Kate McCabe, BEd., MA (UBC) Doctoral Candidate (SFU), Founder and Director
Winner of the 2012 Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in ECE: Supervisor Category
Doctoral Candidate (SFU)
Master of Arts (Curriculum) UBC 2000
Bachelor of Education UBC 1994
ECE Langara 1984
Leading for Tomorrow in ECE 2000
Mentoring Project 1998
ECE PLAR Mentor Assessor Training 2009
Kate McCabe is the founder and executive director of Creative Minds. Her educational background has equipped her to develop and support a full range of activities for the children. Kate continues to study educational philosophy and curriculum and is offers a Registered Early Childhood Education training program which increases the number of teachers working directly with children at Creative Minds and supports staff development. Kate has taught kindergarten and grade 1 in an International Baccalaureate school and is a Distance Learning teacher teaching children in K to grade 9. Kate enjoys leading the children in song and finding new books and stories to share and study. Her doctoral research focuses on phenomenological hermeneutics (focus on interpretation, understanding and meaning of phenomena) and uses performance as a way to explore the interconnectedness with the wold.
International Baccalaureate Training:
- Level 3. Science in the PYP 2013,
- English Language in the Diploma Program 2012,
- Learner Profile Across the Grades 2011,
- Assessment in the PYP 2009,
- Early Childhood Education 2008
- International Mindedness 2008
- Primary Years Program 2008
Catalina Baeza. B.F.A. Chili. ECE Permanent Position ECE
Catalina is an Educator with a background in Arts and mother of two children. She believes we need to rethink the purpose and heart of education and shift to richer, interwoven ways of understanding our lives together. Cata provides leadership to the staff with regard to fostering caring and connected relationships with children. She also provides guidance to the ECEs on how to express what they see and hear through pedagogical documentation which can help ECEs and families expand their capacity for responsiveness to children. It is a practice of deep engagement, a way of paying attention to the children and ourselves. It is making visible how we educators think about a moment in a child’s life that we witness with reverence and curiosity. Cata speaks English and Spanish.
Nayer Zia B.Ed., ECE.
Nayer Zia was born in Hong Kong. She graduated from Middlesex University, UK in 2016 with a Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) and has been in the early childhood education field for over 13 years. Her interest in working with children began with her experiences with her two beautiful babies. Becoming a mother motivated her to learn more about the different rhythms in early childhood and how children encounter the world. Her goal is to support children in their unique learning journeys. She believes children are capable and wants to nurture their “playful” experiences. Her hobbies include reading, cooking, travelling, exercising and meditating. Nayer speaks Urdu, English, Hindi, Punjabi & Cantonese (Conversant)
Cecilia graduated from Selkirk College with a Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education. As an Early Childhood Educator, she provides children with learning environments that allow them to flourish. She fosters relationships of love between children and educators, and nurtures children to see one another as competent and spirited citizens who learn best through play. Children’s innate curiosity, and their capacity to observe and express joy in the world, are the gifts Cecilia feels honoured to receive.
Cecilia speaks Spanish and English.
Meng Zhou was born in China. Meng means “Dream” in Chinese. Her dream is to be the kind of educator that children are inspired by. She finished a two year diploma in Early Childhood Education in 2016 in Toronto. She has worked with young children for 6 years. She is an active and patient person and like learning new things. She respects all children and honors their emotions. She is filled with a sense of gratitude and joy when children feel they can share their joys with her.
Meng speaks Mandarin and English.and English.
Arriving July 2023
Jasmeen Kaur, a recent graduate from Centennial College’s Early Childhood Education programme, is embarking on a fulfilling journey working with children. Jasmeen firmly believes that play is not just a means of entertainment but a gateway to exploration, discovery, and learning. She loves to fully immerse herself in the magical moments that unfold when children engage in play. She firmly believes that every child deserves a nurturing and stimulating environment to grow, learn, and explore their unique talents and interests. Her goal as an early childhood educator is to provide a safe and inclusive space where children can flourish emotionally, socially, cognitively, and physically.
Jasmeen speaks English, Punjabi, and Hindi.
Nilanthi is volunteering at CM Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. She is hoping to take an Early Childhood Training program in the near future and comes to us with experience in preschool settings. She has been a teacher assistant in Sri Lanka. She has a big family and has cared for the young children. She also has 15 years experience in marketing and was an account manager. She likes to help children learn new skills through play
Sachi is a recent graduate of the Early Childhood Education Diploma program at Langara College. She developed an interest in childcare while babysitting and being around her younger cousins. She volunteers at Creative Minds to develop skills and knowledge about how to become an accomplished Early Childhood Educator. She believes that children learn through meaningful experiences, play and through their questions. In her spare time she writes books and plays the guitar.
Creative Minds Early Learning 