Our Team
Debbie
Centre Director
Deborah Zerbst first qualified as a Montessori directress in 1983. Deborah worked in South Africa in Early Childhood Education until her family immigrated to Australia in late 1996. While living in South Africa, Deborah worked in both Montessori and traditional settings. Her perspective, however, was significantly broadened as a result of the political climate in South Africa at that time. Underprivileged children living there experienced a history of neglect due to the political ideologies of the apartheid government. Deborah developed strong views on social justice and worked tirelessly to close the gap in early education, believing that all children have the right to quality education and care. In Australia, Deborah obtained her Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Care. Her work experience in Sydney has included working at Montessori East in Stage 1. That position was held for 5 years before she was offered a teaching position at The Early Learning School at Reddam House. Deborah was responsible for setting up the creative arts program using a multi-theorist approach. She incorporated key perspectives and insights from Montessori, Reggio Emilia, the Steiner Waldorf school movement and learning through nature. Deborah later went on to become the Principal of the Early Learning School Reddam House in Lindfield.
Deborah joined the Clovelly Child Care Centre’s team in 2016 as an Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) and is now the Director of the centre.
Deborah’s passion for working in the Early Childhood sector has never wavered and she is determined to consistently strive for greater outcomes for children, families, the environment and teaching teams .
Puggles Educators
Ada
Ada is from Hong Kong. She completed her degree of Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and Advanced Diploma of Children’s Services and Diploma in Sydney.
She loves children and is passionate about children’s learning. She believes the way they relate to other people is very important and can directly and indirectly assist their social and language development. Ada believes that each child has the right to be loved and cared for in a happy and safe secure environment.
Alejandra
Alejandra has Certificate III in Early Childhood Education. She moved from Chile to Australia in 2016. She is a mother of two beautiful children and speaks Spanish. On her spare time, she loves camping with her family, go to the beach and doing crochet. She believes children are unique with their own strengths and interests. She believes by creating a joyful, stimulating and safe environment, children can shine.
Cèlia - Room Leader
Cèlia is an enthusiastic and multilingual Early Childhood Teacher. Her strengths arise in her ability to be present, adaptable and dynamic with a variety of children. She is passionate about building connections and understandings about Indigenous perspectives, as well as sustainability and social justice. Her philosophy is inspired by Forest Schools, Reggio Emilia and the Aboriginal 8 ways of learning amongst others, as her learning also continues.
Puggles Educators
Mariana
Mariana came from Brazil and lives with her husband and her child Sasha. Mariana has a degree in Psychology and completed a Certificate III in Early Childhood after coming to Australia. She has experience working in schools and helping children with additional needs feel included and thrive in their environment. All her experience made her passionate about building positive and respectful relationships with children. She also loves creating resources and activities to help in children's learning.
Melissa
Melissa has previously ran her own family day care for 13 years before moving to an administration role in 2020. In 2022, Mel returned to a casual educator role working at Clovelly. Mel holds a Bachelor of Teaching and her passion lies in the under 3’s. She is dedicated to providing a calm and nurturing environment where children can thrive, discover and unlock their full potential through self-exploration and challenging themselves. Mel enjoys taking children on excursions to broaden children’s connection to the world around them. Mel has a background in competitive swimming and dragon boat racing, having competed both nationally & internationally. These days Mel enjoys hiking, swimming and spending time with her niece and nephew in her spare time.
Simone
Simone is a qualified nurse, originally from The Netherlands. and she worked in palliative care for six years, before moving to Sydney and getting married. Simone has a passion for caring & nurturing others and enjoys watching the development of young children, especially their emerging characters. Simone is looking forward to bringing her creative side to Clovelly & bringing the different textures of art & craft to the children. Outside of work Simone enjoys being outdoors, spending time with friends, meeting new people from different cultures and backgrounds.
Plateenas Educators
Alicia
Alicia is originally from Mexico, where she completed her degree in Pedagogy. At a young age, she became involved in dance and theater, where she found a beautiful way to express herself and nurture her creativity. Due to her educational background and experience in the arts, she was able to work in performing arts schools, and eventually specialized in contemporary circus education. Alicia strongly believes that every person should have the chance to develop self-confidence, feel empowered, and be content with themselves. By providing children with a wide range of enriching experiences in a safe environment where they can take risks and nurture their minds and spirit, we can help them reach their full potential. She sees her role as an educator as an opportunity to help create an environment that makes this possible.
Evelyn
Evelyn began working as a casual when her son was enrolled at Clovelly. She has been working in Clovelly Child Care Centre for over 15 years in different room. She has a wonderful positive attitude and cheerful manner that has led her to be engaged as a permanent educator. She has a Diploma in Children’s Services. Evelyn wants to ensure that we provide a warm, nurturing environment for all children and takes her responsibility as an educator very seriously.
Fern
Fern is grew up in Thailand before moved to Australia in 2003. Growing up the eldest of sibling of two and five of younger cousins. She grew up in family of teaching as her parents are teacher so she absorbs and develop her nature to taking care of young children. She completed Diploma of children service in 2011 in Australia and always open to further knowledge and skills for industry as her aim to support and provide the environment for young children to develop their skill.
Plateenas Educators
Jacqueline
Jackie grew up locally in Randwick and lived at Clovelly beach on the weekends. She completed her high school work experience at CCCC and visited frequently throughout the years, before joining us in 2018 to pursue her career in Early Childhood via a traineeship. She has recently completed her Diploma and is now re entering the workforce after having her daughter who is learning in the Puggles. Jackie believes that early childhood education is the foundation of a little ones life.
Jessica - Room Leader
Jess grew up on south coast before moving to Sydney in 2015.
