Melissa Spratt - RECE

DIRECTOR / OWNER

My name is Melissa Spratt I am a mom of 4 and I am the owner/director of Palace Childcare. I am an RECE graduate from Loyalist college having worked in many great environments that have taught me all the fundamentals regarding child development and the childcare sector. I am also a AUBS graduate from St Lawrence college having worked as a behaviour therapist for many years. My journey began in Childcare here in Ontario and soon moved me to the larger city of Calgary. I worked with amazing mentors within the child development field and became a director of a large childcare centre. I thrived to become a mentor and overlook the care children were receiving on a day to day. I excelled at giving families the care they were looking for and running an amazing team. I have chosen to bring this passion and expertise with me my new hometown of Napanee and plan to offer the same quality childcare I was able to provide to my families in Calgary.

 

Lynne Spratt

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

My name is Lynne Spratt. I was born and raised in the area of Kingston and Belleville and currently reside in Shannonville. I I’ve been married for 32 yrs and have raised 3 children and am a grandmother currently of 7. I graduated from the DSW program with honours in 2005 from Loyalist College. In 2010 I went back to school to attain my degree in Recreation Therapy. For the past 18years, I’ve been working for Pathways to Independence as a counsellor and Recreation Program facilitator. My expertise is in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluation of program development, Previous to this, I spent 5 years in Alberta as a manager of the Salvation Army children’s program that included doing risk assessments and employee hiring, scheduling, and family assistant with over 80 families of children with developmental disabilities in Fort McMurray. I am excited to begin this next journey supporting our local families in the Napanee area.

 

CASSIE MCMASTER

Cook

My name is Cassie.

I'm a devoted mother of three, with deep roots in the area, having lived here most of my life. I have a passion for baking and enjoy sharing my creations with others.

Known for being caring, kind, and compassionate, I also have a loving home filled with fur babies who bring me joy.

Annie Kaur

INFANT TEACHER

Hi ! My name is Annie, and I’m an Infant Teacher with a passion for nurturing young minds during one of the most important stages of development. I used to be an accounting student, then I realised i choose wrong career for me, because i love working with kids and i enjoy their company.
Currently, i am pursuing my ECE education of distance learning along with my work.
My approach to teaching is grounded in creating a safe, loving, and stimulating environment where each child feels secure and valued.
Outside of the classroom, I enjoy spending my time shopping, travelling. I am cat lover, spend some quality time with my cat.
Working with infants is not just a job for me—it’s a joy and a calling. I’m committed to helping each child grow with confidence and curiosity, and I feel honored to be a part of these first steps in their learning journey and being a part of Palace Childcare.

 

Mackenzie MacDonald

PRESCHOOL TEACHER

Hi!! My name is Mackenzie MacDonald, I am one of the Preschool teachers here at Palace Childcare. I graduated in 2019 from Loyalist College where I took Recreation and Leisure Sports. I am now going back to school online at St. Lawerence College for ECE! I am very excited to learn more about how children learn and grow as it is a passion of mine to help others be successful in day to day activities. I love seeing little ones light up when they do something for the first time and watching their personalities shine as they grow!

I come from a loud and outgoing family that all love sports. Outside of work I am usually with family, friends, shopping, reading or working out.

I’m happy to be apart of this great team and I look forward to meeting you and your kiddos!

 

SHANIA MOODY - RECE

SCHOOL READINESS TEACHER

Hi! I’m Miss Shania!

I graduated from Early Childhood Education at Mohawk College in 2020 and started my career in this amazing world of little people in the middle of a global pandemic… Throughout my life I have had the opportunity to work with children of all ages and observe how they develop in the world around them. I find it so interesting to watch children grow into unique individuals despite sharing the same environment each day.

In my free time, away from your fabulous children, I love spending time outside; whether I’m on the water, a nice hiking trail, or picking fresh produce in a field. In the classroom, I do my best to spark a love of nature in your children and strive to bring the best aspects of the great outdoors into the classroom. I am so excited to educate and inspire the children of Palace Childcare to grow into the best versions of themselves!

 

Kaelly James

TODDLER TWO TEACHER

Hi! My name is Kaelly James and I am so excited to be a part of this amazing team! I am a graduate of the Behavioural Science Program at St. Lawrence College. During my schooling, I completed 4 placements in elementary schools to support students.

Since graduation, I have worked as an Educational Assistant and a Direct Support Professional. I have always loved working with children and not only watching, but helping them meet milestones and discover the world around them! I am an open-minded person who is always looking to be able to meet every child’s unique needs.

I have always lived in the village of Bath, so being local I am thrilled to be able to work within my community! In my spare time I can often be found outside with my dog and boyfriend, either on four-wheelers or snowmobiles, we also really enjoy camping and going up to our cottage! I also love volunteering! My family and I have raised 2 service dogs from Kingston 4 Paws Service Dogs!

I am so excited to be joining the team at Palace Childcare!

