Our team

I am an experienced educator dedicated to the development of education. I focus on creating a school environment where both students and teachers feel comfortable, and where children gain skills that will help them succeed in the digital world of the 21st century. My philosophy is based on the belief that school should not only be a preparation for life but also a place full of joy and imagination. I believe that every student has the potential to succeed if we provide them with the space to grow and develop their self-confidence, courage, and responsibility. With over 20 years of experience as the principal of three primary schools, I have also worked as an academic and instructor. I am certified as a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert and have been recognized as a two-time winner of the Global Teacher Forum. I was also a finalist for the Global Teacher Prize in the Czech Republic and in 2024, I was honored with the title of School Director of the Year. I hold a doctorate in pedagogy and an MBA in school management. Under my leadership, every school I’ve worked with has achieved significant improvement, as confirmed by the Czech School Inspection.

I am the Chief Operating Officer of Fostra schools. In my role, I connect strategic management with the daily operations of the school. I focus on making sure that people have clear roles, effective processes, and a calm environment where they can focus on their work and personal growth. I have been working with Fostra schools for a long time. This allows me to understand how they operate, what values they follow, and what makes the educational environment unique. I bring this understanding into everyday practice. I am also a mother of four sons. I see education not only as my profession, but also as a personal responsibility. It is important to me that school is a place where both children and adults feel comfortable and can do their best.

An experienced educator and school leader with many years of experience in both Czech and international bilingual education. In her work, she combines a strong academic background in education with extensive experience in leading teaching teams, coordinating school projects and developing educational processes. She believes that a high quality school is built on strong values, open communication, mutual respect and support for teachers’ professional development. Throughout her career, she has led educational and project teams, coordinated educational, community and charitable initiatives, and contributed to the implementation of methodological and teaching innovations. She studied education at Charles University and later expanded her qualifications through postgraduate specialisation in educational and psychological counselling. At Fostra Elementary, she brings strategic insight, experience in developing school teams and a strong understanding of the school’s everyday operation. Her vision is to create an environment where children develop confidence and responsibility, teachers have opportunities for professional growth and parents are recognised as important partners in education.

I studied Biology and Chemistry Education at the Faculty of Science of Charles University and later also School Management at the Faculty of Education of Charles University. I have been working in education for more than ten years and have gained experience teaching at both elementary schools and grammar schools. Alongside teaching, I have also been involved in methodological work and the education of future teachers for many years. I am a member of methodological teams at the National Pedagogical Institute and I have contributed, among other things, to the development of a model school curriculum for the revised Framework Educational Programme for Basic Education. I also have experience as a mentor teacher. In the past, I cooperated with the Učitel naživo programme, and I currently work with the Faculty of Education of Charles University. At my previous schools, I organised project days, interdisciplinary projects, and various school and extracurricular activities. I believe that education does not have to take place only in the classroom. Many things are best understood when students can experience, try, and discover them for themselves. What fascinates me most about science is that it helps us understand the world around us. In my lessons, I therefore do not want to simply give students ready made knowledge. I want them to ask questions, look for connections, experiment, work with evidence, and gradually discover how things work for themselves. For me, chemistry and biology are not simply collections of facts to memorise. They are ways of exploring how the world works and how different natural processes are connected. I do not like standing still and I also need to keep learning and discovering new things myself. I actively explore new approaches to teaching and have been particularly interested in inquiry based and constructivist learning for many years. I want to keep the same curiosity in myself that I try to encourage in my students. I cannot imagine my life outside school without music. I listen to it almost all the time, enjoy going to concerts, and play the piano. I also read a lot. I have a particular weakness for Scandinavian crime novels, but I also enjoy short stories, fiction of many different genres, and nonfiction. When I need to slow down, I like going for walks, cooking, or baking. Most of all, I enjoy spending time with my family, who are the most important part of my life.

Borek Novak is a native English speaker originally from Canada who has worked in the Czech educational system for over twenty years as a teacher, lecturer, translator, and manager. He holds degrees in European and International Area Studies and also completed teacher training in English language and civics at the Faculty of Education, Charles University. His teaching focuses on English, history, and civics, bringing an international perspective, linguistic precision, and rich life experience gained through his studies and travels across Europe, the Balkans, and Central Asia. In the classroom, he skilfully connects lessons with authentic cultural and historical contexts, fostering student independence, critical thinking, and civic engagement. He is also active in the areas of media literacy, inquiry-based learning, and the promotion of democratic culture.

Jana Svobodová has over twenty years of experience in education, personal development, and working with children. She has worked as a teacher, teamleader, personal coach, mentor, and lecturer—always with deep respect for the uniqueness of each individual. In her teaching practice, she combines a background in the humanities with artistic expression and personal development, fostering authenticity, creativity, and self-confidence in her students. She believes that the key to education lies in inspiration, creating space to explore one’s own potential, and providing kind, supportive guidance. Her educational approach is grounded in strong academic foundations, gained through her studies in Czech language and literature, pedagogy, political science, and psychology at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University, and further enriched by numerous accredited courses in personal development and coaching.

