Celebrating Decades of Work in Hafnarfjörður’s Preschools

Experience that many children have benefited from

Guðný Steina Erlendsdóttir won’t forget her last working day at Stekkjarás preschool. It happened to fall on her very last day as a preschool teacher in town. Four preschools, a variety of job titles, and now the journey has come to an end. She began working as a preschool teacher on September 9th, 1985, forty years ago, at just 19 years old.

“The environment has changed, as has the workplace. Back then there was no preparation time, no department heads, and before that no special education coordinators in preschools. There were just the two of us with 21 children.”

Decades of experience in each and every one

Of about fifty staff members at Stekkjarás, five are pillars who have each worked for decades in the town’s preschools. They sit down to reflect on their years. Ingibjörg Þórðardóttir started in 1987, Jenný Marín Helgadóttir in 1982, Agnes Agnarsdóttir in 1997, and Margrét Stefanía began in Hafnarfjörður in 1992 after working in preschools in Reykjavík and Selfoss.

But what does it take to stay in preschool work for so long? Ingibjörg takes the word: “Perseverance, but also joy and caring about the job. This is work with kids. They keep you on your toes.” They all agree that the feedback from the children matters a lot to them.

Agnes adds: “Yes, I went on vacation and then got asked – have you quit your job? They noticed I wasn’t there. That meant a lot to me. Yes, it’s fun to be with the children. Sometimes it’s hard, you need perseverance, but it’s very rewarding. Yes, we are passionate about the well-being of the children,” she says, and Margrét Stefanía agrees. “Yes. These are our clients.”

Take care of themselves

They all agree that they need to take good care of themselves to manage the work. “This is physically demanding work,” says Ingibjörg. “We’re always on the floor, crawling around. We have to stay in good mental and physical shape.” They encourage their colleagues to nurture their hobbies. “That way you can reset and recharge your batteries.”

Good food and a little Töst drink were served at lunchtime to mark the milestone. And times have changed. “Back then, the teacher was in charge. Now, children are listened to,” says Guðný Steina with a smile.

They have worked so long that they now know generations. They recall stories of being greeted by children they taught decades ago. They still recognize the faces. They also note a change among parents, who now often pick up their children earlier than before.

“Yes, they compete to pick up before four o’clock. This shift has been clear in the past 4–5 years,” they say.

Always knew they wanted to work with children

The five are proud of their careers. Agnes describes how, as a child, she decided she wanted to work with children. Ingibjörg shares how she had planned to become a special needs teacher, but by chance applied to a preschool and found her true calling. Margrét Stefanía explains how she started working in a preschool and later pursued formal training with encouragement from her mother. Jenný Marín says she wouldn’t change a thing when she looks back.

“It’s been an amazing time – starting in daycare and finishing in preschool,” she says. “Adults still greet me and remind me of those days. Then I must have done something right.”

The last day for Guðný Steina. “Yes, those last minutes – strange.” And the others are also nearing retirement. Ingibjörg imagines she will stay on for two more years. Jenný Marín plans to retire on August 31st next year. Agnes, who has already reached the official retirement age, intends at least to finish the school year.

“No fixed date,” says the special education coordinator of twenty years. Margrét Stefánía looks up at Harpa Kolbeinsdóttir, the preschool director sitting nearby. “Hadn’t I already handed in my resignation?” They all laugh. All of them are now part-time, holding firmly onto the work that has followed them and that they love.