My name is Oana – Silvana Sofian, and I am thrilled to say that I have been part of the Avenor Nursery team since August 2018. In 2023, I have also joined the Leadership team taking on the roles of Systems Lead and Club Coordinator for both the Cașin and Greenfield nurseries.

In my first two years at Avenor, I taught piano and music classes to Reception and Year One students. After spending an additional year observing and learning, I had the chance to step into the role of Clubs Coordinator. This new position enabled me to work closely with the Educational Coordinator and the Management Team, providing daily opportunities to grow both personally and as a leader.

My journey as a teacher started before graduating in 2008 from the National University of Music in Bucharest. I was in my second year at the Faculty of Composition, Musicology, and Musical Pedagogy when I began my specialisation in Choral Conducting and had my first job as a teacher. From the beginning, I felt the immense responsibility and privilege we have as teachers. Now, twenty years later, I still feel the same. Having the opportunity to ignite children’s curiosity and instil in them the passion for music and life in general is the best job anyone could have!

After graduating, I chose to broaden my knowledge by experiencing different cultures. From 2008 to 2018, I travelled, lived, and taught in the Basque Country, Panama, and Costa Rica.

I consider myself extremely lucky to have found the beautiful Avenor family, where I can practise my knowledge and develop my passions every day: children and music. I am convinced that music makes the world a better place. It is scientifically proven that the brain is stimulated and develops fully when we sing and play music, especially when playing an instrument.

Additionally, the incredible energy and feedback from the children, along with the limitless inspiration I feel when working with them, are the main reasons I became a teacher. There’s no place in this world where I feel more inspired and challenged than in a classroom. As Jill Biden says, “Being a teacher is not what I do; it’s who I am”, so I am eagerly looking forward to continuing inspiring young children.

As always, I embrace this new year at Avenor College with enthusiasm and a desire to excel in all practical and strategic aspects of my job.