Bianca Encean is the main Montessori Teacher and a Senior Team Leader at the Once Upon a Time Dun Laoghaire.
Tell us more about your job?
I am the main Montessori Teacher in Once Upon a Time Dun Laoghaire. I’m also a Team Leader over the Senior, Junior Montessori Classrooms and the afterschool Room. As I am the senior team leader, I am also second in command when the manager is not present.
How did you get here?
I started as a Montessori assistant in the Dundrum Centre, I then stepped up and became the main Montessori Teacher. After a year a position became available for a team leader position, as I had received positive feedback, I went for the interview and succeeded.
I then applied for a transfer to the Dun Laoghaire centre as I lived closer to this centre, which was granted to me to cut out the travelling each day and I became Senior Team Leader.
What are your qualifications?
I currently have:
- BA in Childcare (FETAC Level 8)
- FETAC Level 6 in Montessori
- First Aid
- HACCP
- Fire and Safety Training
- Manual Handling
What’s the best about your job?
The best thing about my job is the ability I am given to plan my weekly and yearly curriculums.
I love the atmosphere present among the staff and the way the management team communicates with all staff in a friendly, approachable way.
It will always be bringing new ideas on board as we do so much with the children each day. However, I love to listen to what the children like to do and always implement this into my plan each week to offer the best individual care to every child.
What skills do you need to do your job?
For this job, in my opinion, you’ll need to have good communication skills and multitasking skills. It is always good to be a creative person with an “out of the box” way of thinking. Caring, loving, honest and reliable person
It is always good to be a creative person with an “out of the box” way of thinking. To do the job well you must be a caring loving, honest and reliable person.
What advice would you give someone interested in your job?
I would always advise people to set up goals in their career path. That is exactly what I did and I managed to move up in the company quickly as I knew where I wanted to be and I was given the opportunity by Once Upon a Time to do so.
It is a challenging job but extremely rewarding as well. With a baggage filled with patience, creativity and love for children.
It is a very fun and interesting ride 🙂