Stepping Stone’s Amy Weatherley crowned the South Australia’s best childcare educator

After hundreds of your nominations and votes, we’ve found SA’s best childcare educator – and the nomination alone brought her to tears. See all the winners.

Even after 14 years working in childcare, Amy Weatherley still looks forward to working with her kindy kids each day.

The Stepping Stone Evanston Childcare and Early Development Centre educator was crowned SA’s best childcare educator in our latest poll.

Ms Weatherley – who received more than 14 per cent of reader votes – said the win was overwhelming.

Best childcare educator

“It’s not a job for me. It’s a passion, I really enjoy it and it’s so rewarding,” she said.

“It actually made me cry just to be nominated because I love my job so much but it’s so nice to hear that people appreciate what we do.”

Ms Weatherley has worked with hundreds of children during her time as an educator, but it never gets easier to send them off to school at the end of each year.

“It’s devastating, it’s very emotional and I do a big graduation for them before they go off to school,” she said.

“We become part of families and especially in early childhood if they start young we could be part of their families for five years before they go off to school.

Best childcare educator

“But it’s so rewarding to see their development, especially working with them for a year and seeing them change and develop and the skills and confidence they gain.”

“People are really starting to see there is the value in early childhood and giving children the early start in a supportive environment before going to a big school.”

Immacolata Lagana from Nazareth Early Learning Centre in Findon was voted second in the state with Sheridan Downs from Stepping Stone West Beach taking out third place.

SA’s top five childcare educators:

1. Amy Weatherley, Stepping Stone Evanston

2. Immacolata Lagana – Nazareth Early Learning Centre, Findon

3. Sheridan Downs – Stepping Stone West Beach

4. Susan Burgess – Norwood Community Creche

5. Brianna Mccade – Guardian Childcare Flinders Street, Adelaide (tied)

5. Sarah Jane McKay – Crittenden Road Early Learning, Smithfield Plains (tied)