Jacqueline is a certified Early Childhood Educator and Forest School Practitioner with a rich background in outdoor education, ecology, and the arts. She holds a diploma in Parks and Outdoor Recreation from Sault College and has worked as a Forest School Educator for several years, drawing on her experience in field botany, land stewardship, and children’s wellness. Passionate about fostering early connections to nature, Jacqueline brings creativity, curiosity, and a deep respect for the natural world to her work at Saplings.

A certified Early Childhood Educator with four years of experience supporting children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development through meaningful play, outdoor exploration, and responsive care. Experienced in creating engaging, nature-based learning environments, observing children’s interests, documenting learning, and building trusting relationships with children, families, and teaching teams. Warm, patient, and attentive, with a strong belief in child-led learning, open-ended exploration, independence, creativity, and learning through relationships and the environment. Seeking to contribute to a play-based, Reggio Emilia–inspired early learning community.

Chia-Chi, also known as Kelly, was born and raised in Hualien, Taiwan, surrounded by the mountains and forests of the East Coast—landscapes that remind her of British Columbia’s Sea to Sky Corridor, where she has lived since 2012. Her journey into early childhood education was inspired by her own daughter and the joy she observed in children’s natural curiosity and learning. After enrolling her daughter in Saplings Preschool, Kelly was deeply moved by the school’s nature-based philosophy and knew she wanted to be part of it. Now an Early Childhood Educator, she brings a strong appreciation for both nature and cultural diversity, often sharing her Taiwanese heritage with the children and learning from theirs in return.