Meet our Educators
Tracey Marques
Tracey is our Supervisor. She joined Waterloo Co-operative Preschool in September 2013.
In 1995, Tracey graduated with her Social Services Diploma from Conestoga College and led life skills groups at the Canadian Mental Health Association for adults with mental health concerns and volunteered with inmates at the Guelph Correctional Centre. Tracey began working with children at the Guelph YM/YWCA as a team teacher. She was promoted to team leader after obtaining her School Age Certificate (with distinction) in 1998 and eventually became School Age Supervisor with a team of 10 staff. After the birth of Tracey’s first child, Tracey opened and operated her own licensed private home daycare for 10 years while her children were young, she continued to participate in workshops, attend conferences, and join panels to keep her skills up-to-date. Tracey continued her studies and became a Registered Social Services Worker in 2008 and a Registered Early Childhood Educator in 2010. Tracey has also worked as a child care supervisor and supply staff in kindergarten with the Board of Education and an inclusion facilitator for children with differing needs. Tracey have been involved in licensed child care for over 20 years now and is always ready for a challenge.
Tracey is the mother of two beautiful young women. Her family has been very involved in soccer and hockey, horses and ball. Tracey volunteered to coach when the girls were young and to fundraise as they got older and more competitive. She enjoys cottaging, fishing, dirt biking, hiking and snowmobiling. Tracey stands on the board for the Whiskey Harbour Rocks Association and organizes the children’s games for the Rate Payers association during their annual Pig Roast in Pike Bay.
Tracey believes that developing close relationships with the families she partners with will enhance child development in a fun and enthusiastic way.
Tracey enjoys mentoring University students and Early childhood education students who come to Waterloo Cooperative preschool to complete their placements. Tracey is thrilled to take part in partnerships within the community while fostering and promoting inclusion and diversity in our Preschool.
Tracey embraces the opportunity for you to allow your child to grow within our preschool. Tracey thrives on watching the children she guides grow into confident young people full of adventure and curiosity… with a love for learning.
Patty Fallis-Robbins
Patty is our Assistant Supervisor. She joined Waterloo Cooperative Preschool in January 2018.
Patty is very excited to be a part of The Waterloo Co-operative Preschool and looks forward to learning with your children, having fun, and new adventures.
In November 2013, Patty decided to pursue her childhood dream of being an ECE. She took a supply position at Creative Beginnings in Baden and fell in love with the career. A position became available and she worked part-time in the after school program and enrolled in the distance ECE program at Loyalist College. Patty left Creative Beginnings after working a year to take a position at Inspiring Minds in Wellesley in their kindergarten after school program. She worked in the program for 3 years, working a year in the before school program too.
More recently, Patty worked two full days a week, one day in the Toddler room and one in the Preschool room, while continuing to work in the after school program. At the end of August Patty left Inspiring Minds to finish her ECE course, which was a placement in the Kindergarten classroom at Grandview Public School. During this time Patty was given an opportunity to work in Tavistock Preschool two mornings a week and in an after school program at Holy Family School in New Hamburg, all while still finishing her placement hours. On December 18th 2017 Patty finished her hours and her ECE course and registered to the College of ECE.
Patty currently lives in New Hamburg with her husband and three grown children.
Jennifer Foster Reidl
Jennifer is joining us in September as a lead educator. Jennifer graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Early Childhood Education. After graduation, Jennifer started work at Westvale Child Care Centre as a part time educator in the preschool and afterschool programs. In 2000, Jennifer’s husband was offered an opportunity to work in the Netherlands for 2 years so Jennifer and her husband moved to Apeldoorn. While in Apeldoorn, Jennifer volunteered in a nursery school. This was a great opportunity to learn how to communicate with children when you don’t speak the same language and she loved the experience. Jennifer and her husband returned to Canada in 2002 and she took a job at Paintin’ Place at the University of Waterloo, where she worked in the toddler room for one year. In 2003 the Ontario Early Years centres were established and an opportunity was presented to her to manage the Kitchener site. From 2003 to 2005, Jennifer was the Children’s program coordinator at Our Place, until her daughter Amber was born in 2005. After her maternity leave was over, Jennifer started a home daycare, which ran until 2008 when her second daughter, Brooke, was born and she decided to be a stay-at-home mom. Since 2015, Jennifer has been an active board member in her community at their local pool. She has loved working with the lifeguards and families of the Upper Beechwood Homes Association. Jennifer looks forward to connecting with the families at Waterloo Co-operative Preschool and is excited about this new opportunity.
