This staff profile features Mrs Juliana Hernadez, our Early Learning Centre director.

Juliana's teaching career began in Colombia where she studied Early Childhood Education and went on to complete a Masters in Education and Social Development. She worked as a Foundation Teacher in Colombia and later as a Kindy Teacher and Educational Leader at a Community Childcare Centre in Adelaide. Since its opening in 2017, she has been serving as the Director, Educational Leader, and Teacher at SVCC ELC. We asked Juliana about becoming a teacher and her time at Southern Vales Christian College:

Tell us how you chose to become a teacher.   

I think the flame got ignited early in my childhood. I still remember role playing teachers with my teddies and spending my days playing and enjoying a curious and adventurous childhood. Later at the end of high school, I started wondering and asking God how I could serve him best and what he had in store for me and so He clearly pointed me to discover the unique window of opportunity for development and learning that only takes place in the early years.  From that point, He has taken me in a journey of discovery of gifts and talents as an Early Childhood Teacher and Pedagogist which I have deeply enjoyed. 

When did you start at Southern Vales, and tell us a favourite moment of your time here? 

I had the privilege to be part of the foundation of the SVCC ELC in 2017. When I came to become part of the team, the building works were a few months away from being finished and so I had a blank canvas to dream big and create a wonderful space for children to grow and develop as well as responding to my teaching call in a Christian community. 

I would say that there has been lots of special moments and it is really hard to pick one. It fills my heart to see children growing and achieving so much and having families giving hearty feedback and being so thankful for our work and efforts. I also love playing and being curious alongside children, getting my hands dirty, using my imagination, being in close contact with nature, laughing and receiving so much pure love and honest feedback from children. 

What do you specialise in at Southern Vales? 

I wear a few different hats as part of my role at SVCC ELC. As Director, I strive to lead our centre to be a place to belong where children, families and staff can be supported in their individual and collective journeys. It involves the day-to-day running of the service, and promoting initiatives aligned with achieving the School's vision and the National Quality Standards for early years education. As Educational Leader, I get the privilege to foster and nurture a team of wonderful teachers and educators to be on a constant journey of improvement, critical reflection and using their talents to create an engaging environment for learning and growth. And finally, as Early Childhood Teacher, I am committed to provide children with a supportive environment where they can find the love for learning through play, grow their emotional intelligence and be the protagonist of their learning. 

If you could have dinner with someone famous over the past 1000 years, who would it be and what is one question you would ask? 

From the beginning of my Teaching career, I have felt identified with the principles and ideas of Lev Vygotsky around development and learning. His sociocultural understanding continues to influence some of the latest educational approaches in Early Childhood Education. It would be fantastic to spend some time with him and ask his opinion about education currently and what he would consider is the future for a rich educational approach that responds to the nature of the 21st century. 

Like to know more about our ELC? Visit their website.