Growing up the eldest of four siblings, Jess developed a natural connection and love for providing care to younger children.
She completed a traineeship while working down the coast and has been in the industry for ten years.
Jess is always open to further her knowledge and skill set within the industry. She aims to provide quality, supportive and nurturing environments for all children to thrive in.
Suzanne
Suzanne grew up in the area & has a strong connection of this land as a child. She has a Certificate 3 of Early Childhood Education and working towards finishes her diploma. She has been at the centre for over 15 years. She believes children are capable, wonderful, intelligent human beings and can achieve all they set out to do. She is passionate in supporting & guiding them to reach their full potential. She takes her passion in music, arts, kindness, love and caring into her daily practice as an educator.
Joeys Educators
Amara
Amara has a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care and she has had the privilege of working alongside children in their most formative early years for over 2 decades. She loves being part of the wonder and curiosity that is the everyday life of a child. Amara experience has proven to her that children are competent contributors to the world they have been born into. Their ideas and the way they think about how things should be done, to her, are so in line with the world we want and this gives me great hope for our future.
Angeline
Originally from NZ, Angeline has worked as an ECE for over 20 years while also enjoying a career in the creative arts as a singer, actress, writer & visual artist. She has a passion for sharing her knowledge in both areas with other Educators & has presented papers at numerous national Early Childhood conferences and publications. With a BA in Musical Theatre from WAAPA & a Cert III, Angeline is now working towards a Diploma in ECE. She lives by the beach in Maroubra with her husband & daughter and loves researching & restoring anything antique.
Kalani
Kalani has her Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care. Kalani is ecstatic to learn and build on her knowledge whilst working in the Joeys Room! She has worked in the Puggles room for the past 3 years and is very excited for her new adventure in the Joeys. Kalani grew up surrounded by children as her grandmother owned a day care, Kalani had always found herself wanting to help engage with the children, leading her to find her passion in working in the early childhood industry.
Leah
Leah holds a Cert III in Early Childhood Education and Care. Leah is a kind and caring educator whose main goal is to make a positive impact on young people.
Joeys Educators
Lenka
Being happiest in nature, Lenka is deeply passionate about helping each child to find their connection to the places they live and learn in. She is deeply committed to helping children to grow the skills of noticing, presence and connection, which enable them to develop a deep sense of being a part of the environment around them. Work in Early Childhood Education is a recent addition to Lenka’s work in the arts and background in sociology. She currently holds a Cert III (TAFE NSW) and is planning further study soon. In her spare time she loves swimming at Wylies’ Baths, walking, writing, knitting and sewing.
Luke
Luke has a musical background. He attended Newtown Performing Arts High School majoring in Classical Voice and Saxophone. He then went on to The Conservatorium to further his musical knowledge. He also plays piano and guitar. Luke holds the degree of Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood.
Rebecca - Room Leader
Having grown up in rural NSW, Rebecca moved to Sydney in 2000 and calls Bondi home. Rebecca lived in Switzerland for 6 years and during this time, she worked for a German Montessori school, as Assistant Teacher, whilst also working as a Head Pedagogy Teacher for children in the 0-5 years room. This daunting but exciting experience strengthened her respect & appreciation for our multicultural and diverse community we now live in. Rebecca has a Diploma in Early Childhood and is currently studying her Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood. Rebecca has a strong passion for Social Justice, anti-bias and inclusion. Rebecca is a mum to 4 children and will continue to use a guiding approach when working alongside children, as co-collaborators and co-researchers.
Victoria
Victoria has a Cert III in Early childhood Education. She has a deep appreciation for nature and the value it holds for children learning and development. As a new mum, she understands the importance of nurturing children’s emotional and social well-being alongside their intellectual development. She is dedicated to create a warm and supportive space where children feel safe to explore their feeling through arts & yoga.
Kitchen Garden & Chefs
Sally
Sally is our Kitchen Garden coordinator and Sustainability Educator – a position she has in recent years undertaken. Prior to this Sally , a highly experienced Mothercraft Nurse of 40 years with a Certificate 111 in Early Childhood Education and Care was a long term Educator for the children under 3. She is a strong and passionate advocate for the natural world and strives to impart knowledge, build understanding and ignite passion in all the children to care for, respect and sustain their environment. Sally attributes her teaching style, love of the environment and nature to her father who inspired, encouraged and supported her that anything is possible and achievable. She believes in keeping it “real” for ’children with a hands-on approach to their learning about the world they live in.
Jason
Jason, one of our chefs, has been in the hospitality industry for many years. He now works 2 days a week with us and brings to the job, not just his broad experience in the kitchen, but also natural handyman skills!
Gabriela
Gabriela is from Brazil and she moved to Sydney in 2017. She has graduated as a chef and have worked in restaurants for couples of year where she got a lot of experience.
Gabriela is very excited to be part of the team and glad to make tasteful food to the children.
Administration
We have great staff to support the administrative functioning. They look after fees, enrolments, CCS, financial housekeeping and all the other office tasks.
Catherine - Bookkeeper
Catherine works part time in Accounts and Payroll and is a qualified member of CPA Australia. Her first job in Australia was in the Early Childcare Education Accounts team, and has been passionate about working in the education sector, particularly in finance and accounts. In her spare time, she enjoys taking her son to participate in Community Sports such as Nippers and Cycling.
Leticia - Centre Manager
Leticia is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and in 2016 she decided to move to Australia with her husband for different experiences and they felt in love with this country. She holds a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care and has four years of experience in the industry as an educator working from the nursery to the preschool room. Back home, Leticia has a degree in Theology and Business, but being surrounded by children has always been her passion.