Victorian Educator of the Year Sandra Houlahan reads to her class. Photo: Supplied.
Ever since Sandra Houlahan was a child, she knew she was destined to become a kindergarten teacher.
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As her aunt worked in a kindergarten, a young Mrs Houlahan would tag along to the kindergarten with her.
She loved it so much at that, at just five years old, she packed a bag and ran away to her local kindergarten, ready to make it her new home.
With a strong passion for early childhood education from such a young age, it comes as no surprise that Mrs Houlahan was named ‘Educator of the Year’ at this year's Victorian Early Years Awards.
While she is now a lead educator at the Shine Bright Elmore Kindergarten, her career touched every corner of the early childhood sector.
“I started in 1985, so this would be my 41st year,” she said.
“I've actually been very lucky in terms of career, I've worked everywhere in early childhood that you can think of working.
“I've done some kinder, I've done some child care, I've done some early intervention, I did some work up at La Trobe University, some at TAFE, I worked in the department as an inspector and I worked in cluster management as well.
“So I've been in early childhood the whole time but in many different roles.”
Mrs Houlahan cooks with the Shine Bright Elmore Kindergarten students. Photo: Supplied.
After a broad and successful career, including time as chief executive of Shine Bright, Mrs Houlahan stepped back into a kindergarten for a short stint.
The experience reignited her love of working directly with children and led her back to the classroom in Elmore.
She now works alongside two other educators, caring for 17 kindergarten students three days a week.
Mrs Houlahan said she was humbled to be named Educator of the Year and hoped the award highlighted the value of educators to communities.
“I'm humbled by the award and the number of the number of people I know out there who are also doing an absolutely brilliant job,” she said.
“I feel it intensely at a time when a lot of questions are being asked of the safety of children in early childhood ... but I know that those people that aren't doing what's right for children are very, very rare.
“I hope that this kind of award makes people also see the positives that are out there ... in terms of children and their families and helping them through what is a really difficult thing — being a parent.”
Mrs Houlahan is a beloved part of the Elmore community, often seen taking children to explore local landmarks, schools and businesses.
She also created ‘River Kinder’, a program where children explore the Campaspe River and learn to become curious and respectful of the environment.
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