Our Team

Get to Know Us

Koryn Jacobs

Coordinator and Early Childhood Teacher

Koryn is often found lugging around multiple backpacks, holding up access to the front gate or welcoming families, as she coordinates getting her own three children into Muddle Top to begin each day.

In her other role, Koryn is the coordinator at Muddle Top House. She is a university trained Early Childhood Teacher who sees early childhood as the most important years in a child’s life. She has worked in the field of Early Childhood for almost fifteen years across long-day care, family day care, out of school hours care and preschool programs. She has also worked training preschool teachers in the Philippines and worked with refugee children and families in detention in Nauru.

Koryn is now incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to work alongside the wonderful families and educators at Muddle Top House. She hopes together we can create an environment where children feel valued and included and where they develop a lifelong love of learning.

Lisa Szumowski

Early Childhood Teacher

Lisa has recently moved to Port Macquarie from Inverell with her partner and 11-year-old daughter. She is loving her sea change move and is very excited to have recently joined the Muddle Top House team.

Lisa has been working in a variety of Early Childhood services since 1994 and gained her teacher in Early Childhood degree in 2013. Her roles have included that of educator, Director and service manager in Pre School, Long Day Care and Family Day Care settings.

"I have always had a passion for early childhood and supporting young children in enriching their learning prior to going to big school and inspiring them to be the best they can be. I have a strong commitment for sustainability, play based learning and child focused play, incorporating natural, reused and recycled resources. I believe literacy, books and storytelling should have an integral role in a child’s learning journey. I am a strong advocate for children to be a part of the world around them and their wider local community."

Lisa looks forward to the year ahead and working alongside the wonderful staff here in providing a positive and rewarding early childhood experience for you and your child.

Lisa believes "All children deserve to “have the best start in life to create a better future for themselves and for the nation”.

Rose Hawken

Team Leader

Rose spends her weekdays educating and caring for the youngest members of our Muddle Top House family in the 0-3 Room. Rose is currently studying her Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care.