Ana Pat’s ELFA Journey: Nurturing Young Minds with Heart

A joyful moment with Ms Ana Pat and her little learners, where every smile tells a story of growth and discovery

A Journey Fueled by Passion and Family

For over 13 years, Ms. Ana Patricia Roldan (Ana Pat) has devoted most of her working life to young learners.

She also guides fellow educators as Centre Leader of ELFA Preschool @ Hougang and English Curriculum Coordinator for ELFA.

Finding Home at ELFA

Her journey in early childhood education has been inspired by both family and passion.
Her mother and grandmother, strong educators and role models, encouraged her to pursue teaching.  Every day, Ana Pat finds joy and inspiration in the curiosity, energy, and wonder of young children.

Her ELFA journey began when she moved from the Philippines to Singapore in search of growth opportunities. Introduced by a friend, she soon discovered how closely ELFA’s philosophy resonated with her own values.

With its vision of bilingual education, blending Eastern values with Western approaches, ELFA nurtures strong character through stories.  It became the perfect place for her to inspire children to grow into individuals guided by good morals and values.

Bilingual Learning with Heart

Ana Pat deeply values ELFA’s strong emphasis on bilingual learning. She believes early dual language introduction such as Mandarin opens doors, builds confidence, and fosters cultural understanding.  With her team, she ensures lessons remain rich, meaningful, and culturally engaging.

To her, bilingualism provides children with opportunities she never had growing up—it opens doors to the wider world, builds confidence in communication, and nurtures cultural understanding from an early age.

She firmly believes that early exposure to a second language, especially Mandarin, equips children with skills and perspectives that reach far beyond words. Together with her team, she ensures every lesson is rich, meaningful, and culturally engaging.

Children not only learn the language but also embrace its values and traditions.  In fact, Ms. Ana Pat is also on her own learning journey, picking up Mandarin alongside the children at the centre—showing that learning truly is a lifelong adventure.

Lessons Beyond the Classroom

Reflecting on her journey, Ana Pat shares how ELFA shaped her growth from educator to leader.
Daily challenges — guiding teachers, meeting diverse needs, and managing operations — taught her resilience and teamwork.

Most importantly, she has witnessed firsthand the profound impact educators can have on children’s lives. These meaningful moments have only deepened her passion for early childhood education.  It also reinforced the importance of her role in shaping the society of tomorrow.

As an educator, she encouraged her children to take ownership of their actions. One parent once approached Ms. Ana Pat to share his amazement. His daughter had openly admitted a mistake she made in class—something she never did at home, where she usually remained quiet. That simple moment of honesty reflected the values instilled in the classroom and left a lasting impression on both the parents and Ms Ana Pat.

Cherished Connections with Parents

Some of her most treasured memories come from parents.  She recalls their trust and appreciation — from supporting a child’s growth to seeing honesty and character flourish.  These experiences reinforced her belief that education is more than academics.  It is about building meaningful relationships with the children and their families.

Words of Advice for Future Educators

To aspiring educators, Pat offers this heartfelt advice:
“Lead with heart and patience. Teaching is not just about lessons — it is about nurturing, trusting, and valuing every child.  The challenges will test you, but the joy of watching a child grow makes every effort worthwhile.”