Yakutia Teacher Competes in National Contest

A kindergarten teacher from the village of Maya in the Megino-Kangalassky ulus (district) of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Saiyana Varfolomeyeva, is taking part for the first time in the all-Russian contest «Vospitatel goda Rossii» (Preschool Teacher of the Year of Russia). The organizers reported this on 25 September on the contest’s page on VKontakte (VK).

The educator, who teaches the Sakha (Yakut) language at the kindergarten, has been named among the finalists of the 16th All-Russian professional contest «Vospitatel goda Rossii» (Preschool Teacher of the Year of Russia).

Last year, the contest was won by a native of Gelendzhik (Krasnodar Krai), Kindergarten No. 9 «Solnyshko» teacher Tatyana Ranninen. This year, educators from 86 regions of Russia are participating.

Saiyana Varfolomeyeva works at the Mayya general developmental kindergarten «Chuoraanchyk», which prioritizes the cognitive and speech development of pupils. She graduated from Severo-Vostochny federalny universitet (North-Eastern Federal University, NEFU) in 2018 and holds a certificate of recognition from the Ministerstvo obrazovaniya i nauki Yakutii (Ministry of Education and Science of Yakutia). Saiyana sees her main mission as not only teaching children the Sakha (Yakut) language, but also familiarizing them with the native culture of the Sakha people.

«I always dreamed of becoming a teacher, inspiring others to discover the world of knowledge. After finishing school, I enrolled in a pedagogical university, where I studied psychology and pedagogy. During my practicum in a kindergarten, I realized how important it is to support children in their first steps toward self-expression. Respect, trust, and support are the foundation of my work», said Saiyana Varfolomeyeva in her introductory profile.

Saiyana noted that she strives to create an environment where children can develop their talents and skills. She wants to cultivate in children confidence, curiosity, and a desire to learn. She pays particular attention to studying the culture and traditions of her native region. In her video introduction, she admitted that the children themselves inspire her to work even harder:

«Every day they amaze me with their ideas and creativity. I realized that being an educator means not only teaching, but also learning from children. Over time, I understood that my mission is to help every child unlock their potential and teach them to believe in themselves. That’s how I chose the path of an educator, which has become truly inspiring for me», added Saiyana.