Nomalanga (Noma) Vales

Owner & Pedagogical Leader

The founder of Eramosa Learning Academy, Noma operates ELA with a hands-on approach. Through regular program visits, mentorship of staff, and participating in operator meetings with the County of Wellington, she plays a daily active role in maintaining high-quality standards. As Pedagogical Leader, Noma provides professional development support to supervisors and staff.

A resident of Guelph since 1984, Noma enjoyed a career in forest soil management and plant disease research at the University of Guelph before deciding to switch to another passion: Early Childhood Education.

Graduating from the ECE program at Conestoga College in 1997 and gaining experience at the University of Guelph Child Care and Learning Centre, she opened her first before and after school program as Guelph School-Age CARE (GS CARE) in September 2003.

Alenka Watson

Director of Programs

A seasoned child care leader, Alenka is responsible for the execution of high-quality programs for ELA. She leads staff and supervisors in all daily programming, assesses all programs for quality and opportunities for enhancement, and acts as a liaison for parents and community partners. She can be found visiting programs to provide direct support and attending meetings with stakeholders.

An RECE since gaining an Early Childhood Education diploma from Lambton College in 2002, Alenka also holds a certificate in Human Resources Management.

A new resident of Fergus, Alenka joined ELA as the Director of Programs in 2023. Previous to her post at ELA, Alenka was an Executive Director of a multi-site childcare in Huron County serving children from infants to Grade 6.

Nanette O'Sullivan

Director of Enrollment

With her extensive experience in early childhood education, Nanette oversees the registration of all ELA programs and services. She is the first point of contact for onboarding new families and a mentor to her Enrollment team.  Previously the Programs Manager of GS CARE, Nanette led a team of program supervisors in supporting the daily activities of each site, as well as liaising with families on joining programs and providing needed development support for children.

Nanette began her training in early childhood education in her native city of Liverpool, earning the Nursery Nurse Examination Board (NNEB) qualifications. Arriving in Canada in 1987 and the Guelph area in 1990, Nanette continued in the field and graduated from the ECE program at Conestoga College in 1994.

After gaining continued experience with a variety of age groups, she joined Guelph School-Age CARE in 2010.

Yvonne Vales

Director of Operations

Tasked with managing the finances and facilities of ELA, Yvonne is responsible for items like the implementation of funding programs (including CWELCC and fee subsidies), administration of payroll and benefits, and ensuring programs have the resources they need to provide high quality care.

Born and raised in Guelph, Yvonne moved to Toronto to attend the University of Toronto and stayed in the region until a recent return to Guelph. After gaining experience in marketing and business operations in the jewellery industry, she joined ELA in 2019.

Yvonne first worked with children as a Tennis Canada-certified tennis instructor in Guelph and Toronto. Upon joining ELA, she completed her ECE diploma through St. Lawrence College in 2022.

Krystal Wilcox

BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL MANAGER 

Krystal's valuable array of skills has proven to be a significant asset to the Before & After School program team. Beyond offering leadership support at St. Ignatius, her home school, Krystal extends on-site assistance to colleagues and children across all ELA locations. Responsible for supervising high-quality daily programming, she leverages her expertise in Ministry-related requirements to bolster her administrative responsibilities.

Krystal's dedication to working with children, combined with her experience as a mother, influenced her decision to pursue a second career in Early Childhood Education in 2012. After becoming a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE), she secured employment with: the school board, a local early learning centre, and ELA (formerly GS CARE). She has been working with ELA since 2013.

Ben Hoekstra

CAMP COORDINATOR

Ben began working in children's camps over a decade ago. His unique background in administering and planning curriculum for ages 0-17 has provided him with valuable experience working with children of all abilities. Ben oversees ELA's Camp Department which operates PD Days, Winter Break, March Break and Summer Break camps. In addition to Camp responsibilities, he will be found in our Before & After School program as a dedicated support staff for various locations. 

Most recently graduating with a Psychology degree from Queen's University, Ben holds a Recreation and Leisure Services diploma from Conestoga College.

In addition to working across Canada in various camps, Ben has travelled the world on cruise ships planning and administering curriculum for their on-board Child Care services. On land, he has worked most recently with the YMCA of Three Rivers in their Before & After School programs.