 

Nicole Smith

SCHOOL READINESS TEACHER

Hi, I'm Nicole. You can find me in the school readiness classroom!

I am very excited to meet you and your lovely children. What makes me unique as a Child Care Worker is my love for children. Attending to the basic needs of children comes naturally to me and my friendly nature makes it easy to win the love of children and the opportunity to make a profound difference in their lives.

 

Cassandra Wease

TODDLER 2 TEACHER

Hello, my name is Cassandra and I am so happy to be a part of the team at Palace Childcare.

I have lots of experience working with children of all different ages and previously worked in a daycare setting. I like to spend my spare time out shopping or at the movies with friends, at home with my family and spending time with my dog either relaxing at home or on long walks.

SARAH DEACON

TODDLER ONE TEACHER


Hi there!

I was the supervisor for the school-age room and now working in the Junior Todd room. I was hired in November 2024 and am excited to work with you and your little ones!

I have a Bachelor's of Art in Psychology from Carleton University and a Degree in Child and Youth Care from Loyalist College. My experience is with children and youth recognizing trauma based behaviours and helping them foster skills to overcome adverse childhood experiences.

Morgan Vincent

PRESCHOOL TEACHER - RECE

Mom of 2 and Registered Early Childhood Educator going on 9 years. Lover of Harry Potter, cats and reading. Being a part of how children grow up into their own person is my passion, and I’m glad to be a part of their journey.


Bailee Goodberry

PRESCHOOL TEACHER

Hi there!

I’m a mom of 4 amazing kiddos, I love everything kids and animals. I enjoy spending my days being silly while playing with the kids and watching them all learn and grow.

In my small amounts of spare time I like to decorate cookies and go on walks with our family dog. Can’t wait to get to know your kiddos!

SUSAN CREDICOTT

INFANT TEACHER - FLOAT

I’ve had the pleasure of working in healthcare where it gave me experience in various fields over a number of years including paediatrics and the nursery.

I am further enriched with having the opportunity to interact with our future, our children at palace daycare. My pleasures are enjoying the north country, love of all animals and my dogs, being active and water sports.

Patricia Matzelle - RECE

INFANT TEACHER

Hi, I’m Patricia!


I am a Registered Early Childhood Educator and graduated from the Early Childhood Education program at Durham College in 2024.

I’m so excited to spend my days helping children learn, play, and grow. Working with kids has always been such a joy for me—I love watching their personalities shine and seeing the world through their curious eyes. One of my favorite parts of this career is building strong connections with each child, celebrating their milestones, and sharing those special little moments that make them feel proud of themselves. I believe that every child is unique and deserves patience, kindness, and encouragement as they discover the world around them. I’m grateful to be able to support both the children and their families, and I look forward to making each day a positive and memorable experience!

In my free time, you can find me reading, watching movies, or going on walks with my dog. I am very crafty, and love to crochet, paint, and much more! I am looking forward to learning with your children and watching them grow here at Palace Childcare!

 

Kelsey Southwood

INFANT TEACHER

Nykki Berghout

TODDLER TEACHER

Hi my name is Nykki Berghout and I am one of the Infant Teachers here at Palace Childcare.

So excited to be a part of the team here. I graduated from Trillium in 2021 as a CDSW.

I worked for Homebase Housing as an Emergency Shelter worker for the unfortunate and clients with mental health and addictions. I am a grandmother to four young amazing grandchildren. They made me realize I miss being in childcare. In my spare time I enjoy spending it with my grandchildren, family and friends.

I am looking forward to learning from the teachers and children. Bringing in my experiences and helping the children grow and learn.

 

Peter Nicols - RECE

SUPERVISOR / SCHOOL AGE

I am a graduate of the Early Childhood Program and am proud to call myself an RECE. I have always connected well with children so it just seemed like the right path to take.


I have 3 amazing kids who always keep me on my toes. They say they are just preparing me for my time spent with other children . They are not wrong!!!


My background is in theatre, music, and film where I spent many years as a performer, director, and an Education in Theatre consultant for different theatre companies in Ontario. I am so excited to be working with and learning from all of the teachers, you the parents, and of course the children.

 

Julie Bates

SCHOOL-AGE TEACHER

 

ALY WALLACE

SCHOOL-AGE TEACHER

 

MELISSA BENNETT

ON-CALL

Sarah Kingma

ON-CALL

Reema Maharjan

JUNIOR TODDLER TEACHER

My name is Reema Maharjan, and I hold a Bachelor in Business Administration.

I have experience working with children in childcare settings, where I’ve developed strong nurturing, communication, and organizational skills.

My business background helps me stay patient, efficient, and well-organized while managing daily routines and activities. I am a dedicated and caring person who loves spending time with children, learning about their interests, and supporting their growth each day. I always encourage positive behavior and strive to provide the best care possible.

Outside of work, I enjoy travelling and spending quality time with my friends and family. I believe in creating a warm, safe, and supportive environment where every child can thrive.