Our team

School management

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  Martina Olivová

  Founder, Managing Director

  Motto: „Don´t wait for someone to guide you. Do it yourself!“

  She graduated from the Faculty of Economics of the Technical University of Ostrava, majoring in marketing and business. She was working for more than 10 years in marketing and sociological research and consulting for large multinational companies. In 2004 she founded first a Magic Hill pre-school and in 2006 an elementary school. She has attended numerous personal development seminars and professional courses in pedagogy, psychology, critical thinking academy, leadership and management training. She is involved in charity projects and is a partner in the patient organization for Cystic Fibrosis (Klub nemocných cystickou fibrózou).

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  Alena Miklová

  School principal

  Motto: „Do not seek to be a person, who is famous, but rather seek to be a person, who has his worth.”Albert Einstein

  She is a graduate of the Faculty of Education at Palacký University, majoring in Teaching for Grade 1 and Akcent College , majoring in Teaching AJ for Grade 1. In her many years of experience she has taught at both 1st and 2nd level of primary school. For a long time she has also been involved in special education, she has completed a number of courses focused on the correction of specific learning disabilities. She is a graduate of many seminars such as Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking, Respect and Be Respected, Professor Hejný’s Mathematics, Montessori Pedagogy. In 2023, she completed a one-year mentoring course for teachers at Libchavy Academy and also successfully completed her MBA. Her current focus is on innovative teaching activities that promote learning for the 21st century, incorporating soft skills into the classroom, as well as mentoring and leadership. She has been at Magic Hill since 2018, as a senior teacher since 2021 and as a deputy principal since 2023, as school principal since 2024.

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  Jason Helmer

  English language teacher, Head of English department

  Motto: „It’s important to teach students to see the potential for greatness in themselves.”

  Jason graduated from Emporia State University with a degree in Music Education and Journalism and also completed his qualifications at the Faculty of Education at Masaryk University. He has many years of experience as an English language teacher, having worked as a teacher’s assistant in a special pre-school in the USA for 3 years, and as a specialist English Literature teacher in an elementary school in the USA. Since 2013, he has been working as a teacher at the Institute of Language Education in Prague, participating in the development of educational concepts, testing methods, leading teams of English language teachers. He has been working at Magic Hill since 2017.

   

Teacher staff

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  Paul Beacon

  English language teacher

  Motto: „Education is a journey that lasts a lifetime.”

  Paul is a graduate of the University of Portsmouth in England, majoring in Linguistics and English Language Teaching. Since 2006 he has been teaching English as a foreign language in Prague, but also in other countries where he has worked, such as Australia, Italy, Saudi Arabia. He has taught students of all age groups. In 2017, he obtained a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics, since then he has also been professionally involved in developing testing methods for Wall Street English and he has also become a certified Cambridge examiner for all the proficiency levels (A2-C2). He has been a member of the Orbit creative writing group since 2019.

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  Carla Botsis

  English language teacher, Lecturer of afternoon club

  Motto: „Through love and laughter, we learn.”

  She graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 2003, with a degree in Sociology and completed an exchange program at the University of Limerick in Ireland. In her professional experience, she has worked as an English language teacher at an international school in Korea and as a teacher for students with special educational needs aged 12-17 in LA, USA. Moreover, Carla has volunteer experience, as she has worked in autism centers, children’s homes, and organized sporting events for AIDS patients. She has been working at Magic Hill since 2017.

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  Laura Botsis

  English language teacher, lecturer of afternoon club

  Motto: „Inspiring lifelong learners to achieve their personal, social, emotional and academic best in a global community.”

  She graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 2007 with a degree in Psychology and Pedagogy. Since 2009, she has worked as a teacher in elementary schools, such as Worcester Public Schools, where she taught English as a second language (ESL), especially to immigrant and refugee students. Laura holds a Master’s degree in Primary Education from American International College and a graduate degree in Science Education through Worcester State University. She is a part of our team since 2016.

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  James Carlson

  English language teacher, music teacher

  Motto: „When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.”Rumi

  James graduated in music composition at Duke University. He has been teaching for over 20 years. Between 2003 and 2017 he was a professor of music at the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, USA. For five years he taught English language and music education at a private school in Prague. In addition to teaching students, he is a professional musician, composing dance and film music, composing for orchestras and choirs, and performing professionally himself, playing accordion and violin.

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  Lucie Dlouhá

  Teacher, Czech language teacher

  Motto: „It is incredible, what kids are capable of, if you give them a chance.”

