Curiosity Staff Team - 2021

As I read through our Statement of Philosophy as a Centre, it is clear to see how the passions of our Staff support the vision of who we are as a Service. 

I am pleased to introduce our Staff Team for 2021.

Director - Jacqui Gliddon

Gary is my wonderful husband of 20 years.  We have the privilege of raising three children, twin girls – Christina and Alysha and our son Ethan.  This year we look forward to teaching both girls to drive! We love spending time together with friends camping and the river is a special place for us to connect.  Spending time with our church friends at Clovercrest Baptist, music, card games, outdoor adventures and food experiences are moments that ‘fill our tanks.  I love the garden so you will often see natural beauties on my desk.

I believe that every child has the right and capacity to wonder, dream, explore and create within their own unique abilities.  I appreciate that the child is part of a family unit, so believe that it is important to be inclusive of the community to bring a sense of belonging where everyone can contribute and be valued.  As a collective we are better together!

Educational Leader & Blue Team Lead Educator - Karen Winderlich

I have been married to James for 34 years. We have 3 sons - Josh, Sam and Noah as well as our beloved and very spoilt dog Oscar. Noah is the only one of our children still living at home with us, but with his newly acquired driver’s license and Ute he is not home a lot! I enjoy spending time in my garden, pottering in the shed, reading and writing, and this year I have decided to join an art group to get back to drawing and painting that I have always loved but failed to fit into my life! 

Children are miracles – born into this world to live and to love and to learn as competent, capable and curious members of a learning group – and all of this cushioned in the beautifully nurturing and supportive environment of positive attachment relationships.

The early years are to be cherished for the opportunities and possibilities they provide for children to design and construct both knowledge and relationships – as independent and interdependent learners who have their own gaze on the world, their own ways of encountering others, and their own ways of interpreting and expressing their ideas.

Young children have an inherent curiosity and desire to learn through experience, investigation, discovery and problem-solving, and that in response the role of the teacher in this context is to create and present opportunities for engagement and active learning in a play-based environment which has a focus on inquiry, creativity, the child’s right to participation.

Orange Team Lead Educator - Marion Chan

My name is Marion Chan and I have been working with children for over 10 years now. I am passionate about teaching and learning in the early years and have worked at a wide range of ELCs and independent primary schools around Adelaide, international and mission schools in Japan and Cambodia. I love the Arts- music, singing, dancing, playing musical instruments and crafting. In my free time, I enjoy reading, travelling the world, trying new foods, cooking, and watching live performances, foreign films and animations.

I believe that every child is loved by God, is created unique and gifted with individual talents, abilities, and traits. Every child has the right to learn and I am a strong advocate for student voice, choice and agency. I am passionate about positive education and children’s wellbeing. Seeing a child grow in their understanding of themselves and the world around them through play and authentic, real world and hands-on experiences is incredibly meaningful and rewarding to me and I look forward to sharing these precious moments with you.

Green Team Lead Educator - Tricia Childs

My name is Tricia Childs.  I have been happily married to Paul for 37 years.  We have 2 grown daughters, Danielle. 32 who is married to Simon.  They have two children, Aiden who is 10 and Georgie who is 5 and a half.  Kayla, our other daughter is 29 and her partner Ben have a daughter Ava who is 3 and a half.  I cherish spending time with my family camping in our caravan as much as possible.  I love the outback, river and sea.  I enjoy craft of any description, knitting and going to the gym.

I worked at Salisbury Lutheran Kindergarten for 24 years before accepting a position here at Curiosity.  I am a passionate educator who believes that all children are capable and competent learners who are naturally curios, full of wonder and explore to discover and learn.