Xiao Yin Deng ‘Cherie’
"Hello everyone. My name is Cherie, and I am a new RECE at WCP in room 1. I graduated with the Honors Early Childhood Education Program (2013) and a Bachelor of Child Development (2015) from Seneca College. Recently I finished my Early Childhood Education Administration certificate courses from Seneca College as well. I have over ten years of experience working with children from infancy to school age in different childcare settings. I immigrated to Canada when I was in grade 9 from China, and I have lived in Toronto since then. In 2019, I got married and my family decided to move to Guelph. I am a new Mama with a little busy toddler boy. I love traveling, watching YouTube shows, and listening to K-pop. I’m also fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin."
Jessica McCann
“Hi! I'm Jess. I am so excited to be starting a new adventure here at Waterloo Co-operative Preschool! I am a Registered ECE and graduated from Fanshawe College in 2014. I have always loved working with children, watching them grow and helping them to learn new things.
I live in Stratford (Justin Bieber's hometown, but no, I don't know him! HA), where I worked in a Cooperative nursery school for 6 years! I've also been a nanny, and I'm so grateful for both of these experiences!
I'm thrilled to be working at another Coop. I love the closeness Cooperative Nursery Schools bring. I love that everyone works together to make it the best place possible for the little ones!
In my spare time, I like to hang out with my dog, Jack, do yoga, and hang out with my friends and family, and I am a big fan of movies! I am looking forward to seeing what this year has in store for us and I'm so excited to meet all of you soon!”
Jess will be joining us this year as a lead educator!
Erin Legary
Erin is our assistant educator. She joined Waterloo Co-operative Preschool in 2016 when she enrolled her children in the preschool and KP programs. She served as a parent volunteer and on the board. In 2018, she was employed as a support staff/supply staff. After completing her degree in 2022, Erin joined the team as an assistant educator.
Erin is a lifelong learner and completed her first degree at the University of Waterloo with a B.A in Social Developmental Studies. She then received a post graduate certificate in Vision Rehabilitation and lastly her Personal Support Worker at St. Louis Adult Learning Center. With these various degrees Erin has always worked with adults and children with special needs.
Erin is very excited to be a part of Waterloo Co-operative Preschool and looks forward to getting to know the children and families of the preschool community.
After sending her children to the preschool program, Erin decided to pursue her education as an early childhood educator at St. Lawrence College. During this time, she worked at Risking Oaks and while the preschool was closed during COVID, Erin worked at K-W Montessori school in the afternoon program.
Erin lives in Waterloo with her husband and twin boys.
Kelsey Sheerer
“Hi, I’m Kelsey! I graduated from the ECE program in 2016 and have experience with all age groups in a variety of different settings. I knew from quite a young age that I enjoyed working with children. I enjoy getting to see and be a part of the children’s growth and development and learning alongside them. I grew up (and still live) in a small town about 20 minutes outside of Waterloo with my older brother and younger sister. Growing up we had a Jack Russell Terrier. Some of my favourite things to do in my spare time are: read (I always have a book on the go), bake/cook, go for walks, spend time at our trailer, and spend time with family and friends. My favourite season is summer, my favourite holiday is Christmas, and you can usually find me watching a Hallmark Christmas movie during the holidays. My favourite sports are baseball and hockey!”
Kelsey is joining us this year as assistant educator!