. I am fluent in Spanish and English, and speak a little German as well.

I am excited to embark on this journey with your child and help them reach their full potential. Thank you for entrusting me with their growth.

Hello, my name is Vasudha Nanda. I am a kindergarten teacher at Young Minds Preschool, Burlington.

I am an Ontario certified teacher with a masters degree in business administration and over 5 years of teaching experience in kindergarten.

As an educator, I love the curiosity, imagination and inquisitiveness of the children which inspires me to grow and learn. I am passionate about children’s development, education and creating a safe environment where they can grow and flourish.

Keeping in mind each child’s uniqueness and strengths, I plan my lessons to stimulate their cognitive, social and emotional development.

I look forward to being a part of your child’s learning journey.

Hi there, my name is Tyler Van Dyke, and I’m one of the Assistant Early Childhood Educators here at Young Minds Preschool since July of 2024.

I’m currently a student attending York University, studying the Children, Childhood and Youth program. My passion for working with youth doesn’t only stem from being able to have fun with the children, but having the privilege to watch and help guide children in their progress of learning. I take pride in making sure that the child is in the best position to be safe, happy, and excited to learn new things on their journey.

I have a background in playing high level basketball and making music, so being in the playground with the children along with singing songs will be fun!

I look forward to creating a bond with your children and helping guide them along their journey here at Young Minds Preschool!

My name is Semira. I am an experienced and passionate early childhood teacher with a love for educating today’s youth. I have experience working with children of different ages however, my heart is set in infants. I also have about 15 years of experience working with children in my native country, Albania and three years Canadian experience working with children, too.

I am incredibly happy I am expanding my experience and knowledge with the children as an ECE teacher. Bringing forth my dedicated skills, and the desire to positively change the lives of the children. Being with the children and watching them grow brings happiness to me. I see the children as if they were my own.

When I am not working you can find me planting flowers. I have a huge passion for plants and flowers spending quality time with my family.

Hello, my name is Shadea McCalla, and I am a Float teacher at Young Minds Preschool. At 20 years of age, I have accumulated a year of experience working with a diverse range of age groups across various classrooms.

In my role, I provide support and assistance to each classroom, adapting to the unique needs of different age groups and helping to ensure a smooth and effective learning environment. The opportunity to witness children’s growth, as they become more independent, aware, and enthusiastic about learning, is profoundly rewarding. This passion drives me to further my studies in early childhood education, as I am committed to nurturing and supporting young learners. I am dedicated to making a positive impact on their educational journey and look forward to continuing this fulfilling path.