Who We Are
Strive is a collaborative group of child care and early years professionals dedicated to supporting learning and growth to elevate effective practice. Our community is interested in a process that values reflection and sustainable evolution rather than a prescribed method to measure.
Since 2014, Strive has been meeting to discuss and consider how to enhance a collaborative approach to child care and professional learning across all early years and child care programs.
Strive is a responsive, community driven organization with an Advisory Committee that is tasked with ensuring the strategies and tactics are put into action. Members of the Advisory Committee represent the diversity and complexity of the Child Care and Early Years sector.
Strive leverages administrative support from a backbone organization, Childreach, and takes all organizational initiatives to the membership for endorsement. Childreach is a Canadian Registered Charity (charitable registration number 10691 3742 RR0001). Therefore, Strive is a not-for-profit organization with community at the heart of everything we do.
2024 – 2026 Strategic Plan
2020 – 2023 Strategic Plan
Vision
Engaged and empowered early years community.
Mission
Leading inspired learning.
Values
Collaboration
Care
Continuous learning
Though we each have unique roles within the team, everyone at Strive works collaboratively to deliver thoughtful, intentional professional learning and services to London, Middlesex, Elgin, and Oxford county.
Keep reading to learn more about what each of us do!
Our Team
Kayla Bartlett (she/her) BA, RECE
Interim Manager
WHAT I DO
I oversee all the incredible work that the Strive team does and support coordinating and building relationships with our community partners. I am responsible to our funders to deliver on our work plan and ensure we are supporting capacity building across our sector.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY WORK
Working with our amazing team each day and being connected with professionals from across the sector.
CONTACT INFO
Email: kayla@striveswo.ca
Phone: 519-434-3644 ext. 634
Amy Petrarca (she/her) HBECL, RECE
Professional Learning Lead
WHAT I DO
I coordinate the planning and implementation of professional learning opportunities for London, Middlesex, Elgin, and Oxford.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY WORK
I love the amazing connections I am able to build with the professionals in our community and that I am a part of their learning journeys while I co-learn alongside them.
CONTACT INFO
Email: amy@striveswo.ca
Phone: 519-434-3644 ext. 617
Olivia Musico (she/her) HBECL, RECE
Professional Learning Specialist
WHAT I DO
As the Professional Learning Specialist, my role is to support the planning and implementation of professional learning opportunities for London, Middlesex, Elgin, and Oxford early years professionals.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY WORK
I love connecting and working with passionate colleagues, professionals, and facilitators as well as learning and growing together.
CONTACT INFO
Email: olivia@striveswo.ca
Phone: 519-434-3644 ext. 619
Jenn Nguyen (she/her) HBECL, RECE
Professional Learning Specialist
WHAT I DO
As a Professional Learning Specialist, I will support developing and implementing strategies for multi-method and multi-modal learning opportunities that will shape early years professionals' abilities, attitudes, and motivations.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY WORK
I love that I can continuously grow and learn both professionally and personally by engaging reciprocally with knowledgeable and compassionate early years professionals. I also love contributing to the challenging yet essential work of building a community that amplifies marginalized voices, allowing them to share their unique perspectives
CONTACT INFO
Email: jenn@striveswo.ca
Phone: 519-434-3644 ext. 638
Alicia Vanderwerf (she/her) OCT, RECE, HBECL
Professional Learning Specialist
WHAT I DO
As a Professional Learning Specialist, I get the privilege to assist in the planning and implementation of an array of professional learning opportunities for early years professionals in the London, Middlesex, Oxford and Elgin region.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY WORK
In my role, I’m constantly inspired by the opportunity to learn something new! I’m passionate about lifelong learning, and I absolutely love being surrounded by fellow professionals who share that enthusiasm. It creates such a vibrant atmosphere of growth and collaboration.