JANUARY 2024

MIRANDA DISANO

Early Learning Rockwood (ELRW)
Inaugural ELRW Staff, 9 months with Eramosa Learning Academy

An invaluable part of the opening team for the Early Learning Centre in Rockwood, Miranda’s interest in Early Childhood Education stems from a profound love for children that she discovered at a young age. At 13, she volunteered at her little brother's daycare, and that experience ignited her passion for early childhood education.

Miranda graduated from Conestoga College as an Early Childhood Educator in 2014 and later gained her Resource Consulting certification from Seneca College. Committed to continuous learning, as part of her post-graduate certification she completed specialized courses on childhood trauma, mental health, and attachment. She takes pride in her ability to create programs that not only provide a safe and loving environment for children but also impart early life skills that nurture passionate learners.

"I believe being an ECE is more than just taking care of children. We have the ability to help shape little minds; teach early life skills, build positive relationships, promote school readiness and so much more."

Miranda leads the Senior Preschool program in Rockwood, working with children soon to enter junior kindergarten. She is driven to further enhance her ability to support children and their families dealing with developmental, behavioural, or emotional well-being with her commitment to ongoing education. Her passion for making a positive impact on the lives of those she serves benefits the families of ELA Rockwood.

october 2023

Paula-Kay Carr

St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic School Before & After School
3 Years with Eramosa Learning Academy 

Paula-Kay is a dedicated educator who embarked on her professional career path after graduating with a bachelor degree in Child & Youth Care from Humber College in 2020. During her studies, Paula-Kay worked closely with children with a range of mental and physical abilities. This experience left an indelible mark on her, helping to form the compassionate lens in which she views her work. What truly captivated Paula-Kay during this time was witnessing the remarkable growth of the children she worked with, even within the constraints of a relatively short timeframe. She thrives on the challenge of thinking on her feet to solve problems as they arise. Her adaptability and flexibility have been vital assets in working with children. 

Since 2020, Paula-Kay has been a staple of the Eramosa Learning Academy team. Beginning her ELA journey at St. Paul Catholic Elementary School, Paula-Kay is now entering her third year at the St. Ignatius of Loyola before and after school program. Her commitment to the growth and well-being of students under her care is unwavering, and her compassionate approach ensures that every child she works with receives the attention and support they need to thrive.

Paula-Kay is also part of the ELA camps team, spending school breaks creating a fun and informative environment that fosters growth and new friendships.

JUNE 2023

KRYSTAL WILCOX

St. Ignatius Catholic School Before & After School Supervisor                   & ELA Administrator
Recognizing 10 Years with Eramosa Learning Academy 

Krystal's dedication to working with children, combined with her experience as a mother, influenced her decision to pursue a second career in Early Childhood Education in 2012. After completing her studies at Mothercraft College in Toronto and becoming a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE), she quickly secured employment with the school board, ELA (formerly GS CARE) and another local centre. Her leadership and diverse skill set have been an asset to the program staff she leads at the St. Ignatius before and after school program. There, she provides on-site support to colleagues and children and oversees the quality of the daily programming. You may also occasionally see her providing support at one of the other ELA after school programs. Between program, she assists with administrative duties. 

Krystal thrives in a team environment. So much so, she has taken the lead on recruitment: if you have had an interview lately you may have met her! 

"I get the most professional satisfaction by supporting my colleagues in program and being a part of a team. I work better with people around to bounce ideas off of and collaborate."

Krystal will be joining our team at Rockwood Early Learning Centre this summer where she looks forward to getting to know the families and children.

August 2023

Claire Leyland

Sacred Heart Catholic School Before & After School Supervisor
Recognizing 9 Years with Eramosa Learning Academy 

A passionate and dedicated Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE), Claire is retiring after the 2022-2023 school year following decades of nurturing young minds. Claire joined our before and after school team in 2014 after operating her own home child care centre. Her departure leaves nine years of colleagues and a community of ELA families who witnessed the remarkable impact she had on many children. Throughout her career, Claire exemplified the philosophy of child-led learning by listening to interests and providing children with an abundance of tools to pursue learning. Ever resourceful, this was demonstrated by The Year of Glass Bottles. 

"A donation of glass bottles to the program provided a year's worth of learning when the bottles evolved to contain various experiments, art projects and natural elements."

Children in Claire's care enjoyed the benefit of her unwavering belief in the power of play to allow students to explore their curiosities, tap into their imaginations, and develop critical skills at their own pace. On behalf of our staff and the community of Scared Heart: Thank you Claire!