  Lucie graduated from the Faculty of Education of the University of South Bohemia, majoring in Czech language and Civics education. She has more than 7 years of experience teaching in elementary schools as a primary level teacher. During her teaching practice she taught in high schools, as wll as in a children’s hospital. Furthermore, she was also a lecturer of the Healthy Five project focused on healthy eating in schools. She has attended a number of seminars in the field of communication, self-assessment of pupils or use of games in teaching. She is an active member of the Scouts, where she is a leader of a Scout club. Lucie has been at Magic Hill since 2020, and is in charge of the ECO School Project and a Head of the school’s ECO team.

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  Zuzana Červená

  Teacher, senior teacher

  Motto: „Having the constant fear of making a mistake, is the biggest mistake in life itself.”

  Zuzana is a graduate of the Faculty of Education at Charles University in Prague, with a degree in primary level of elementary school education with a specialization in music education. She worked for 4 years as a teacher in a elementary school with extended language teaching, where she worked as a teacher in a school afternoon clubs, during her studies. At the same time she led a flute club and participated in the production of teaching aids for disabled children. She is a skiing instructor and has attended many seminars such as Critical Thinking, Hejny’s Method of Teaching Mathematics, Working with Error in Czech language Classes or Starting Together (Začít Spolu). She is a part of our team since 2019.

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  Kristýna Dědková

  Art and craft teacher

  Motto: „Rather than saying it can´t be done, say that you haven´t learn that yet.“”

  Kristýna graduated from Jan Amos Comenius University with a Bachelor´s degree in Social and Media Communication and Oakland´s College English for foreigners. She is currently studying at the Faculty of Education at the J. E. Purkyně University in the field of Teaching for primary level of elementary schools and Special Education. She has worked mostly in commercial companies and has experience in leisure and scouting programs for children, whom she also tutored. Krystýna is a part of our team at Magic Hill since 2022.

• Justin Dippenaar

  English language teacher, lecturer of afternoon club

  Motto: „“No one is ever satisfied where he is.””Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

  Justin comes from South Africa, where he graduated from the South African Institute of Welding in 2006. He then successfully devoted himself to technical engineering for eight years. In 2014, he fundamentally changed his professional direction, when he decided to pursue a career as an English teacher, completed his education, obtained a TEFL certificate and has been teaching English as a second language for the last 5 years. Justin also specialises in preparing students for Cambridge exams and focuses on developing his students’ soft skills in language teaching.

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  Daniela Dušková

  Teacher, music teacher

  Motto: „Music uplifts people of each character to an ideal beauty.”

  She holds a Master’s degree in German Language – Music Education for Second Grade Primary School at the University of South Bohemia. Subsequently, she extended her qualifications by completing a degree in Teaching for primary level school grades at the Faculty of Education in České Budějovice. She then taught at the T. G. Masaryk Primary School in Jihlava. For four years she lived in the United States, where she taught piano. In Magic Hill she worked first as a pre-school teacher for 2 years and since 2012 she has been working as an elementary school teacher.

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  Zuzana Farnsworth Martis

  Math teacher

  Motto: „Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning”

  Zuzana has a Masters Degree (MSc) in Education, specialised in Mathematics & Chemistry, obtained from the Faculty for Natural Sciences of Comenius University, Bratislava. After completing her studies, she moved to Great Britain, where she worked as a teacher at several primary and secondary schools in London since 2011. She then traveled to Australia, where she also taught at various elementary schools. Since 2015, she has worked as a full-time teacher at an international English kindergarten and elementary school in Prague. In the course of her teaching experience, she completed a series of extension courses for teachers.

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  Michaela Klepalová

  Teacher

  Motto: “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.” John Lennon

  Michaela is a graduate of the Faculty of Education at Charles University in Prague. In addition to her three years of experience as a class teacher at the first level of primary school, she has previously been involved in sports aerobics as a coach and leader of a youth club. She also has experience in working individually with children in tutoring and
  preparing for entrance exams to grammar schools. In addition to English, she is proficient in Spanish, is an active sportswoman, and is also involved in organizing and producing events.

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  Eva Kolářová

  Lecturer of farm programme

  Motto: “The grass is not greener anywhere else. The grass is greener when we water it.”

  Eva graduated from the Faculty of Science and Pedagogy at the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice. After her studies she worked in a research laboratory, as a lecturer in a museum and lived in Norway for 3 years. She joined Magic Hill as a teaching assistant and first grade teacher, and since 2022 she has been working as a farmer and tutor on the school farm. Eva is continuously educating herself in natural gardening and permaculture, guiding children towards sustainable farming and a responsible attitude towards where we live. She is the leader of the school’s Eco Team and coordinates the Really Healthy School project.

