Q&A Session with a Student-teacher

One of the student-teachers in my kindy room asked me some questions, and they were so good that until now I still think about the interview.

Sharing some of the questions and how I responded to them (just sounded a bit better here lol).

What is your image of the teacher?

A person who is skilled at building relationships with children. They connect with both the children’s hearts and minds. They also genuinely enjoy their children, know them, and keep doing ways to know them more. They are good at collaborating with them as well, which makes children feel there’s no asymmetry of power. Everyone is a teacher and everyone is a learner.

A great teacher is also someone who is not a mere source of information, but a person who knows how to facilitate and guide the children to drive their own learning. How? They talk less and ask more, because it always best to teach them how to think, not what to think.

Last, but not least, they are passionate and enthusiastic about investigation, discovery, and patterns. They are always and will always be interested in learning more about life and relentlessly curious about everything.

How do you see your role as an administrator in an early childhood setting?

Being an ECT and a studio leader at the same time is not a walk in the park. It is extremely exhausting especially when you want to be an effective one. What I’m currenly learning from my role is that leadership is a shared responsibility, and not a one-person show, but rather about a team effort to achieve the same goals.

How did you become a leader?

Our centre manager saw a potential in me and offered me the position months before I finished my Master’s. I feel eternally grateful for her trust.

What does leadership mean to you in an early childhood setting?

I love our centre manager so much. She’s the best one I’ve seen. And from watching her every day at work, what I learned is that leadership is not about being perfect, but about being authentic. Great leaders don't pretend to have all the answers or to be infallible. They are open to feedback, admit their mistakes, and demonstrate vulnerability. And this authenticity builds trust and strengthens relationships.

What are the most important, priority areas for you?

My top priority is to create an environment where both children and educators feel safe, valued, respected, and encouraged to reach their full potential. I don’t want to be someone who relies on authority or intimidation to get things done. That’s what makes a toxic environment. Instead, I want to inspire my team members to reach for excellence and empower them to take ownership, make decisions, and contribute their unique talents through our daily respectful and meaningful conversations.

How do you make time to advocate for yourself to achieve your personal philosophy?

Daily journaling and reflecting is very important to ensure that my decisions and actions are aligned with both of my professional and personal philosophies.

What’s your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy revolves around embracing a progressive approach. Using project-based and hands-on learning are some methods that help children learn concepts best. I draw inspiration mostly from Montessori, Reggio Emilia, John Dewey, and other progressive approaches that value children's curiosity, capability, and creativity. My goal is to foster a love for learning, steering away from mere dependence on external rewards like medals, certificates, or high marks, because genuine learning goes far beyond from these. It is all about finding their genuine interests, passion, and element that will keep them motivated to learn for as long as they live. I believe in cultivating a learning environment where children are respected and nurtured like plants, given the right amount of warmth, space, and freedom to explore.