With more than 30 years as a kindergarten teacher, Yin Shuwei is a reliable "mother" in the eyes of children and parents.

Yin, at the Qingdao Yong'an Road Kindergarten in Licang district, was given a role model teacher award this year.

"We take care of children with love and also receive that back, and that is the happiest moment to be a kindergarten teacher and a strong impetus to keep me in this job for 32 years," Yin said.

Yin has worked in several kindergartens in Qingdao, and became a school official at Yong'an Road Kindergarten in 2015.

She has shouldered more responsibilities other than teaching: From providing a sound environment for children's safety, diet arrangement to school culture design, Yin said she had to get involved.

Building the kindergarten as a home and being a mother-like teacher in children's education are a goal for the school, according to Yin.

She said: "Though there are sometimes pressure and anxiety from work and life, children are great buffers against them."

One teacher who is dedicated to education, like Yin, is Hu Xiaomei.

A teacher helps a student with calligraphy at the opening ceremony of Qingdao Licang Experimental Primary School. CHINA DAILY

Hu, an English teacher from Qingdao Shengping Road Primary School in Licang district, has been in the career for more than two decades.

Hu said her career was inspired by her mother, who is also a teacher who worked in Qingdao Shengping Road Primary school.

"At that time, I often went to the school with my mother and witnessed the facility's expansion and reconstruction," Hu said.

"I was interested in my mother's work on correcting students' homework," she said, adding that this was a point that encouraged her to choose to be a teacher.

The mission of a teacher is to cultivate students and help develop their habits, capabilities and moral traits, Hu said.

"Children are emotional to our heartfelt work and I am proud to see their growth and change," she said. She added that her goal is to make every child have a great development in English learning.

Hu is devoted to exploring more English teaching methods, in ways such as participating in teaching competitions and publishing relevant papers.

In 2013, the teacher was assigned to conduct teaching research at the education research and development center in Licang district.

She toured more than 80 local primary and secondary schools and kindergartens, presenting teaching guidance.

Four years later, she returned to Qingdao Shengping Road Primary School, launching the "Fun-glish" English studio. It organized the school's English teachers to conduct teaching research and development and share experiences.

This year, the studio has held online and offline courses over the postponed school openings due to the pandemic.

A variety of cloud courses and related activities have grabbed students' interests and won applause among parents, according to Hu.

The studio was listed as a pioneer teaching practitioner by the local education authority.

As one of the first districts approved by the Ministry of Education to apply balanced development of compulsory education, Licang district is home to 14 master teachers in Shandong province, which is an award for teaching contributors granted by the local government.

The district said it plans to increase its education investment in fields including teaching incentives and more infrastructures.