What makes a teacher?  The New Age Parents spoke to principals and teachers from various schools and enrichment centres, to find out more about their philosophy, passion and aspiration.

Teacher Profile
Name: Criselle Sanguyu Ann Alarcon
Where: Learning Vision @ Changi Business Park
Role/Class: Infant Educarer/Infant Care
Years in the industry: 3 years

TNAP: Hi Criselle, tell us more about yourself!

I was educated to be a nurse but I am now a teacher by heart. With my Degree in Nursing and Certificate in Infant and Toddler Development, I am equipped to nurture children who are 2-18 months old and have been doing so for three years now.

TNAP: In your eyes, what makes an effective and good teacher?

An effective and good teacher is someone who uses not only her intellect to impart knowledge on young minds but also exhausts all her capacities/capabilities to rear children to become the best person they can be.

TNAP: Who do you look up to as a role model in terms of your teaching career and why?

The late Magda Gerber’s philosophies of respectful infant and toddler educaring have greatly influenced the way I interact with children daily, providing them gentle care and spending quality time with them.

TNAP: Share with us one or two memorable moments in your teaching career that left a deep imprint in you.
The experience that left a great impact on my role as a teacher is when a mother, during one of our quarterly Parent-Teacher conferences, welled up in tears of appreciation for me and my team’s hard work, love and care for her daughter.

TNAP: If no, what are the things you think teachers can continuously strive to improve and upgrade themselves in?

There is no doubt that most teachers possess enough resilience and love for the children they teach daily. However, teachers may also continuously strive to build stronger bonds with parents and the community at large. If done so, the benefit ultimately goes out to the children as well.

TNAP: Parents sometimes put teachers on a very high pedestal and expect a lot from them. What do you wish more parents knew about the teaching profession?

It is important for everyone to know that the teaching profession is a noble one. It involves not only one’s mind power but also requires investing in one’s physical strength, heart and soul – thus one’s whole being.

TNAP: Complete this sentence. Teaching is…

Teaching is where all other professions, whether modest or aristocratic, bloomed from.

* * * * *

Like what you see here? Get parenting tips and stories straight to your inbox! Join our mailing list here.

Want to be heard 👂 and seen 👀 by over 100,000 parents in Singapore? We can help! Leave your contact here and we’ll be in touch.