About Kim
Welcome! I’m Kim (she/her) RECE, FNSP, MSc., Pedagogical Leader, Supervisor, Course Instructor
Since 2008, I have professionally worked alongside children, families, and educators across inclusion, recreation, rehabilitation, and education settings. In 2018, I turned my focus toward early learning and pedagogical leadership. Since then, I have worked as a Pedagogical Consultant, Professor at Conestoga College, Municipal Pedagogical Leader with the County of Wellington, and now as a Pedagogical Leader, Course Instructor, and Staff Supervisor at the University of Guelph. I also offer facilitation and professional learning services, sharing this work through conferences and professional learning events. My work has contributed to peer-reviewed publications, and I have had the privilege of working alongside 1,000+ educators and 1,500+ families.
If you are interested in working with me, check out what I offer or send me a message to see if I’d be good fit for your context!
My Story
I love to be outside – walking my dog, hiking, paddling, camping, skiing, you name it! I also love to sing and play guitar. These have been fundamental life experiences for me since I was a young child. Even now, as a I’m a wife, eldest sister, daughter, and professional, I return to these same experiences to cultivate joy and meaning.
When I am asked to recall the events that shaped me as an educator, I often reflect on my own family and child care experience. I am grateful to have attended the CCLC as a child before returning there as a student and Pedagogical Leader. When I was 8, my youngest sibling was born with Down Syndrome, and I continued to be part of her drop-off and pick-up routines. I saw first hand as my family leaned into the CCLC educators to support my sister. I’ve known since I was 4 years old what it feels like to have educators as extened family. Having a sibling with a visible disability meant that I sometimes acted as Young Carer, taking on additional responsibilities to support our family. Caring for my sister continues to provide me with valuable insight about abilities and the physical, social, and cognitive barriers within society.
I really started thinking about learning communities when I worked as a camp counsellor in grade 10 when I worked as an Inclusion Facilitator, and then continued to return to summer camp for 4 years as a counsellor and, eventually, Camp Director and their Consultant. This is where I began cultivating my practice with children and families and staff. I am forever grateful for these foundational experiences.
The next signifiant life event that shaped me as a professional was my grade 12 outdoor education program, Headwaters. This is where I gained lived experience in an alternative learning community that profoundly changed how I saw the world and education.
After high-school, it took me 6 years to complete my undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Science in Psychology) because I kept changing programs and wanted to work hands-on with children and families.
I dabbled with working in a variety of educational and recreational roles, trying to understand the capacity in which I wanted to work alongside young children and families before returning to the University of Guelph to complete the qualifications to register with the College of Early Childhood Educators. Then I proceeded into the MSc program to study educator well-being during the pandemic.
During this program, I had the privilege of serving as a Pedagogical Consultant with Conestoga College, and Pedagogical Leader with the County of Wellington, before returning to the University of Guelph CCLC as their Pedagogical Leader. In this role, I am fortunate to work alongside children, families, students, educators, cooks, administrators, and faculty members through our academic partnership.
Through this role, I have become more invested in my cultivating my skills as a facilitator, instructor, and leader, and where I’ve had the pleasure of obtaining additional certifications and training opportunities.
Testimonials
“I have had the privilege of having Kim teach me as a FRHD*3200 practicum student in the Fall of 2024 and continue to work under her pedagogical leadership and mentorship as a current student assistant at the CCLC. Kim approaches each interaction with students, colleagues, children, and families with warmth, openness, and curiosity. In FRHD*3200, she fostered a creative learning environment that made me look forward to coming to seminar each Friday morning. One of my favourite classes ever as an undergraduate student was a seminar Kim facilitated in which me and the other practicum students had the opportunity to engage with artistic and natural materials – all materials that would be available to us to program with during practicum. Kim brought in bags upon bags of materials, sparing nothing to help inspire us – a testament to her commitment to programming and student engagement. I created a piece of artwork using pastels, leaves, and springs – a piece I had so much fun creating, it still hangs on my fridge. As a pedagogical leader, Kim is thoughtful, intentional, and reflective. She values the opinion and experience of all members of the CCLC equally and is an educator I deeply admire.”
— Abby McNamara (Past practicum student and employee) F’25
“Kim Barton is an exceptional early years practitioner with a passion for creating an inclusive and innovative environment for learners of all age. Kim’s care and kindness is remarkable and it shines so brightly in everything that she does. In our FRHD*3200 seminar in F’23, before beginning our lessons, Kim took time to check in with all of the students, ensuring we were feeling fully competent in the work we were completing. As well, she checked in on our mental wellbeing and offered gentle suggestions on how we can keep ourselves on-track during the semester. During my placement at the Child Care and Learning Centre, it was meaningful to me that Kim recognized my approach to behavioural guidance. In fact, Kim pulled me aside and encouraged a conversation where we were able to bounce ideas off of each other. After this conversation, Kim offered me supplemental learning materials that were suited towards my interests and learning style. Overall, Kim Barton is a stellar human being who cares so deeply about every individual. Kim’s holistic outlook on early learning and care (and life) has encouraged me to begin to develop an organization that supports children with developmental disabilities. Any student that is taught by Kim Barton is truly fortunate, she leaves an impact that will last a lifetime.”
— Lily Briand (Past practicum student) W’24
“Kim is one of the best humans I have ever met in my life! Her lens and knowledge of children, development, pedagogy, and learning is so advanced and expansive it has been an absolute pleasure to learn from her! She was so supportive of students and was a great person full of resources and ideas and truly made my practicum experience so wonderful!”
— Jayda Cacciotti (Past Student) F23
“Kim Barton is a passionate, caring and inspiring pedagogical leader. I have had the privilege of being able to learn from Kim for over the past two years, first as a student and now as a peer educator at the Child Care Learning Centre. I admire Kim as a leader greatly, I believe she guides and facilitates children with empathy and creativity. Kim is an educational and approachable leader, and I first witnessed this during my practicum course FRHD 3200. I remember looking forward to my practicum seminars with Kim, as she always led discussions with an open mind and a supportive persona. This course specifically had a huge impact on my learning and practical skills when working with children. Kim continues to remind me that we are forever learners in this field and about the importance of child led learning and teaching with intention. Finally, I believe Kim has such an impact on people because she truly cares about others and wants to see people succeed. I appreciate the impact she has had on my journey as an educator and I look forward to learning more from her in the future!” – Makenna Joyce (Past practicum student W’23 and RECE at the CCLC, S’26)
