By Ms Brenda Lea Ann De Silva, Principal, Changi General Hospital Child Care Centre
I didn’t plan on becoming an early childhood (EC) educator. Previously, I was with Singapore Airlines, managing ticketing and customer service. I enjoyed meeting people and handling various situations, but everything changed when I became a mother. It was then I understood the profound impact EC educators have on young children and their families.
This inspired me. In 2006, I joined Learning Vision’s preschool apprenticeship programme, teaching at its Changi Airport centre while pursuing my diploma.
The journey wasn’t easy, but the joy of working with young children — watching them explore, grow and express themselves — made every challenge worth it.
LEAVING TO CARE, RETURNING TO GROW
As my family grew, it became challenging to balance the demands of motherhood with my career. Eventually, I decided to step away from the sector to focus on raising my children. I knew I would return when the time felt right. That moment came in 2012, after a few years of relief teaching.
When I re-entered the sector, I was immediately struck by how much it had evolved. There were new frameworks, technologies and documentation requirements. Even the language we used as educators had changed. It was humbling. I had to relearn, adapt and start anew.
Upon returning to work, Ms De Silva had to relearn and adapt her teaching practices in line with emerging trends in EC education.
But this ‘rejoiner’ experience became my greatest opportunity for growth. I was fortunate to have mentors and a strong network of principals who supported me every step of the way, helping me regain my confidence. I advanced from teacher to senior teacher, and eventually to centre manager and principal.
Each role taught me something new — how to build a cohesive team, engage families meaningfully, and lead with empathy and structure.
LEARNING TO LEAD
Returning to the EC sector reaffirmed something important to me — if we want children to love learning, we must love learning ourselves. I made it a point to continue upskilling. After completing my Specialist Diploma in EC Care and Education, I earned a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood, and I am now pursuing my master’s degree. Along the way, I also undertook graduate studies in human resources because, to me, leadership is as much about people as it is about pedagogy.
That passion for learning led me to ECDA’s Professional Development Programme for Leaders, or PDP(Leaders), which I began in May 2024. My motivation was simple: I wanted to experience it firsthand before encouraging my senior teachers to do the same. I’ve always believed that leaders should walk the talk, and I wanted to be that example for my team.
The PDP(Leaders) journey has been eye-opening. In the first year, I completed two compulsory modules, Leading Self and Leading in Curriculum and Pedagogy, that helped me better understand my leadership style and strengths, and how to build collective capacity within my team. One memorable session inspired me to conduct a ‘Strengths and Reflections’ activity at my centre, where colleagues exchanged anonymous notes highlighting each other’s strengths and offering sincere, gentle suggestions for growth. My team members said they felt genuine appreciation when they read the heartfelt messages.
Ms De Silva has applied what she learned through PDP(Leaders) to guide her team at Changi General Hospital Child Care Centre.
Another part of the programme encouraged me to think more inclusively. As a result, my team and I started a ‘Mediated Learning Experiences’ project aimed at supporting children with varying learning needs. We wanted to extend this initiative beyond children with diagnosed conditions and also focus on those who may need more time, confidence or stimulation. Parents have actively joined our workshops, and many now tell us they view EC work in a new light.
YOU CAN GO BACK AGAIN
For me, continuing professional development is not an option but a mindset. Every training course or PDP experience strengthens the culture of learning within a centre. When teachers attend workshops and return to share their insights, it inspires others to do the same.
I’ve seen firsthand how professional learning builds confidence and pride. When my centre achieved the Singapore Preschool Accreditation Framework (SPARK) certification, the whole team was moved to tears. Those tears came from a deep sense of shared accomplishment. It’s a reminder that growth, when done together, is powerful.
Ms De Silva (far left) and her team constantly think of ways to enrich children’s learning experiences, such as planning excursions to places of interest in Singapore.
As I continue my PDP(Leaders) journey, I’m excited to see our centre project through and document our learnings for others. I’m also looking forward to mentoring more educators, especially those rejoining the sector. I want to show them that it’s never too late to return, learn and lead.
My advice to anyone thinking of re-entering the EC sector or making a late-career switch is this: Don’t give up. Every challenge can be turned into a new beginning. The word “impossible” itself says “I’m possible”.
