Cozi Kidz - Staff Profiles

Staff Profiles

Karen Costanzo
Managing Director

Karen wanted to open up her own child care centre when she was informed that the centre that her 3rd child was attending was going to close. Karen and her husband Robert had all three of their children Tiana (7), Samara (6) and Salvatore (18 months) cared for by the staff that were currently at this centre, there was only one option, employ and work with the staff in our new centre. Karen and her husband are so happy to commence this new venture with a caring, wonderful and extremely qualified group of people.

Robert has an engineering, mechanical and electrical background and owns his own engineering company. Karen has an architectural and dancing background, has worked for an architectural firm for 17 years and then worked for herself and various architects and builders for the past 4 years. Karen also taught dancing/cheerleading and owned her own dance school concurrently with architecture building it up to 300 children attending it.

Dianne
Assistant Manager / 0-2 year Team Leader

I am 53 years old and have 4 children and 3 grandchildren with one more grandchild due in March. I started my working career at PMG (now Telstra) , then to Modbury Hospital as a training nurse. I went on to work at various nursing homes around Adelaide and I worked for a nursing agency. I stopped work for a short time to have my last 2 children. I then went onto a cleaning career in offices and private homes working for various companies and volunteer work through the school my children went to. This lead to co-managing the school canteen and working in Out Of Ours School Care, from here I started work at Walkerville Childcare as a casual assistant this lead to fulltime work and then studying for the Diploma of Children’s Services and then to Team Leader Position in the Walkerville and then Local Kids Walkerville Babyhouse. I am now continuing my enjoyable career with children and their families at Cozi Kidz “Little Twinkle Stars Babyroom”.

Cheryl
Assistant Manager / 2-4 year Team Leader

Hi my name is Cheryl, I am from a small country town called Tumbarumba, I moved here 12 years ago and worked as a live in nanny, as I have always wanted to work with children at a young age. I felt I needed a challenge so I decided to do relief work at a few Child Care Centres and realized that this is what I wanted to do as a career, so I studied and got my Diploma in Children's Services.
As a person who has a real desire, passion and self fulfilment in working in child care, I believe I am suited to this field of work.
My philosophy is based on the belief that each child is viewed as a unique individual to be nurtured to reach their full potential and to provide a warm, safe, caring and stimulating environment that meets the developmental needs of each child.
I am very excited and looking forward to start my future with Cozi Kidz.

Peggy (Margaret)
Qualified Teacher and childcare worker

Peggy is 54 years old, married to Paul with a 12 year old daughter Alison.
After completing her diploma in teaching, Peggy worked for 20 years as an Early Childhood Teacher with the SA Education Department.
In1994, Peggy joined Walkerville Child Care Centre as a Qualified Childcare Worker and enjoyed that role for the past 15 years, forming lasting friendships with many children and their parents in that time.
Peggy is very pleased to join Cozi Kidz and believes her role is to help your child achieve their full potential based on her Professional Educational knowledge and 35 years of experience working with children.
Peggy’s Childcare Philosophy is based on nurturing and supporting the wellbeing of each child of each child which helps them to develop a positive start in life.

Janet
Assistant 0-2 yrs

I am married to a wonderful man, and have raised 6 children, and helped care for my 7 grandchildren. My caring nature and love of children has seen myself get involved in the Child Care Industry. For the past few years I have worked in the baby room, toddler, pre-kindy and kindy rooms at Walkerville Childcare centre and then Local Kids Walkerville. During this time I built an outstanding rapport with the children. I am fortunate to obtain a position with Cozi Kidz, and look forward to helping to care for your special little people.

Chelsea
Assistant 2-4 years

I am 25 years old and have been working in childcare and out of hours school care from 2004. I moved from Port Augusta to attend Flinders University and completed my Bachelor of Arts majoring in Education. I have completed my certificate three in children’s services and have almost completed my Diploma in children’s services.

Since May 08 I have been group/team leader of the Toddler Room at Walkerville. This was a wonderful challenge and I have loved every second of it, under this role I was involved in Programming, evaluations, Observations, Profiles, Learning stories, communication books, organising days with special events (dress up days etc). I love working with children and look forward to caring for and teaching your little VIP’s.