Who We Are

Amanda has worked in the field of Early Childhood Education for almost 20 years in preschools, school age and mixed age early learning programs. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Care and Education with certification in Special Needs and Infant Toddler. In the Northwest region, Amanda oversees contracts for three prevention and early intervention programs that advocates for high quality, inclusive care in the early years for the betterment of children and families throughout the region. Amanda is also a distance instructor at Grande Prairie Regional College and is a member of the Alberta Early Learning and Care Leaders Caucus. She forms her own practice around advocating for all children to have the right to equitable learning opportunities that promote the unique value and dignity of families we encounter; something which she believes must be embedded within the practice of early childhood educators. 

Carolyn has worked and volunteered in the field of early learning and child care for over 20 years and graduated with a Master of Education in Early Learning from the University of Alberta in 2012. Carolyn teaches in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Curriculum Studies program at MacEwan University and is a member of MacEwan's Flight Research Team. Before working at MacEwan, Carolyn held a senior leadership position for Roots of Empathy, a non-profit organization offering socially innovative and award-winning programs for children. Carolyn's previous board experience comes from being actively involved in the child care program her children attended. She was Board President for three years and stayed on as a community board member after her two children had outgrown the centre. 

Annalise has been in the field of early learning and care for 34 years. She has been fortunate enough to work in Child Care at the YMCA of Northern Alberta for 32 years and is currently the Vice President of Child Care. Her role includes overseeing the operations of over 50 child care programs in Edmonton and area, Grande Prairie, and Fort McMurray.

Most of her work has been dedicated to advocating for children, families and educators for a system of early learning and care that is affordable, accessible, high quality, and inclusive.

She is currently a member of the Edmonton Council for Early Learning and Care, the Steering Committee for Child Care Now Alberta, member of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Curriculum Studies Academic Advisory Council at MacEwan University and a member of the Early Learning & Child Care Program Advisory Committee at NorQuest College. She is excited to work collaboratively with the other Board Members at AECEA to enhance and support the ECE workforce.

Tami has been working in the Early Learning and Childcare field for over 23 years. She has worked as a classroom educator, an Assistant Director, and a nanny and is currently the Executive Director at Inglewood Child Development Centre for the last 4 and a half years. She graduated from Mount Royal College with her diploma in ECE and has continued in lifelong learning by taking various courses, training and webinars to keep up with new research and development in the ELCC field, including the Alberta FLIGHT curriculum framework. 

She enjoys spending her time away from work with her dog going for walks and training and spending time with family and friends.

Shirley has been a frontline early childhood educator for almost 24 years, having worked in child care centres both in Alberta and Manitoba. Shirley has her Level 3 Early Childhood Education certification. For the last almost 13 years, she has run an approved family day home in Southern Alberta. She is honoured to work alongside families on a daily basis and loves the benefits found in mixed-age group child care. She has worked with all ages of children, in infant/toddler programs all the way to school age. This is her first year on the board of the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Alberta but has been an active member for a few years. She has taught a number of workshops to Family Day Home Educators throughout the years, and recently completed the FLIGHT Training through MacEwan University and the Self Reg for Early Childhood Development Certificate Program through The MEHRIT Centre, and is now a Shanker Method Champion. Shirley has also been a Wonder Led Guide for the Wonder League Certification Cohorts through Fairy Dust Teaching for the last two years, having finished the certification in 2020 herself.

Stephanie is a dedicated professional with a strong commitment to the field of early childhood education. She completed her Early Childhood Education Diploma in British Columbia, where she specialized in Infants and Toddlers as well as Special Needs. Her commitment to enhancing her expertise led her to pursue additional certifications, including Preparatory Sign Language, Brain Story, and FLIGHT Alberta’s Early Learning and Care Framework through MacEwan University.

Currently, Stephanie is eagerly awaiting approval to pursue her Bachelor of Early Childhood Care and Education Degree at Capilano University in the upcoming fall. Over the past few years, she has demonstrated a deep-rooted commitment to supporting educators and enhancing their skills, knowledge, and capacity when working with children and their families. Stephanie is a strong advocate for high-quality care for children and is actively engaged in shaping what this standard looks like, particularly when working on the front lines of early childhood educators.

Letitia has worked in Early Learning and Child Care for 17 years, the past 8 of which she has spent as the Executive Director of BGC Olds and Area. Letitia holds a diploma in Early Learning and Child Care, post diploma in Health and Human Services Management and is currently pursuing a Degree in Human Services Administration. Letitia firmly believes that the key to providing high quality childcare is creating a skilled and diversified workforce and ensuring that the mental health and wellbeing of Educators is taken care of so that they can provide the best quality of care. Outside of work Letitia has two littles of her own, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and walking their chocolate lab Lucy.  

Kathryn brings 24 years of diverse experience in Early Childhood Education, having served as a day home operator, preschool teacher, family support worker, and currently as the Program Director at the University Child Care Centre Society in Calgary. She holds an Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma from Mount Royal University, alongside Human Resource Management and Professional Management Certificates from the University of Calgary.

Kathryn is a dedicated lifelong learner, continuously enhancing her expertise through various professional development opportunities, including the Brain Story Certification, FLIGHT Alberta’s Early Learning and Care Framework courses, the New Zealand Curriculum Study Tour in 2019, and most recently, the ELECT program through Rupertsland Institute. Her passion for early childhood education is matched by her commitment to collaboration, not just within individual centers but across the entire early childhood community in Alberta. Kathryn is devoted to supporting educators and advancing the profession, ensuring it is recognized and valued for the critical role it plays in shaping the future.

Shireen brings over a decade of experience in the Early Childhood Education field, including nine years in management roles. Her background encompasses both international and interprovincial experience in Early Childhood Education and Nursing.

Her diverse work history includes positions such as Registered Nurse in the Operating Room in India, Registered Early Childhood Educator, Program Director, Early Years Supervisor, and Acting Manager for Early Years Program.

Shireen has collaborated with the Region of Peel in Brampton, Ontario to develop the Continuous Quality Improvement Guide for EarlyON Child and Family Centres. Currently, she serves as the Program Director at Thornhill Child Care Society's Bowness Montgomery location.

Shireen holds a Bachelor's degree in Nursing from India and an Early Childhood Education Diploma from Humber College in Ontario. She has also completed additional training in Supporting Curriculum Practice (Flight- Alberta Early Learning Framework), How Does Learning Happen (Ontario's Curriculum), and Family Supports and Theory and Practice.

In her personal life, Shireen enjoys spending time with her two fur babies, Angel the Shih Tzu Dog, Simba the Bengal Cat, and her husband. They often go for walks and long drives together as a family.