Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) Fellows
The ECDA (Early Childhood Development Agency) Fellows programme is one of ECDA’s key initiatives to recognise pinnacle leaders in the early childhood profession and expand opportunities for these leaders to further develop their careers and to fulfil their aspirations.
NTUC First Campus is proud to grow and nurture these exemplary early childhood professionals with high levels of leadership and professional expertise to work in our campuses and in the corporate office.
Ms Nagalinggam Thamarai
Senior Cluster Quality Manager, My First Skool
BATCH OF 2015, RE-APPOINTED IN 2018 & 2024
Ever since I could remember, I have always wanted to play a part in children’s education. There is nothing more fascinating than a child. Watching them grow and learn is one of life’s most humbling experiences. I believe every child can embark on their own unique learning journey – one that affords them with the values, dispositions and knowledge. I advocate for children to grow as healthy and creative individuals, in a nurturing environment, where children from all backgrounds feel included and able to take part in enriching learning experiences, and where parents can feel confident about sending their children.
Ms Sylvia Yeo
Senior Cluster Quality Manager, My First Skool
BATCH OF 2018, RE-APPOINTED IN 2024
Every child is unique. Each child grows at his/her own pace and comes from a family with their own beliefs and values. I believe we have to understand each child as a whole and design learning experiences according to his/her needs and interests. I am committed to empowering and inspiring educators to work together towards a shared purpose of supporting children’s holistic development. With different curriculum models currently available, we must understand and leverage them to design quality learning experiences.
A high quality centre is characterised by a strong learning and sharing culture, where educators are provided with opportunities to experiment with new ideas and engage in reflective practices. I am committed to extending my professional learning and co-creating new knowledge with colleagues, the children, their families and the larger community.
Ms Ava Wang
Senior Quality Specialist, My First Skool
BATCH OF 2015, RE-APPOINTED IN 2020 & 2024
The beauty of working with children is having that daily opportunity and ability to help mould every child’s character, his thoughts and his world view. To do that successfully, there is one key value which I hold dear – respect. Every child deserves to be respected, to be listened to, and most importantly, to be loved. I treasure the wonderment and ‘ah ha!’ moments. They keep me going.
I believe in grooming educators to be confident professionals who uphold those very same values – teachers who love the art of teaching and inspire others to be passionate about their craft. Together, we will live up to the higher calling of setting right the moral compasses and intellectual foundations of the children in our care.
Ms Justine Ho
Lead Learning Support Educator, NTUC First Campus
BATCH OF 2024
This guiding principle has been the cornerstone of my approach over the years, driving my dedication to fostering meaningful connections that propel both young children and educators toward success. I recognise that the inherent interconnectedness between educators, learners, and support systems is pivotal. By fostering authentic connections, trust is cultivated, enabling a collaborative environment where individual strengths are leveraged.
In early intervention, a strong rapport between educators and young children builds a foundation for effective learning. Learning support thrives on personalised connections, tailoring assistance to unique needs. Nurturing these connections not only enhances educational outcomes but also creates resilient, adaptive learning communities. I see my role as a catalyst for the development of holistic, well-rounded individuals by providing differentiated learning intervention to meet their overall educational and social needs.
Ms Rita Lim
Manager, Learning Support, NTUC First Campus
BATCH OF 2024
In today’s rapidly changing world, early childhood educators are challenged more than ever to create classrooms that give all children a good start in life, regardless of their socioeconomic status, needs and preferences.
Everyone has an important role to play in a child’s learning and development, be they parents, policymakers, administrators, interns or centre attendants. As leaders, we need to create a safe environment for our professionals to improve and innovate as they make learning fun and relevant to the children’s needs and interests and shape the future of teaching and learning. There are endless possibilities ahead and I look forward to driving positive changes in the sector.
Ms Stella Pereira
Cluster Director, Little Skool-House
BATCH OF 2024
My journey as an early childhood professional began when I volunteered at a special education programme and became fascinated with the world of preschoolers more than 20 years ago.
I believe in the importance of developing sounds systems and structures of investing in life-long learning, building soft-skills and leadership skills in EC professionals, and collaborating with parents and the local and global community to curate memorable learning experiences for children and enrich the experiences of all stakeholders. The journey so far has given me an in-depth understanding of the importance of leveraging on a multi-disciplinary approach to examine situations outside normal boundaries and find creative solutions.