When I moved from the United States to Australia with my family, I knew we were starting a new chapter. What I didn’t imagine was that my career would take me from primary school teaching into early learning, and then into leading the very team who helped us feel at home.

We moved here wanting a different future for our two daughters. We had never even visited Australia before, so it was a big leap. Today, we absolutely love the life we’ve built here.

And a big part of that story has been finding my place at G8.

Bringing my experience into a new kind of teaching

Back in the United States, I had completed a bachelor’s and a master’s in education and worked as a primary school teacher. Teaching was familiar to me, but moving to Australia meant finding how my experience and qualifications fitted into a different education system.

I joined G8 as a trainee in June last year while working through the pathway into an Early Childhood Teacher role. My Centre Manager recognised the teaching experience I brought with me, and being able to complete my Certificate III at my own pace gave me an opportunity to move forward and transitioning into an Early Childhood Teacher role.

Even with my background, there was plenty to learn. The Early Years Learning Framework was new to me, along with the approaches to observations, programming and planning. Working alongside our Educational Leader made such a difference. I could ask questions, learn from her experience and put that learning into practice each day.

At first, I wondered whether working with younger children would give me the same fulfilment I had found in primary teaching. I was used to older children and a more academically focused environment.

But as I built relationships with the children, I discovered how rewarding early learning could be. The trust they placed in me, the joy of being part of their day and the opportunity to help them feel safe and secure gave me a connection to the work I hadn’t anticipated.

The team who inspired my next step

Becoming a Centre Manager wasn’t part of my original plan.

I had thought that perhaps, one day, I might explore an Educational Leader or Assistant Centre Manager role. I loved being a teacher, and leaving the room was a big decision.

A big part of why I stepped forward was the team.

They had been so welcoming to me and my children. My eldest daughter attended the centre last year, and my youngest still does. This community became an important part of our family’s first experience of Australia, helping us feel welcome as we found our feet in a new country.

Having worked alongside the educators, I knew how much they gave to the children every day. I wanted them to feel supported by someone who understood their day. I wanted them to enjoy coming to work, feel appreciated and know they could rely on me.

That became my motivation to step into leadership.

I officially became Centre Manager in August. It was a career step I hadn’t imagined taking, but it gave me the opportunity to support the team who had made such a difference to me and my family.

A teacher’s perspective on leadership

The transition has been a big learning curve. I miss being in the room with my children, and I still make time to visit, head outside and play whenever I can.

The children bring me so much joy. Staying connected with them helps me remember why I’m here.

My teaching experience also comes with me into the way I lead. When an educator needs support, I can draw on my own experience of running a room. I know what it feels like to balance the expectations of the role while being present for the children.

I want my team to feel comfortable asking for help, sharing an idea or talking through a challenge. I check in throughout the day, and I work closely with our Educational Leader to understand where people need support.

For me, being a leader means being willing to roll up your sleeves. I would never ask someone to do something I wouldn’t be willing to do myself.

Supported to grow, inspired to encourage others

Having people to turn to has made a real difference throughout my journey.

Our Area Manager was a wonderful support as I moved into the Centre Manager role, making time for questions, visits and regular check-ins. A Centre Manager at a neighbouring centre has also been someone I can lean on and learn from.

Through the CM First Steps program, I had a trainer who was always available to help me work through something new. We still keep in touch.

Now, I want my team to feel that same encouragement.

If someone is thinking about studying their diploma or taking another step in their career, I want to understand what might be holding them back. I want them to know they can pursue something that matters to them, with people around them who will support them.

My own path has taken turns I didn’t expect. That has made me even more enthusiastic about helping others explore what could be possible for them.

The relationships at the heart of it all

This World Teachers’ Day, I hope teachers recognise how important they are in children’s lives.

We help shape some of their earliest experiences of learning and build relationships that help them feel safe and secure. 

Just recently, a child returned from two weeks away and came sprinting down the hallway to give me a hug. Moments like that remind me that those connections stay with you, even when your role changes.

As a Centre Manager, I want every child to have someone they feel that comfortable with. And I want the teachers and educators creating those relationships to feel supported and appreciated, too.

I came to Australia with a love of teaching. Through early learning, I found new ways to put that love into practice, and a career path I hadn’t imagined.

My advice to other teachers is simple: find something to laugh about every day. Find something to smile about. For me, the children always help with that.

And even in the difficult moments, don’t forget your why.

By Morgan, Centre Manager at Kindy Patch Kids