Bavani’s Journey of Growth: Passion, Persistence, and Pursuit of Professional Development

While waiting for her O-Level results, V Bavani was invited by her aunt, an Early Childhood (EC) educator, to assist at a playgroup in the Residents' Committee Centre. Immersed in the lively environment, Bavani was captivated by how engaged and responsive the children were, and soon found herself anticipating the next visit. Over the next two months, she continued helping at the playgroup, and what started as a simple favour gradually sparked a deeper passion in her to teach and understand young children. 

V Bavani

Cluster Manager at Little Footprints Preschool 

Although she was initially set on pursuing nursing, Bavani’s passion for working with young children led her to follow her newfound calling. The switch felt natural, and with her family’s full support, she enrolled in a diploma programme in EC education. Upon graduating, she began her career as an educator where she designed engaging learning activities that fostered a safe and nurturing environment for the children while performing quality routine care in her daily work. 

Bavani had originally envisioned her career in a teaching role, but her perspectives changed when she met a centre leader who exemplified strong leadership qualities. Through the centre leader, Bavani could see how effective leadership could influence both children's lives and educators' professional growth. Bavani was motivated to take on a leadership role herself and decided to pursue a Diploma in EC Education - Leadership. “I felt very inspired watching my centre leader support and advise her educators. Her mentorship had a profound impact on me, and I wanted to offer the same guidance to others in the future."

Learning to Lead: Overcoming Challenges Early in Her Career

Nineteen years into her career, Bavani has risen through the ranks where she is now Cluster Manager at Little Footprints Preschool. She effectively oversees 10 centres and guides centre leaders on how to develop their educators' professional abilities.

Bavani (middle) with centre leaders under her management

While her journey is a testament of growth and determination, it has been marked by its fair share of hurdles. Bavani relates that one of her greatest leadership challenges was when she assumed the role of assistant supervisor at a centre. As the youngest member of the team, her colleagues were hesitant to accept her ideas and questioned her authority. Bavani remained persistent and patient, spending time to convince them to see value in her approaches. It was only after a year that she managed to gain their trust and they started to bond as a team. This became a pivotal moment in her career as it fuelled her passion for leadership and shaped her beliefs in the importance of building trust and fostering collaboration. 

Creating a Culture of Learning and Growth

A strong advocate for continuous learning, Bavani jumped at the opportunity to join the PDP(Centre Leaders and Lead Educators) when her nominator, Ms Lily Ting, recommended her for the programme three years ago. “Bavani is an active learner who loves to pick up new skills and explore new ideas. Nominating her for the PDP helps to expand her expertise in EC education and bring back valuable insights to share with others." 

Bavani (left) with nominator and Cluster Manager, Ms Lily Ting

Sharing Ms Lily’s sentiments, Bavani was excited to impart newfound knowledge to her fellow educators. Among the various courses Bavani attended during her PDP journey, the Inquiry-Based Action Plan (IBAP) - Effective Communication with Parents using Professional Language - led by the ECDA Fellows had the most profound impact on her. Bavani coached the educators on using assertive communication to approach parents tactfully and professionally. Over time, she saw how those who once felt anxious when interacting with parents were now handling these situations confidently and were able to build strong relationships with them. 

Nominations for PDP(Leaders) are now open until 15 Nov 2024. Nominate your centre leader(s) or lead educator(s) today!