Before the first bell rings at Singapore Intercultural School South Jakarta, Ms. Devi is already moving through the classroom — arranging materials, checking name tags, making sure every corner is ready for the day. By the time the students arrive, she’s the familiar face many of them look for.

“The most rewarding moment is when a child who was struggling finally understands something and smiles at me, or when a shy student runs to give me a hug in the morning,” she says. “Those small moments mean everything to me.”

Today, Ms. Devi is a Teacher’s Assistant. Supporting the lead teacher, guiding small groups, sitting beside students who need a little more help, keeping the room calm when it’s at risk of anything but. But years before she stood in front of a classroom, she started her journey at SIS as a General Affairs Staff — and even then, it was the children who captured her heart.

“I saw the children every day,” she says. “I would greet them, help them if they were sad, and talk with them. That everyday interaction gave me a basic understanding and love for children.”

That compassion didn’t go unnoticed. Ms. Nicola, Head of Preschool, and Mr. Ryan, Educational Leader of SIS Group of Schools, offered Ms. Devi the opportunity to train as a Teacher’s Assistant. Senior teachers took her under their wing, showing her how to assist in class, manage small groups, and support the lead teacher. She went through training, moving step by step until she completed the program and eventually embraced her new role.

The shift wasn’t seamless. Learning new teaching methods, managing a room full of children, absorbing a job that asked more patience and energy than she expected — all of it tested her in the beginning. But her years spent as a General Affairs Staff had prepared her more than she realized. “I learned to be alert, patient, calm in difficult situations, and responsible for people’s safety,” she says. “Those skills help me a lot in the classroom, especially in keeping children safe and maintaining order.”

The students noticed the change before anyone had to explain it. “The students now see me as one of their teachers,” she says. “The teachers treat me as part of the team, and we work together. I feel very respected and included.”

Her story has become something of a quiet proof point at SIS — that effort is seen here, and that where you start doesn’t determine where you can go. “SIS has a very caring, inclusive, and professional culture,” she says. “People here support each other and value growth. It feels like a family where everyone wants the children to succeed.”

Asked where she hopes this journey takes her next, Ms. Devi doesn’t pause long. “I hope to continue learning, and become an even better Teacher’s Assistant,” she says. “My dream is to keep helping children learn and feel safe at school.”

For a woman who once watched over SIS from the gate, that dream is already well underway.