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  Adriana Kutíková

  Teacher, IT teacher

  Motto: „Those who want, search for the ways, while those who do not want, search for the reasons.” Jan Werich

  Adriana studied applied ecology at the Czech University of Agriculture in Prague. During her studies she participated in the Erasmus exchange programme in Madrid. Subsequently, she broadened her qualifications by studying preschool pedagogy in Beroun. She worked for 4 years as a 1st grade teacher at the state school in Stříbrná Skalice. Adriana also attended a number of seminars such as SFUMATO (fused reading), Peer support in the area of mentoring and science literacy, Digital competence for teachers, Innovative methods of teaching foreign languages in elementary schools, Learning outdoors, etc.. She is a summer camp lecturer and a professional ski instructor. In her free Adriana time enjoys dancing, reading, cycling and skiing.

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  Svatopluk Mareš

  Teacher, mentor

  Motto: „The world is a beautiful book, but it is not worth for someone, who cannot read in it.”

  He has many years of experience as an elementary school teacher. He has also worked with children with specific learning disabilities. Gradually, he profiled himself in the field of personal and social education, drama education and art education. He attended a seminar in Children’s Theatre Dramaturgy and led a school drama group. Svatopluk is the editor and co-author of several publications aimed at the development of literacy and personal development of pupils and co-author of the Kuliferda series of workbooks. Furthermore, he has completed a wide range of follow-up educational courses with an emphasis on developing pupils’ critical thinking and communication skills, and is a lecturer in the Live Teacher (Učitel na živo) programe. He has worked at Magic Hill since 2015.

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  Šárka Matoušková

  Teacher

  Motto: „A good teacher is the one, who is able to create an environment in which everyone has their own equal voice – both the small and the big.“

  Šárka has many years of experience in both state and private schools. She graduated from the secondary pedagogical school, where she mainly focused on preschool children, preparatory classes and organizing after-school activities. She has completed a number of accredited courses focused primarily on elementary-school pedagogy, such as Speech Therapy Prevention, Critical Thinking, Hejny’s Mathematics Method, Genetic Methods of Reading and Comenia Script. Šárka has applied her experience as a teaching assistant in a preparatory classroom, as well as in the position of form and tandem teacher with a focus on first and second grade students. She also worked for a time as a principal of a private preschool.

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  Maria Victoria Morales

  Spanish language teacher

  Motto: „Eduation means teacher and student together growing, learning and enjoying each step based on mutual respect.”

  Victoria is originally from Cuba and graduated from the Salvador Allende Teacher Training School in Havana and the Conservatory of Music, majoring in flute. She began her teaching career in primary schools in Havana, where she taught music education and managed the school library. Since 2008, she has been teaching Spanish and has worked in many countries around the world, including Austria, Norway and Germany. In addition to teaching the language, she is a professional flutist. In the Czech Republic she has been teaching Spanish since 2014 at language schools, primary schools
  and for the last three years also at the Říčany grammar school. In addition to Spanish, she speaks English and Czech. She has been working in our school since 2024.

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  Iurii Pakhtusov

  School psychologist

  Motto: „Be the change, you strive to see in the world.“ Mahátma Gándhí

  Iurii graduated from the Faculty of Education of Charles University in Psychology, specializing in child and school psychology. During his studies he had the opportunity to complete several professional courses in Germany, where he was introduced to the international perspective on psychology in education. After graduation, Iurii gained long-term experience as a school psychologist at private primary school in Prague, where he was actively involved in supporting and development of children with special needs. Iurii completed a number of internships at elementary schools, in educational-psychological counseling centers and psychiatry clinics. In addition, he is a supporter of the concept of Mindfulness and its application in the context of education. He uses it in his work with children and young people to help them develop attention, emotional intelligence and self-awareness.

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  Aleš Pelikán

  Teacher of Natural science block

  Motto: „If I can, I will help. Because you never know when you’ll need help yourself.”

  Aleš graduated from the Faculty of Education of the University of South Bohemia in geography and physical education with a focus on education. He has been a teacher since 2017, when he taught at a grammar school and a secondary vocational school, and has also worked as an instructor at outdoor schools, ski courses and as a running coach. Apart from sports, his great passion is also travelling the world and using the experience for teaching.

