Leanne May (She, Her) began working at the Saskatoon Open Door Society in September 2016 when its Daycare service split off from its Language Training Unit to become Childcare Services. As Director of the new unit, Leanne oversees two licensed childcare centres that serve SODS clients and community members, as well as the Home Instruction for Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) Program.
Leanne is passionate about working with programs that serve families with young children and has gained work experience in a variety of early learning settings, including:
- Preschool
- A teen parent centre, in a high school
- Licensed childcare centres, as an Early Childhood Educator and member of management
- Private Licensed Childcare, as a home provider
- Early Learning and Child Care, Ministry of Education’s Early Years Branch, as a Program Consultant
Leanne’s years of experience in the childcare sector support her capacity to sit on the Boards of Directors and Advisory Committees of other organizations. She is currently a member of the executive teams for the Saskatchewan Early Childhood Association (SECA) and the Saskatchewan Federation of Early Learning, and she sits on advisory committees for the Saskatoon Family Resource Centre, Early Years, and the Saskatoon Women’s Business Hub. She continually volunteers on working groups in the childcare field, given the many changes resulting from the Federal Early Learning and Childcare agreements.
Leanne believes that a good relationship is the basis for all learning. Children learn through their relationships with their educators, and a safe environment is necessary to encourage learning. She is hopeful that the changes today will make for a better tomorrow. Her efforts are for a better future for ECEs and quality learning environments that are accessible and affordable for all families with young children in Saskatchewan.