We are overjoyed to announce, that after a rigorous interview process, a unanimous and enthusiastic decision has been made to appoint Ms Erica Yang as the Hiba Academy Hangzhou Deputy Head of Early Years. Erica has worked within our community since the beginning, bringing stability, promise, and vision during a time of growth and transition. We have the utmost respect for her as a person, an educator, and a leader. Her love and enthusiasm for Wellington College Hangzhou and our community shine through in her successful efforts to make the nursery a rewarding and fascinating place to work, live, and learn.
Erica earned her Bachelor of International Trade and Economy from Wenzhou University. She went on to study early childhood education and complete a Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education from the New Zealand Tertiary College where she further obtained a national-level Early Years teaching certificate. Her work internationally included work placements at several outstanding early years settings, where she developed and applied her knowledge of the Te Whāriki. Te Whāriki is the early years framework of New Zealand's Ministry of Education and is based on the vision, as with the nursery's, that children are competent and confident learners and communicators, healthy in mind, body and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society. Erica is committed to developing a respectful, inclusive and inspiring learning environment for children through trustworthy relationships with all stakeholders.
At Hiba Academy Hangzhou, Erica first taught EY3, then our oldest year group, EY4 and served as a member of the nursery's bilingual project learning development team. In 2019, Erica became the nursery's first EY4 year group lead, overseeing the curriculum development and implementation, academic staff supervision, assessment, group wide development of the Hiba Early Years Framework, and the development of the educational plans for our pupils. In 2021 she was appointed as the nursery's Curriculum lead, helping the nursery achieve, during its 2021-2022 annual review, an overall judgment of "Very Good" and "Excellent" in the majority of categories. Erica has also facilitated sessions for nursey academic staff and Wellington College China groups, including Approaches to Project Learning, analysis, visioning, and strategic planning.
We have found Erica to be a clear-thinking, dedicated, and inspirational individual. We look to her with confidence for the leadership the nursery needs to continue achieving excellence in early years education and supporting our children to "understand their place in the world".