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  Tereza Pokutová

  Teacher

  Motto: “The school can open the door for you, but you have to enter it yourself.”

  Tereza graduated from the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Czech Technical University, majoring in geodesy and cartography. She has been working in her field for several development companies for a long time. Some time ago, she decided to change her profession and find meaning and professional fulfillment in working with children. She has experience with individual tutoring of pupils and organization of leisure activities for children.

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  Kateřina Prachařová

  Class teacher, Czech language teacher

  Motto: „A person shouldn´t strive to be be better than others, but to be better than himself on the previous day.”

  Kateřina studied Czech language and Literature at the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Education of Charles University, majoring in Teaching for high schools. She has worked in the media – as a proofreader and editor, most recently in the Czech Radio (Český rozhlas) web newsroom, and as a librarian at the Municipal Library in Prague. At CERMAT, she participated in the creation of test tasks for the common section of the maturita exams in Czech language and also taught Czech language to foreigners. Kateřina is a graduate of the Critical Thinking course and has been at Magic Hill since 2021.

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  Tereza Richterová

  Teacher, senior teacher

  Motto: „It is not what I possess, but what i know, that makes me rich.” Thomas Carlyle

  Tereza graduated from the Faculty of Education at Charles University in Prague, where she studied primary level of elementary school teaching with a focus on English language. During her studies she participated in the Erasmus exchange program in Joensuu, Finland. After graduation, she completed a C1 English language course at the Wimbledon School of English in London. Tereza also taught English in a language school, working with children from the age of two up to adults. For the last 11 years she has worked for Prague British International School. She has been a part of Magic Hill since 2022.

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  Kristýna Řeháková

  Physical education teacher, school methodologist of prevention

  Motto: „The most precious materiál on earth isn´t oil, metals, clear air, capital, work or technology. It is our ability to listn to each other, learn from each other and to seek the truth, rather than just having it.”

  She is a graduate of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports of Charles University, majoring in Coaching and Teaching, and has worked for many years as a youth sports coach and a coach of the Czech national bobsleigh team. Kristýna also has extensive experience in organizing teambuilding programs, sports competitions and is a graduate of the Life Dynamic training in counselling and therapeutic skills. In addition to teaching physical education, she is involved in prevention programs, the personal development of students and well-being projects. She has been at Magic Hill since 2018.

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  Kateřina Růžičková

  Teacher of Natural science block

  Motto: „Tell me and I’ll forget, teach me and maybe I’ll remember, plug me in and I’ll understand it myself.” Confucius

  Katherine first studied vocational biology at the Faculty of Science, UK, and is now completing a degree in Teaching Biology. In the past, she has also led environmental education programmes at the Toulcův dvůr and Podhoubí eco-centres. In addition to
  natural sciences, she is interested in experiential pedagogy and has long been active in the Brontosaurus Movement, where she organizes volunteer and experiential events with environmental themes. She has also been involved in one-on-one tutoring in science, English and music.

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  Bethany Scharnowske

  English language teacher

  Motto: „My goal is to make students as excited to learn English as I am to teach it.”

  Bethany is a graduate of Indiana University with a degree in psychology and holds a TESOL certificate. She worked in the social work field for 4 years as a crisis worker in schools and families, she taught children, and worked in prevention programs for child protection. Since 2008 she has been working in Prague as an English language teacher in language schools and as a private teacher. She has experience with students from younger school age up to adulthood, including guiding students in preparation for international English language exams. Bethany has been a part of our team since 2021.

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  Kamila Šimková-Broulová

  Spanish language teacher

  Motto: „An average teacher repeats. A good teacher explains. A great teacher shows. The best teacher inspires.”

  She is a graduate of the Faculty of Science of Charles University, majoring in Professional geography – physical geography and Geoecology and follow up studies in pedagogy at the UJEP in Ústí nad Labem. She has been a teacher for more than ten years and has taught at state and private schools. At the same time, she is a professor of geography and Spanish language at an eight-year high school and has regular lectures at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University. In addition to her teaching experience, she has worked as a travel journalist and documentary filmmaker for a great part of her professional career. Along with numerous reports, she has co-authored scripts for documentary films on Czech Television and several books. Kamila is a part of our team since 2014.

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  Marie Šubrtová

  Teacher

  Motto: “Children learn best by imitation and experience, so let’s be good role models and give them plenty of opportunities to learn.”

