Meet The Team

Management Team

We pride ourselves on our dedication to meet every child’s individual needs. Our team comprises of highly qualified and experienced and caring educators. Providing a warm nurturing, safe environment for all children to develop and grow into confident and independent young people.

Highly Qualified

Our team is complemented by the varying levels of experience and qualifications, Level 8 Honours Degree to QQI level 6 Childcare and education. All managers and supervisors hold full FAR Certificates, Manual Handling, and fire safety training. We continually encourage, support, and facilitate further training to ensure we provide the best all round care and education to all our children and the support our families.

Management Team

Highly Qualified

Mandy Kelly

Manager

Mandy is our dedicated Arklow branch Manager who has been with us since 2006 with 27 years Managerial & Childcare experience, bringing a rich and diverse skill set. She has extensive experience in the sector and is passionate about childcare & education and is committed to deliver a high-quality childcare service. Mandy has BA (Hons) Degree in Early Childcare and Education and a mother of 2 young adults who also attended our service.

Anita Crummy

Assistant Manager

Anita is our Arklow branch Assistant Manager who has been with us since 2010. Anita started as a student while achieving her qualification QQI level 5 & 6 Childcare and Education. Through Anita’s dedication, hard work and commitment to delivering high quality childcare, she has moved up the chain of command to assistant manager in 2015. Anita prides herself on delivering a service that is based on each child’s interest. Anita oversees the deliverance of our curriculum, ensuring that the children have fun and enjoy the learning experience. Anita is also a proud mother of 2 young children who also enjoy their time here at KangaKare.

Liz Hayes

Supervisor

Liz came to KangaKare in 2016 as an assistant Educator and earned the role as a lead Educator within a year of joining the team. Liz holds a QQI level 6 in childcare & QQI level 6 in Leadership for Inclusion in Early Years with 9 years working in the sector. She brings an array of experience in youth work, childcare and life experience as Liz is a mother of 2 young adults. Liz greatly values the relationships, friendships, and bonds she has made, not only with her co-workers but also with the families past and present. Liz strives to celebrate each child’s uniqueness and individuality whilst offering an abundance of learning opportunities. Liz’s professional goal is to instil independence and confidence in the children she cares for and continue to deliver our services alongside the rest of the team.

Vesna Panic

Supervisor

Vesna was welcomed to the team late 2018 as a Lead Educator. Vesna is highly qualified in the field of education, she holds a Degree in Primary Education from her home country Macedonia and has 8 years’ experience in Early years and Education. Vesna is a mother of two children and approaches each child as her own, her professional goal is to impact each child with the affection, support and care that was instilled in herself as a young child.

Catherine Nolan

Chef

Catherine is our much-loved chef and has been with us since 2008, the children just love to see her coming with gorgeous dinners and snacks. All our meals and snacks are freshly prepared in house, and we do not add salt nor sugar to our meals or snacks. Catherine is a fully qualified Chef and holds a certificate in HACCP. She embraces the value of healthy eating, health, and hygiene in all she does. Catherine’s goal is to strive to continue to provide healthy balanced snacks and meals for the children. Where needed she will provide an alternative for those with special dietary requirements.

Joe Ann Martin

Educator

Joe Ann is a past parent of KangaKare and valued our ethos and practices we instilled in her children while in our care. Joe Ann was welcomed to the team in 2019 as an AIM Educator within the ECCE class. She holds an Honors Degree in Social Care studies and endless years of CPD training to keep her informed. Joe Ann has 20 years’ experience in social care working with vulnerable children and young adults, her life goal is to teach, support and care for children as they were her own. Joe Ann has extensive experience supporting children with additional needs and ensuring they get the support and assessments they need within these very imperative years.

Sinead Maher

Lead Educator

We were delighted to have Sinead join the team in 2021 as an Educator. Sinead has a QQI level 6 in Early Childcare and Education, as well as an Honors Degree in Humanities and a Higher Diploma in Education. Her extensive experience and qualifications were evident from her first day, the children warmed to her immediately and took interest in her curriculum planning. Sinead recognises the importance, and celebrates each child’s uniqueness and individuality, she helps them build their confidence and self esteem in an environment that is play based and child led.

Ciara Vickers

Educator

Ciara joined the team 2022 and holds a QQI Level 6 in Early Childhood Care and Education. Ciara’s experience in the sector is extensive, from working in a large chain of Education and Care services, to small intimate settings and private Childcare & afterschool care. Ciara is an assistant Educator and transitions between each age group supporting each group were necessary. Ciara is also a young mother who understands the position our families have when starting in a new setting. Her Aim is to partake in any upcoming courses available to continue her learning & knowledge of the childcare sector, to be as positive as she can be and a loving, caring & fun practitioner.

Pamela Reid

Educator

Pamela a member of the original Kangakare team 2000-2006 returned to the team in 2022. Pamela holds an Honors degree in Early Childhood Care and Education, she has twenty years experience in the early years sector and has completed a broad range of academic, CPD and personal interest courses, she is qualified in Hanen, Lámh, Leadership for Inclusion and Stress Management but to name a few. Pamela is devoted to providing strategies of support to the children to enable to reach their potential. Pamela takes a strength-based inclusive approaches and works to inspire in the children’s love for learning. In her day-to-day professional practice Pamela aims to support the children to identify and appreciate their own and other’s strengths, individuality, and uniqueness. Pamela’s larger, long terms career goals are to work towards increasing the well being of parents, children, and early years professionals.

Paula Bradley

Lead Educator

Paula joined the team in 2022 as a lead educator, she holds a BA (Hons) Degree in Early Childhood Care and Education along with a master’s degree in Early Intervention. Paula has a kind and warm approach and approaches each child as an individual. She has 5 years’ experience working in Childhood Education and Care and is a proud mother of one who comes to work with her. Paula’s goal as an educator is to provide meaningful play and learning experiences for the children. She aim’s to provide a safe, nurturing and stimulating learning environment where every child strives to reach their full potential.

Emma Kiernan

Assistant Educator

Emma Joined the Team in May 2022 while completing her studies. She holds a QQI Level 6 in Early Childhood Care and Education. Emma enjoys seeing the children having fun and engaging with their peer. She is has a warm and calm approach to the care of their chidden and enjoys listing to their interests and planning the activates around their interests. Her goal is to help children become confident and secure in themselves.