Ramanpreet Kaur (Wellington, ON)

Ramanpreet was nominated by a parent as someone who embodies kindness. The parent shared, “Ramanpreet is fantastic with our son. She has always been kind and optimistic, making our 1.5-year-old feel at home in daycare. Recently, our son was quite upset since his grandparents left for India, and she went out of her way to give him hugs and make him feel happy. Her name was the first he learned to say outside our family. It shows how loving and caring she is with him. I always look forward to her updates on our son at the end of the day because they are so detailed and positive.”

Priscila Ozahata (Ottawa Westboro, ON) 

Priscila was nominated by a parent as someone who embodies kindness. The parent shared, “Priscila’s kindness and love for the kids go beyond the extraordinary. Always wearing a big smile, she’s ready to give her everything to take care of all the kids in her class. I don’t know how she does it but she always finds a way to be positive, even when facing a challenging situation. Priscila is always trying to help her kids learn and evolve by paying attention and listening to their needs (eg. Potty training). We feel extremely lucky to have our daughter in Priscila’s care every day. Thank you for everything you do Priscila!”

Emily Concha (ABC Kiddie Kampus East Mountain, PA)  

Emily was nominated by a co-worker as someone who embodies Innovation. Her co-worker shared, “Emily has been with us for several months as our lead educator for preschool. She has created a robust learning environment for her students to grow both developmentally and academically. She implements unique and creative ideas not only in her lessons but also throughout the day to keep the children engaged and having fun. Her fresh ideas are inspiring to other staff. Keep up the great work Emily!”

Yackeline Abreu and Megan Giniotis (Head Office, ON) 

Yackeline “Yackie” and Megan were nominated by a co-worker as staff members who embody Diversity. Their co-worker shared, “Yackie and Megan have made commendable strides in filling our Canadian vacancies. Behind the scenes, they are usually in back-to-back interviews. They are both always very open to helping directors with the recruitment process and will often hold group and individualized training sessions. They have built really great relationships with the directors they work with. It is exciting to see their innovative problem-solving for staffing, and the changes they are bringing to Kids & Company’s recruitment. Their efforts truly do not go unnoticed, and they both deserve a massive shout-out for leading the team to success.”

Katelynne Hiddemen (Schaffner, PA) 

Katelynne was nominated by a parent as someone who embodies Courageous. The parent shared, “Katelynne is undoubtedly the best director for the job! She cares deeply for her families and students day in and day out. The kindness and generosity she displays for not only her families and students but also her staff goes well beyond what most would do in this position. I’m thankful for her hard work in keeping the kids at Kids&Co Schaffner Drive safe and in good hands! Kudos Katie!”

Kim Perosa (Beacon Hill, ON) 

Kim was nominated by a parent as someone who embodies Optimism. The parent shared, “I am nominating Ms. Kim for being a wonderful care provider for Aurora. It was difficult for me to choose one KIDCO value, as she definitely exhibits all of them to a great extent. Aurora, like most 3-year-olds, is in the process of discovering herself and the world around her by making up stories, and Ms. Kim features in a lot of them. That for me says the positive impact she has on the kids. I am choosing the value “optimistic,” because even when we, as parents, sometimes struggle and worry about Aurora’s development, Ms. Kim helps us understand the situation and keeps us motivated. Just a few minutes of interaction with her each day helps us feel more positive. Thank you so much for everything, Ms. Kim!

Tonie (Queen West, ON) 

Tonie was nominated by a co-worker as someone who embodies Optimism. Her co-worker shared, “Tonie is working above and beyond her duties. She is always an enthusiastic team player who spreads positivity and joy around the center. She doesn’t hesitate to take on tasks before and after her shift. We are very proud of her; she is a bright role model and an inspiration.”