CONTACT INFO
Email: alicia@striveswo.ca
Phone: 519-434-3644 ex. 632
Kayla Paquette (she/her) HBA, RECE
Community Animator
WHAT I DO
As the Community Animator, I work closely with individuals in the field, gathering diverse perspectives and experiences to shape a sustainable mentoring approach that supports the evolving needs of the early years' community and professionals.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY WORK
Partnering with an amazing team and engaging with the community. I value the experiences of connecting and learning together.
CONTACT INFO
Email: kaylap@striveswo.ca
Phone: 519-434-3644 ext. 622
Bre Piccolotto (she/they) HBA, RECE
Data Specialist
WHAT I DO
As Data Specialist, I am responsible for the tracking, analysis, and reporting of the data we collect at Strive. I collaborate across the Strive team to translate trends, opportunities, and insights into actionable work. I also support website and technology management.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY WORK
I love being a part of a community that cares, learns, and grows together. I feel empowered being surrounded by others who are dedicated to uplifting our sector, children, and families.
CONTACT INFO
Email: bre@striveswo.ca
Phone: 519-434-3644 ext. 631
Andera Novak (she/they) HBA
Marketing and Communications Specialist
WHAT I DO
As the Marketing and Communications Specialist, I manage social media content, capture engaging event images, ensure brand consistency across print and digital mediums, and generally communicate Strive's incredible events, professional development opportunities, and resources in various ways!
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY WORK
I love sharing powerful stories and images that highlight the impact of our work, inspire professionals to continue their learning, and create connections with the community!
CONTACT INFO
Email: andera@striveswo.ca
Phone: 519-434-3644 ext. 629
Sara D’Alessandro (she/her) HBECL, RECE
Resource Centre Specialist
WHAT I DO
As a Resource Centre Specialist, I work in collaboration with early years professionals who come into the Resource Centre looking for provocations and support in their practices.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY WORK
I love getting to create connections with the members of our resource community, and sharing in our mutual passion of the early years.
CONTACT INFO
Email: sara@striveswo.ca
Phone: 519-434-3644 ext. 602
Liz Gannon (she/they) RECE, Early Childhood Leadership Student
Resource Centre Specialist
WHAT I DO
I collaborate with early years professionals in the Resource Centre who are looking for provocations, resources and tools to enrich and inspire their pedagogies and practices.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY WORK
I love being able to learn from and with the amazing team here at Strive, the ECE Professional Resource Centre, and Early Years professional community.
CONTACT INFO
Email: liz@striveswo.ca
Phone: 519-434-3644 ext. 602
Ally Scott (she/her) BA, RECE
Manager - Currently on Maternity Leave
WHAT I DO
I oversee all the incredible work that the Strive team does. I am responsible to our funders to deliver on our work plan and ensure we are supporting capacity building across our sector.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY WORK
The outstanding Strive team and all of our community partners that I have the privilege of working with.
New Strategic Plan!
We are pleased to share with you our strategic plan for 2024 – 2026, Leading Inspired Learning. The early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector is constantly evolving. This plan outlines the change we want to inspire and the strategies we will implement in the next three years.
Over the next three years, we will leverage our knowledge and expertise to build capacity in the sector. We will strengthen leadership and create opportunities for connection. We will focus on advancing mentorships in all its complex facets. We will embed equity, diversity, and inclusion in all we do.
Together, we will strive to reach our goal of an engaged and empowered early years community.
We hope you will join us in leading inspired learning!
Join the ECE Professional Resource Centre
Strive is here to support all your professional learning needs. We have an inventory of physical resources that can be borrowed to support your program’s needs. You can browse our inventory online before committing to a membership.
In addition, we understand that it may be difficult to attend professional learning events in addition to your work day but that you value your professional growth. That is why we created an online learning platform, Strive Online, with digital resources, prerecorded webinars, live recorded sessions, and printouts that you can access any day, any time! We will continue to grow our online library of resources in response to the community’s needs. Strive Online resources are free to access.
Early Learning Professionals are invited to join the ECE Professional Resource Centre: