Pioneer of elementary pedagogy: Heidemarie Lex-Nalis and her legacy

Pioneer of elementary pedagogy: Heidemarie Lex-Nalis and her legacy

Wien, Österreich - On May 28, 2025, Heidemarie Lex-Nalis would have been 75 years old. The pioneer of elementary pedagogy, born in 1950, continues standards in early childhood education in Austria. Known for her commitment, in particular for the training and further education of educators, she has conquered a place in the history of the Austrian educational landscape. Lex-Nalis was a co-founder of the “platform Educare” network, which campaigned for uniform and improved framework conditions in kindergarten. Education City Councilor Bettina Emmerling recognized her significant contribution to elementary education and described her as a pioneer in this area. Wien.gv.at reports that Lex-Nalis worked as a director of the educational institution for kindergarten education in Ettenreichgasse and for her services at the city of Vienna Otto-Glöckel medal received.

The roots of Heidemarie Lex-Nalis are located in Spittal an der Drau, where it was born as daughter of Josef and Johanna Oberrauter. Her mother, a dialect poet and SPÖ councilor, shaped Lex-Nalis early on. After training as a kindergarten teacher in Klagenfurt, she became the first woman in Austria to pass the professional maturity exam at the University of Vienna. Her academic career continued to study a master's degree in economics and sociology at the Johannes-Kepler University as well as a doctorate in social pedagogy and social psychology at the Alpen-Adria University in Klagenfurt. These foundations originated for their impressive professional career, which began in 1968 when she worked as a kindergarten and after-school teacher in Vienna. Austria-Forum emphasizes that Lex-Nalis is also committed to professional training, including as a teacher of practice, didactics as well as healing and special education.

commitment to elementary education

lex-nalis was not only a teacher, but also an innovator. Her work at various educational institutions, both in Germany and abroad, shows their commitment to elementary pedagogy. From 1984 to 1993 she was a teacher at the educational institution for kindergarten education in Vienna and took over the management of this institute from 1993 to 2003. In addition to her work in elementary pedagogy, she was also the head of the Department at PSD psychosocial services Vienna, where she worked for people with disabilities in advice, training and further education, and campaigned for the well-being of these target groups.

A central concern of Heidemarie Lex-Nalis was the creation of better framework conditions in early childhood education. The first years of education are crucial for the later educational and professional success of a child. Empirical educational research shows that models in the elementary level have large effects. In addition, Austrian legislation in the area of ​​elementary pedagogy is the responsibility of the countries that regulate the framework and the financing. BMB.GV.AT explains that the federal government has invested in the expansion of the elementary educational institutions since 2008 and introduced a mandatory non -contributory kindergarten year.

lex-nalis' commitment is still being recognized, for example by the foundations of prices for excellent performance in the field of elementary pedagogy that are named after it. Your vision and use continue to work and shape the future of elementary pedagogy in Austria.