Over the course of 23 years, Yamila de Oliveria has affected hundreds of young lives as an educator at the 51吃瓜网万能科大/CSUN Preschool at the Lynn Bennett Early Childhood Education Center.
De Oliveria (鈥04 B.S. Elementary Education, 鈥06 M.Ed. Special Education) started her teaching career midway through her undergraduate programs and never left. When preschool administrators saw her potential, they quickly gave her a classroom of her own where, both she and her students, are constantly growing.
What path led you to 51吃瓜网免费App and 51吃瓜网万能科大?
I'm originally from Argentina. We moved to Los Angeles when I was around two years old, and then we moved here after the Northridge earthquake in 1994. We wanted to be close to California, and Vegas was the best option. I started working here as an undergraduate student studying elementary education and, 23 years later, I鈥檓 still here.
Why did you choose a career in teaching?
My mom was a teacher and, as a kid, I wanted to follow in her footsteps. I babysat a lot for my siblings and neighbors, and I really enjoyed doing fun activities with the kids.
You were an elementary education major; what made you stay in early childhood instead?
At the end of my bachelor鈥檚 program, I did my student teaching in a fifth-grade classroom and loved it. But, I loved my pre-K kids, too. I knew I wanted to pursue my master鈥檚 degree, and pursuing early education meant I鈥檇 be equipped to teach from pre-K up to middle school. So, I stayed at the preschool and ended up finishing my master鈥檚 in early childhood special education a few years later.
What鈥檚 kept you going for the past 23 years?
When I started, I saw that I would have opportunities to continually grow here. Even though I鈥檝e been in the same classroom for a long time, I am adding more to my curriculum and trying new things. I've also started taking on more educational administrational duties, such as helping to support the program by opening and closing the preschool when needed. I鈥檝e learned a lot at conferences and share what I鈥檝e learned when I鈥檓 training assistant teachers.
Speaking of classrooms, the preschool is about to have its own growth spurt, right?
I鈥檝e seen our preschool grow from a six-classroom school that was super homey and intimate to the current space at the Lynn Bennett Early Childhood Education Center. It was a big jump at the time, but now we have a waitlist with 200+ children. We鈥檙e working to double the space, which will be 24 classrooms and lots more outdoor play space. I鈥檓 really excited about that.
Is that the most exciting component of the expansion for you?
Yes. We really believe in big body play 鈥 physical, outdoor play is just as important as indoor learning. When children get the appropriate amount and type of physical play, they are more focused for indoor learning and emotional self control. So we're really excited to see playgrounds and explore more with nature and what's around us. Then we can bring them into the classroom for more exploration of what they鈥檙e seeing outside.
Any big resolutions for the New Year?
My husband and I are planning to buy a house and, after a long period of renting, are really excited for that process. Beyond that, we鈥檙e really trying to progress ourselves 鈥 from where we are living to how we鈥檙e spending our time with each other, our seven-year-old daughter, friends, and extended family.
We heard you are quite the knitter.
Oh, I knit and crochet a lot. I love to make things for babies 鈥 a little stuffy, some clothes, blankets. Even though the babies are too young to appreciate the work that goes into each project, I know their parents love having something homemade just for them. I love to see people using the things I鈥檝e made for them. When we were doing virtual learning during the pandemic, we had a 鈥渃omfy and cozy鈥 day, encouraging the kids to log in wearing their most comfortable outfits. Claire, our preschool director, popped into the call wearing just about everything I鈥檝e ever made her 鈥 a jacket, cowl, hat, and more. It was great to feel so appreciated.
