Michelle S.
I hail originally from New Zealand- I was raised and nurtured by a loud and proud albeit small extended family. I was fortunate to have my maternal grandparents right around the corner and spent literally half my childhood in their home- a valuable experience that I still draw upon in my day-to-day life. Family life revolved around eating, drinking and talking together- all those family stories passed down from one generation to the next…
I have worked with young children and their families for most of my adult life and feel more passionate and grounded in my teaching work as I get older. I have been working at Hilltop since 2010.
In my work with preschoolers I like to focus on the social and emotional development of each and every child.I believe that a socially healthy and emotionally resilient child will become a natural, inquisitive and emboldened learner. My teaching practices are driven by my values around identity, community and social justice.
Outside of work, I enjoy gardening, thrift store shopping, eating out and watching movies (prior to covid, of course!) and I’ve never found a cheese or pair of Camper shoes I didn’t like.