About Us

Heather Jackson, ECE from Humber College with over 30 years of experience in the field of early childhood education.  She  has worked for the City of Scarborough in their workplace child care centre:  Squirrels Nest/  Orchard Grove Parent Cooperative in Scarborough/ Metro Toronto Children’s Services  and then for the past ten years she was the Executive Director of Milton Community Resource Centre.  She has also been part of seven child care centres opening in Ontario over the past 20 years.

In 2005, she was very fortunate to attend a study tour for early childhood educators in Reggio Emilia Italy where she learned about the Reggio inspired curriculum.  Since then she has attended various conferences and travelled all over North America to visit schools who were working in the Reggio inspired curriculum.  She also facilitates workshops for early childhood educators in the community. She is also very proud to be part of the Acorn Collaborative.  They are four early childhood educators who have come together on the Reggio Emila study tour and now put on annual conferences for educators on various topics including the Reggio inspired approach to early childhood education. 

Heather is the Executive Director of The Sunflower School. Her passion is early childhood education with a difference.  The school will be unique in that the teachers will observe and document your child’s interests and development  and these interests will be reflected in the research projects that they work on in the classrooms.  The children will be engaged in interesting art projects like weaving, sewing and claywork.  Our teachers will research projects together with the children.  The children will set out on a journey of discovery in all of the research they will work on.  Our community is also very important to our school.  Who lives in our community and what are all of the great resources they can discover together as a school.   

Sarah Sayffi, ECE from Mothercraft Institute of Early Development. Sarah has worked for Pathways Academy for Children and The Region of Halton child care centres. Sarah will be the lead teacher in our Toddler room.  Her passion is the toddler age group.  She sees all toddlers as capable, competent people. Her work has been focused on this age group. Sarah has attended Reggio inspired workshops and is eager to continue this work at the Sunflower School. 

Rachel Sayffi, is a Graphic Designer from Humber College. Rachel is the Enrolment and Event Coordinator for The Sunflower School. Her superior planning skills will ensure your enrollment is both efficient and professional. Rachel is very creative and has designed the logo for the Sunflower School.