Lauren Gardner is an Early Childhood Teacher in the KU Permanent Relief Team. In 2022, she was a recipient of a Making the KU Difference for Children Award, which now sits proudly on her bookshelf.

Describe your approach to teaching.

My job as a teacher is to foster a love of learning that can be carried throughout lifetimes, and to demonstrate that everyone is worthy of participation and has something meaningful to contribute. The relationships we develop during the time that we spend together as a group create a secure and safe environment for discovery and exploration.

You were recognised for helping to spark pedagogical discussion and learning with other educators. Can you tell us more about this?

I was a part of a two-unit preschool with a shared playground and the needs of my group were very diverse. I needed to consider the needs of all of the children, not only of my group, but also the other group in our shared outdoor environment. Some of the children in our groups required particular activities to transition to and we ensured that these were included in the program.

Pedagogical discussion helped me gain insight as to how other educators’ practices assisted children who have had similar needs. The educators I had the privilege of working with all had diverse experiences in education and had been working with KU for some time. Every educator had a different story and different strategies that worked for them which I was able to tailor to my children’s’ needs with positive results.

How did you feel when you learned you were nominated for a Making the KU Difference award?

I felt very grateful. It is nice to be recognised especially when you have had the privilege of working amongst some truly inspirational and hard-working educators.

What does winning a Making the KU Difference Award mean to you personally?

It is nice to have validation in that you are ‘making a difference’ and that your effort is seen and appreciated. I am also aware that I work within a team and therefore any of my successes are shared. I also love hearing about the practices other educators have implemented and their achievements. It’s a great way of promoting the wonderful practices of other services and professionals.