A Spanish language teacher with a creative approach to education and many years of experience in visual communication and design. In her work, she combines language learning with modern technologies, project based teaching and visually engaging materials that encourage pupils to participate actively. She believes that learning a foreign language also means discovering new cultures, developing creativity and building confidence in communication. She has worked as a Spanish teacher at a primary school, where she taught classes and participated in pupil assessment. Alongside her teaching experience, she has an extensive background as a Senior Visual Designer. This enables her to bring a strong sense of aesthetics, thoughtful visual communication and innovative educational materials into the classroom. She studied Graphic Design at Middlesex University in London and draws on her international experience when creating modern and engaging learning activities.

A native English speaker from the United States with many years of teaching experience and a strong background in working with both teenagers and adult learners. In his lessons, he creates an open and motivating environment that encourages confident communication, active participation and the practical use of English in everyday situations. He places great emphasis on an individual approach, the development of communication skills and teaching adapted to the needs of each student. He has worked as an English teacher in schools as well as a tutor for individual and group courses, preparing students for language examinations, academic English and everyday communication. His teaching incorporates modern technologies, interactive methods and continuous assessment to support the long term development of language skills. He also has experience teaching within the Czech school system and working with international clients.

An experienced teacher of Czech and English with extensive practice in teaching pupils, students and adults in both Czech and international environments. In her work, she combines a deep knowledge of languages with an individual approach and a strong focus on developing communication skills. She believes that language learning should be clear, motivating and adapted to the needs of each student. She studied Czech and English at the Faculty of Education at Charles University. Throughout her professional career, she has worked as a Czech language lecturer at universities in Italy and Poland. She has also maintained a long term collaboration with the Institute for Language and Preparatory Studies at Charles University, where she teaches Czech to international students in intensive and year long programmes. She has gained further experience at primary and secondary schools, teaching Czech as a foreign language and English, as well as participating in international educational projects.

An educator with a strong interest in mathematics, logical thinking and discovering connections between different areas of life. In his teaching, he encourages pupils to think independently, work together and have the confidence to ask questions. He believes that genuine understanding comes not only from finding the correct answer, but above all from understanding the process that leads to it. He sees mathematics as a tool for developing critical thinking, creativity and the ability to explore different solutions. His aim is to create lessons that support curiosity, active participation and the joy of discovery. He also draws inspiration from sport, time spent in nature and his interest in art, which help him view education in a broader context. He believes that school should give children space not only to gain knowledge, but also to develop independence, openness and a lasting desire to learn.

I am a teacher with experience in primary education both in the Czech Republic and abroad. I place great emphasis on high-quality teaching, an individual approach to each pupil, and the development of independence. My background in administration and international environments helps me ensure efficient organization and professional communication. What I enjoy most about teaching is the daily contact with children — their curiosity and joy in discovering new things. I strive to create a friendly and supportive environment where every pupil feels valued.

Melánie is a graduate of an international high school in Prague, where she studied psychology, English, media studies, and literature. She has Northern Irish and Czech roots, and grew up in South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and the Czech Republic. As a result, she speaks both English and Czech fluently and naturally navigates international environments. She gained experience working with children as a classroom assistant in art lessons for pupils from Grade 1 onwards. She actively helped organize class activities and school events, and also provided individual support to students with special educational needs. Melánie brings enthusiasm, empathy, and the ability to build natural connections with children of various ages and needs to her work in the after-school program.

Callahan comes from Arizona, where she studied psychology at Empire State University in New York. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of New York in Prague. She has a solid knowledge of the Montessori approach and, thanks to both her academic background and personal interest in neurodiversity, she brings understanding and empathy when working with children with ADHD and diverse learning needs. As a native English speaker with a basic knowledge of Czech, she easily navigates both international and Czech environments.

Espen comes from an island on the west coast of Norway. He is an educator in history and English, spending most of his university years in the Arctic of Norway. The time away from studies and volunteering was spent in the outdoors exploring nature. In recent years, his focus has been on working with the welfare of both people and animals. Now he calls the Czech Republic home, exploring its culture, language and history with a passion. When working with children Espen emphasizes empathy, creativity and is a natural storyteller. For him it is important that every child is seen, understood and feels comfortable during the after-school program.

My name is Sabrina Castrogiovanni. During my time in England I studied humanities and social sciences in college and afterwards I did a year of psychology at the university of Northumbria and volunteered as a mental health ambassador. I then decided to move abroad and continue my career as a Theater actress and teaching. I taught online as well as tutoring Czech students who wanted to improve their English skill. I can speak English and Italian and C1 German due to being half Italian and half German. My experience in studying psychology and acting in the Theater helps me to understand how children think, manage classrooms and behaviours as well as making learning fun and interactive. Currently I am acting in the Theater and creating workshops for children in 2nd and 3rd grade with acting and voice progression, furthermore I will be planning to continue further studies in the field of psychology.