  Marie is a graduate of the Pedagogical Faculty of Charles University in Prague, majoring in Teaching at the first level of primary school with a specialization in Dramatic Education. She worked as a class teacher in a primary school in Prague and for three years as a teaching assistant in a primary school in the UK. She has completed a number of courses such as Critical Thinking, MBTI Typology, Reading Workshop, Dramatic Education in School. She also has experience of organising leisure programmes for children, sports and golf camps. She has been with Magic Hill since 2021.

  

• Tatiana Tupá Bírešová

  Teacher, Global world teacher

  Motto: “Educating your mind without educating your heart as well, is no education.” Aristoteles

  Tatiana is a graduate of the Faculty of Arts of Charles University in history and pedagogy, and has been working in the field of education since 2015. She has worked as a history teacher, lecturer of experiential pedagogy, a teaching methodologist for history teachers, and has participated in the creation of study materials for the second level of elementary school in the subject of history and civics. Tatiana has conducted workshops for teachers at the Institute of Czech History of the Faculty of Arts of Charles University and at the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes and has been a part of our team at Magic Hill since 2022.

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  Iveta Vojtěchová

  Teacher, Special education teacher

  Motto: „Our teachers must not solely be a motionless direction sign that does not move itself in the way it leads us.”Jan Amos Komenský

  Iveta has a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from Jan Amos Comenius University. She has many years of experience in private and state schools as a teaching assistant and a head of after-school activities. She is professionally involved in individual work with pupils with special educational needs along with organizing children’s camps and various experiential educational events. She has attended a number of educational courses, such as Teaching Czech to Foreigners, Art Therapy, Principles of Non-Harmful Communication and the Let’s Not Be Afraid to Teach Math course. She has been a part of Magic Hill since 2021.

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  Jaroslava Vokurková

  Teacher, German language teacher

  Motto: “There are people who make the world more beautiful just because they are here. We call them children.”

  Jaroslava studied economic studies and German language and worked in managerial positions in the field of business and human resources. At the same time, she taught German privately. A few years ago, she decided to make a major career change and began to devote herself fully to the education of children, first as a teacher at a language school and then as a class teacher of the 1st grade at a bilingual primary school. She has completed many professional courses focused on primary pedagogy, innovative teaching methods, reading literacy and critical thinking methods. It cooperates with the Learning Outdoors project and organizations involved in the education of teachers focused on children’s well-being with an emphasis on a safe environment in the classroom.

Teaching assistants

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  Janka Čurillová

  Teacher assistant

  Motto: „The best teacher or mentor is experience and life itself.”

  Janka is a graduate of the Faculty of Economic Informatics at the University of Economics in Bratislava and SPGŠ Futurum, where she studied Pre-school and after-school pedagogy. Janka spent more than 5 years in the USA as a nanny and as a volunteer at Whittier Elementary School in Ohio as a teaching assistant and also helped with the organization of school-wide events. After returning to the Czech Republic, she worked in the banking industry for several years, but found her calling in working with children and began working in state-run kindergartens in Prague. She has been working as a teaching assistant in our school since 2024.

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  Leona Krejcarová

  Teacher assistant

  Motto: “We learn throughout our lives.”

  Leona graduated from textile high school, but soon decided to work in a different field and started working as a caregiver in a nursing home. She then worked in social services for more than 20 years before deciding to change her profession. She completed a course for teaching assistants and began working in a kindergarten, where she gained experience working with pre-school children. Since 2021 she has worked in both our kindergarten and primary school as a teacher and teaching assistant.

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  Nikola Pecharová

  Teacher assistant

  Motto: “Who has never made a mistake has never tried something new.” Albert Einstein

  Nikola completed her bachelor’s degree at Jan Amos Comenius University in the field of special pedagogy and then continued her master’s degree in leisure time pedagogy at the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice. She completed her internship in primary and nursery schools and led, for example, a gymnastics club. Her hobbies include graphic design, photography and painting, as well as sports activities, culture and literature.

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  Lenka Rousová

  Teacher assistant

  Motto: „We learn for life, not for school. Seneca”

  Lenka graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Education at Charles University and a Master’s degree from Masaryk University in Brno, majoring in English language teaching for primary schools. She has many years of experience as a teacher of English and Italian at the 1st and 2nd level of primary school. She has attended many seminars in the field of pedagogy, didactics and prevention methodology. She has been working in our school since 2024.

Other members of our team

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  Hana Jirků

  Office manager

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  Bc. Simona Krčmářová

  Financial department

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  Karel Löwy

  Janitor

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  Petra Tichá

  School cafeteria