Educators

Our caring and passionate educators are extremely well qualified with some great additional skills. Learn more about our Lead 4-year-old Teacher (Ella), our 3-year-old Teacher (Kate) and the team below.

Ella Slattery

Director - Educational Leader - 4 Year Old Early Childhood Teacher

Ella is an experienced early childhood teacher and leader with a strong background in not-for-profit, sessional kindergarten. Holding a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, Ella has developed a deep appreciation for the role community plays in a child’s learning journey and is committed to creating environments where children feel supported, capable, and confident to explore, contribute, and thrive.

Ella’s passion for advocacy and empowering others has led her to undertake her Master of Education at the University of Melbourne, majoring in leadership. She views advocacy as an integral part of working with young children and is passionate about amplifying the voices of those who may otherwise feel unheard.

Guided by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, Ella views children as capable, active participants in their own learning. She prioritises authentic and respectful relationships with children and families, ensuring their identities, interests, strengths, and voices are meaningfully reflected in practice.

Ella has a deep commitment to inclusion and sees her role as an opportunity to challenge barriers, question assumptions, and advocate alongside children and families who experience diversity. She is passionate about creating environments where difference is valued, every child experiences a genuine sense of belonging, and children are empowered to see themselves as capable contributors to their communities.

At the heart of Ella’s practice is a belief that early childhood education has the power to create meaningful change. Through advocacy, relational leadership, and a commitment to social justice, she strives to ensure every child is seen, heard, respected, and empowered.

Kate Harris

3-year-old Early Childhood Teacher

Kate is passionate about making a meaningful difference in children’s lives and supporting every child to reach their full potential. She holds a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood and Primary Teaching and has a strong appreciation for the importance of the early years.

Kate believes in empowering children to develop their self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-regulation and sense of agency. She values respectful and collaborative relationships with children and families and believes that meaningful partnerships are key to understanding each child and supporting their unique strengths, interests, needs, capabilities, learning styles, values and beliefs.

Kate is passionate about inclusive, child-led and play-based learning. She enjoys creating responsive learning experiences that encourage children to explore their interests, build confidence and develop an ongoing love of learning. Her practice is strongly influenced by the Reggio Emilia approach, which aligns with her belief that every child is a unique and capable learner.

 Building a strong sense of belonging and community is particularly important to Kate. She genuinely enjoys nurturing positive relationships, working collaboratively with colleagues and contributing to a culture of ongoing reflection and growth. She believes that respectful partnerships with children, families, colleagues and the wider community create the strongest foundations for meaningful learning.

Kate is excited to be part of the Cara Armstrong Kindergarten community and looks forward to building meaningful relationships with children and families while creating an inclusive, engaging and nurturing environment where every child feels valued and supported.

Winnie Huang 

Educator - 4 Year Old Group

Winnie is an experienced educator who is also a qualified Early Childhood Teacher. Winnie’s experience as an Early Childhood Teacher sees her thrive as a confident, knowledgeable asset to the 4 year old group who works closely alongside Ella to create a responsive and collegial learning program for our 4 year old children. With several years of experience in education, she has had the privilege of teaching children across both early years and primary education.

Winnie’s philosophy in early childhood education is grounded in the belief that children thrive in a nurturing, warm and encouraging learning environment. In her teaching practice, she places a strong emphasis on fostering a respectful classroom through secure attachment and positive relationship building. She strives to cultivate a growth mindset where every child feels supported and encouraged to try their personal best within an interest- and strength-based program.

Winnie is a strong advocate for inclusion in the early years and values the unique ways in which every child communicates and expresses themselves. Supporting children to feel seen, heard and valued is a particular passion of hers.

Winnie’s family is originally from China. Although she was born in Australia, she spent eight years living in Guangzhou, a city in southern China, where she spent much of her childhood. Her family relocated to Melbourne when she was eight years old, and over the years, she has grown to love calling Melbourne home. She feels privileged to be culturally diverse and enjoys embracing her cultural roots. Winnie speaks three languages — English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

Nobuko Nakano

Educator - 3 Year Old Group

Nobuko is a passionate and nurturing early childhood educator in our three-year-old program who has recently completed her Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, qualifying her as an Early Childhood Teacher. Nobuko’s gentle and kind nature informs her responsive and considered practice, allowing her to develop meaningful relationships with all those she encounters. Nobuko brings a unique and valuable skillset to our team. 

Prior to her career in Early Childhood Education, Nobuko lived in Myanmar at a Buddhist monastery, where she studied Buddhist Dhamma teachings. Alongside this, she undertook extensive training in meditation, continuing practise in Vipassana meditation for over 20 years. Nobuko is a trained classical yoga instructor.

Nobuko thoughtfully weaves these experiences into her practice, creating opportunities for relaxation, mindfulness, connection, and wellbeing within the children’s learning. One of the most cherished parts of our three-year-old program is the sound bathing Nobuko leads, offering children the opportunity to experience moments of stillness, deep listening, and calm.

These special experiences are just a small snapshot of the thoughtful and holistic approach Nobuko brings to her teaching. Through her gentle presence and genuine care, she creates a nurturing environment where children feel safe, connected, and supported to explore their sense of self and the world around them.

Mish Tanner 

Educator - 3 & 4 Year Old Groups

 Mish is a highly experienced early childhood educator who has worked within the Boroondara early learning community for over 25 years. Mish previously worked at Cara Armstrong Kindergarten from 2001-2005, and returned in 2026. Mish’s longstanding presence in our local community has seen her touch many lives of the families and children who live in the area. 

 Mish’s deep understanding of and involvement with the community sees her bring knowledgeable and valuable insight into her practice. Mish is a warm, nurturing and dedicated early childhood educator who believes early education settings should be a place where every child feels welcomed, valued and truly seen. She places strong importance on building trusting, consistent and respectful relationships with children and families, recognising that a strong sense of belonging provides the foundation for children to feel confident in their learning and exploration.

Mish brings a thoughtful and dedicated approach to her practice and values being part of a collaborative professional team. She has a particular interest in sustainability and gardening, and enjoys creating opportunities for children to connect with nature, care for their environment and develop an appreciation for the natural world. She believes gardening provides children with meaningful, hands-on experiences to explore, investigate and understand where things come from, while fostering a sense of responsibility and care for the world around them. She is particularly interested in deepening her understanding of the Reggio Emilia approach and exploring how its principles can further inform her practice, strengthen children’s agency and create meaningful opportunities for children to express, investigate and make sense of the world around them.