Our Team

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My husband, Marc, and I have been married for over 25 years.   We have two strong and independent children that fill our lives with joy everyday.  We worked together in cancer care for over 20 years until a family tragedy made me reconsider my career choice. I have been with the Mulberry Bush Child Care since 2008.  As an Early Childhood Educator and Family Child Care Provider my goal is to provide a safe and happy environment for each child that will stimulate the physical, intellectual, multicultural, social, and emotional growth at their own pace.  I offer loving care that focuses on each child as a unique and wonderful individual and in doing so, building self esteem and respect for others.  As a mentor I share my experience and knowledge with providers to help them with all aspects of the childcare profession.  My purpose is to improve and promote quality child care and better communication between parents and providers.  My incredible staff members help me tremendously in this endeavor. 

Hello!  My name is Tara Heisler, I was born and raised in Halifax, N.S and  quickly discovered my passion for travel and discovering the beauty of  other cultures. When I finally moved to London, I worked as a gymnastics  coach and a ballet teacher for 6 years and quickly found my passion in  childhood education. 

I  continued my education outside of my work, learning and understanding  basic ASL, child psychology, time management, parent communication and  the importance of documentation. With my experience within childcare and  the high standards I hold myself to, I decided to open a childcare center in China. Unfortunately, COVID hit and I quickly found my way back home. I saw this experience as a unique opportunity to grow and  inspire others to strive to be the best they can be.

The  most amazing thing to me is the bonds made within childcare, not only  with the children but with the families as well. I believe that our  Centre should not only be an extension of your home, but also a place  where you feel safe and secure. I look forward to our adventures  together! 

My fiancé and I have been together for over 5 years and I have a beautiful, vibrant, and outgoing 7-year-old step-daughter. I have my BA in Sociology as well as my Early Childhood Education Diploma.   I am originally from Chatham Ontario where I had begun my journey as a RECE.  When I moved to London in 2017, I worked as a full time RECE in both the preschool and the toddler rooms.  Altogether I have almost 10 years experience in the classroom!  I am a committed, enthusiastic, loving, and reliable educator.  I believe that children are kind, curious, and capable by nature.  I am well versed in the How Does Learning Happen Document and enjoy putting it into practice in our programs.  I am very excited to learn and grow along side the children, staff, and families here while I continue to cultivate my skills as a director. Mulberry Bush is a big loving family that I am proud to be a part of! 

 I graduated from Early Childhood Education in 2014 from Fanshawe College.  Growing up with a young brother made me realize that I wanted to work with children. I joined the team at the Mulberry Bush Child Care Centre over two years ago.  I am an energetic RECE who has the drive and the heart to work along side children of all ages while showing them care, kindness and respect.  Children have the potential to have amazing, productive, creative, joyful lives filled with giggles and smiles.

Hello!  My name is Maria. I was born and raised in Lebanon. I have a passion  for sports, especially running, cycling and swimming. 

 I  have been working in the education field for the past 17 years.  Recently I made a significant change in my life and moved to Canada just  two months ago. I am excited to bring my expertise and passion to the  Canadian Education System. 

As an Educator, my primary focus is on providing a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment for children to thrive and grow. 

I would also thrive to create a supportive and inclusive atmosphere where each child feels valued and respected. 

I am excited to be part of Mulberry Bush and looking forward to meeting the children and their families!

 My name is Gayani Gunawardhana.  I am originally from Sri Lanka, where beautiful, lush greenery is part  of your daily life. I am a nature lover who spent most of my life outdoors, among fauna and flora. My free time is spent either travelling,  reading, or doing hand embroidery. I am usually the kin keeper in my family as well as among friends, which they say is due to my cheerful and flexible personality. I graduated with a Diploma in Early Childhood Education in 2021 from Fanshawe College. I also have a Higher National Diploma in Psychology and a Diploma in Child Psychology. It was my  childhood dream to become an educator. Among many, the top reason for me to pursue a career in early childhood education is the personal reward and satisfaction that it brings. I am proud to be the person who ensures  that children get off to a good start in their lives.  I am  looking forward to making positive and meaningful connections with children, families, and colleagues alike at Mulberry Bush." 

My name is Lina Hage Hassan, a mother of two sons and a daughter, an English teacher, and a participant in a non-profit organization. I have taught students of all ages and abilities and have a deep understanding of the subject matter over my 30 years of experience. After experiencing many changes in the field of education over the years, I have adapted my teaching methods accordingly to be able to connect with students individually. It has resulted in a greater wealth of knowledge and real-world experience to draw upon when teaching. Dedication to the field of education, patience towards the students facing difficulties and passion towards the developing stages of students are the 3 main characteristics that I gained throughout my journey. Lastly, finding the balance between work and personal life, is what has kept me passionate and fulfilled in the teaching profession.

 I graduated from Early Childhood Education in 2013 from Fanshawe college. Since I was young, I wanted to be an educator and be a role model for the children. l have worked in the field for nine years with all age groups. It is a pleasure watching children grow and learn new skills everyday. I Joined the Mulberry Bush Care centre in November 2020 and I continue to develop a positive relationship with staff, children and families.  

As each new child comes into my room I look forward to getting to know them and their family.

My name is Jessica Lindsay.  I was born & raised in London, Ontario.  I'm energetic & love fishing in my spare time. Since I was  a little girl, I always wanted to work with children.  I have a brother  who is 5 years younger than me & we often played school together.   Once I started high school, I developed a love for cooking & later  enrolled in the Food Service Worker Program at Fanshawe College.  I'm  excited to combine my 2 passions, cooking & working with children.  I'm enjoying experiencing the best of both worlds at The Mulberry Bush. With the opportunity to extend working with children through Mulberry Bush, I've recently decided to look into re-enrolling at Fanshawe to further my education with children and become an RECE.