Aphroditi Kitsiris
Doncaster,VIC
Summary
Professional educator with substantial experience in early childhood environments. Proven capability in fostering collaborative team efforts and achieving desired outcomes. Skillful in curriculum development, classroom management, and implementing innovative teaching strategies. Adaptable, dependable, and dedicated to nurturing young minds. Building trusting relationships with children and parents and fostering relationships between children.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
Work History
Nursery Manager
Olive Tree & the Wheelbarrow Nursery
06.2023 - Current
- Overseeing growth, planting and maintenance of retail nursery and display gardens.
- Ordering plants and nursery merchandise and maintaining marketable inventory across seasons.
- Running children's groups and teaching basic gardening to young children.
- Creating plans to grow nursery and garden centre and improve sales volume and profitability.
- Mentoring junior staff members, fostering professional development through constructive feedback and support.
- Working directly with customers as salesperson and role model for entire sales team.
Early Childhood Educator
Camberwell Girls Grammar School
01.2008 - 03.2024
- Applied play-based strategies to provide diverse approaches to learning.
- Utilised training in child-centred play therapy, I would work twice weekly in the junior school and Camberwell Girls Grammar conducting child-centred play therapy sessions with students and liaising with teachers in junior school about students individual needs.
- Maintained and fostered positive and constructive interactions with staff, families, and children.
- Cultivated a safe and inclusive classroom environment that fostered respect, empathy, and cultural awareness among students.
- Fostered creativity in the classroom through art projects, dramatic play, storytelling exercises, and other imaginative pursuits.
- Observed children to identify individuals in need of additional support and developed strategies to improve assistance.
- Established ongoing professional development goals, participating in workshops and conferences to stay current on emerging trends in early childhood education.
- Collaborated with colleagues on curriculum development, sharing best practices to improve overall instruction quality across the school.
- Mentored new educators, providing guidance on effective teaching approaches and classroom management techniques.
Early Childhood Educator
Alpha Children's Centre
01.2002 - 12.2007
- I initially started as an educator and then I taught 3 year old kindergarten.
- It was an immersive program where I spoke and taught in both Greek and English.
- Implemented developmentally and culturally appropriate curriculum for children, creating positive, and safe classroom environments.
- Worked alongside speech therapists and implemented strategies within my classroom.
- Supported children with special needs, creating customized learning strategies to accommodate various abilities and developmental delays.
Bilingual Worker and Early Childhood Consultant
FKA Children's Association
01.2001 - 12.2011
- Worked with children of Greek Background.
- Provided Language support and cultural understanding
- Bridged communication between the centre and families in Greek.
- Worked with pre-schooled field officers to provide them with my observations of the children and where they were developmentally and emotionally.
- This role involved me going back over a long period of time to support the child in their school setting.
- I helped in transitioning the child from kindergarten to school.
- I wrote articles for the FKA newsletter.
Nurses Assistant and Occupational Therapist
Canterbury Private Nursing Home
01.1992 - 07.1994
- Performed Occupational therapy and resident assessments.
- Assisted residents with day to day functions including showering and bathing, dressing and undressing.
- Ensured residents were comfortable.
- Assisted with mobility.
E.S.L Teacher
Victorian College of English
01.1990 - 12.1991
- Educated students in basics of English grammar and conversational speaking.
- Provided targeted instruction on pronunciation, intonation, and accent reduction to enhance students' overall communication skills in English.
- Enhanced speaking skills through regular practice and focused feedback during conversation sessions.
- Increased student proficiency in English by creating engaging and interactive classroom activities.
Receptionist
McPherson & Kelly Solicitors
01.1990 - 11.1990
- Greeted incoming visitors and customers professionally and provided friendly, knowledgeable assistance.
- Confirmed appointments, communicated with clients, and updated client records.
- Answered phone promptly and directed incoming calls to correct offices.
- Kept reception area clean and neat to give visitors positive first impression.
- Sorted and distributed incoming mail, and organised outgoing mail.
Education
Degree in Behavioural Sciences - Behavioural Sciences
La Trobe University
Melbourne, VIC12-1988
High School Diploma -
Canterbury Girls Secondary College
Canterbury, VIC12-1983
Skills
- Play-based learning
- Bilingual teaching
- Lesson planning
- Parent-teacher communication
- Problem-solving
- Classroom management
- Relationship building
- Using the principles of child centred play therapy to inform my teaching
Languages
Greek
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Nursery Manager
Olive Tree & the Wheelbarrow Nursery
06.2023 - Current
Early Childhood Educator
Camberwell Girls Grammar School
01.2008 - 03.2024
Early Childhood Educator
Alpha Children's Centre
01.2002 - 12.2007
Bilingual Worker and Early Childhood Consultant
FKA Children's Association
01.2001 - 12.2011
Nurses Assistant and Occupational Therapist
Canterbury Private Nursing Home
01.1992 - 07.1994
E.S.L Teacher
Victorian College of English
01.1990 - 12.1991
Receptionist
McPherson & Kelly Solicitors
01.1990 - 11.1990
Degree in Behavioural Sciences - Behavioural Sciences
La Trobe University
High School Diploma -
Canterbury Girls Secondary College
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