Faculty & Staff

Bachelor’s Degree in Preschool Teaching, University of Ostrava

Petra was born in Ostrava, Czech Republic and has always had a strong connection to preschool environments. Although she focused largely on Chemistry in secondary school, she always knew that working with children was her passion and that that would be where her career would lie.

Petra has been working with children of different ages since high school, at summer camps and various sports events. During her studies at the university, she continued to acquire new skills in the Czech kindergarten. Still, she knew that the international environment is what she wants to be part of.

Apart from working with children, Petra loves science, music and sports.

Bachelor’s Degree in Pedagogical Education – English Language and Foreign Literature, Cherson State University, Ukraine
Master’s Degree in Education, Pedagogy and Teaching Methods, English Language and Literature, Cherson State University, Ukraine

In 2022, Albina moved to Ostrava, Czech Republic and decided to walk the path of teaching anew, following her heart and dream to become a devoted teacher. Her decision to become a teacher is driven by a passion for education, a desire to make a positive impact on students’ lives and a commitment to professional growth and development.

In her free time, Albina enjoys cooking, watching movies and TV series, travelling and reading books. She also loves to do pilates.

Master’s degree in Arts, University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, Austria
Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, Austria

Stefanie grew up in Vienna, Austria, where she completed her degree in Music Education, specializing in flute and piano. After her studies, she gained valuable experience teaching at various music schools, where she instructed students in both instruments. Her work also involved leading music groups in kindergartens, where she discovered her passion for early childhood education.

In 2024, Stefanie moved to Ostrava and is excited to join the team at the International School. The commitment of TOIS to a dynamic and inclusive learning environment, with a focus on international-mindedness and nurturing individual strengths, aligns perfectly with her teaching philosophy. Bringing her love for creative and playful teaching to TOIS, Stefanie enjoys crafting lessons that use music to take children on imaginative journeys, helping them learn in a fun and engaging way. Through these stories and activities, she aims to make learning effortless and enjoyable.

Additionally, she is excited to share her passion for sports with her students, encouraging them to embrace physical activity as a vital part of a balanced life. Outside of her professional life, Stefanie is passionate about the outdoors. She enjoys spending time in the mountains, where she loves to climb, hike, and engage in mountaineering. She also participates in various sports such as running and swimming and is an avid traveler with a deep interest in exploring different countries and cultures.

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Moscow State Open University, Russia

Elitsa enjoys working with young students and the Early Years Centre team. She believes that a safe and pleasant environment supports their thinking and learning. She loves travelling with her son, exploring diverse cultures, and discovering new coffee flavours from around the world.

Bachelor’s degree and Certified Specialist’s degree in International Social and Humanitarian Work, Palacký University Olomouc and CARITAS College Olomouc
Master’s degree in Social Pedagogy – The University of Ostrava – ongoing.

From an early age, Lucie developed a passion for helping and guiding children, which naturally led her to join the Scout movement in 2011. Over the years, she has played a key role in planning weekend events and summer camps, where she also applies her paramedic training, ensuring the safety and well-being of the participants.

Driven by a desire to work in an English-speaking environment, Lucie found the perfect opportunity at TOIS, combining her love for the English language with the joy of working with children.

Lucie has extensive experience working in various kindergartens and afterschool clubs with children aged 4-11, accumulating over 350 hours of hands-on involvement. Additionally, she spent three months in Bolivia, working with children aged 2-14 from impoverished and marginalized communities, which is also where she learned the basics of Spanish.

In her free time, Lucie enjoys indoor climbing, hiking, practicing yoga, traveling, playing the guitar and piano, singing, and baking.

Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, Philippine Normal University
Undergraduate Certificate in Special Education, Philippine Normal University
Ongoing MA in Education, major in Educational Management at Saint Jude College in Manila

Evangeline was born in the Philippines. She grew up bilingual, Filipino and English. After she graduated cum laude from university, she lived and work in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2011. Since then, she has worked in multi-cultural environments and helped children to reach their full potential.

She took on a new adventure and relocated from Asia to Europe in 2017 to begin working at an international school in Warsaw, Poland where she expanded her experience in teaching.

Evangeline had always dreamt of being a teacher and she agrees with the song The Greatest Love of All. She strongly believes that the children are indeed our future. And as an educator, it is her duty to teach them well and let them lead the way. It is important to hone the skills they possess and, while they learn and gain a sense of pride in their discoveries and achievements, let them laugh and make learning experiences fun.

Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, Grigg’s University, Michigan, USA

Irma was born and spent her early childhood in the beautiful country of Georgia. She later lived in Lithuania, and after graduating from high school and spending one year in a local college, she went to the USA to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher.

Growing up in a multicultural and multilingual family, Irma was naturally drawn to experience different cultures and languages.  While in the USA, Irma worked with children from different parts of the world, helping them to learn English and adjust to their new world. During her studies at the university, Irma met her future husband… and this is how life led her to the Czech Republic.

Irma and her husband have two children. She has been a teacher at The Ostrava International School since 2016.

Bachelor’s Degree in English Language Teaching, Istanbul Aydin University, Turkey

Associate Degree in Public Relations and Publicity, Anadolu University, Turkey

Tuğçe was born as a twin sister in Mersin, a Mediterranean city in Turkey. Growing up, she moved frequently within Turkey but spent most of her life in Istanbul. Her hobbies range from literature, to sports like football, tennis, and taekwondo, to music. She learned to play the violin and started writing her own songs in English at the age of 12, sparking her passion for languages, writing, and music. After spending summers as a camp counsellor in international camps and teaching English for five years in various IB schools in Istanbul, she decided to move abroad.

In her free time, Tuğçe enjoys writing, composing, and singing her own songs. She is currently focused on improving her Spanish, learning Czech, and brushing up on her high school German skills. Despite being a dog person, she has two cats named Rosa and Clara. Tuğçe is also passionate about volunteering at animal shelters and supporting charitable causes for stray dogs and cats.

Masters of Education – Curriculum and Instruction, American College of Education, USA
Masters of Elementary Education and Teaching, American College of Education, USA.
Bachelor of Primary Education, International University of the Caribbean, Jamaica.
Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Teaching, Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, Jamaica.

Andrea was born on the Caribbean island of Jamaica, where English is the official language. She also speaks Jamaican patois. Before arriving in Ostrava, Andrea taught for 19 years in her home country. Then, she began her foray into international teaching in 2014, where she taught at IB International World Schools as a PYP Homeroom teacher at the Swiss International School of Qatar. She held a dual role as IB PYP Coordinator and Homeroom teacher at School Lyceum #6 in Azerbaijan and again as IB PYP Coordinator at Invento, the Uzbek International School in Uzbekistan.

Andrea brings to TOIS her love of being a teacher and greatly appreciates being an international educator who has been able to build on and hone her teaching skills and learn about and embrace the culture of others in diverse and inclusive environments. Her learning philosophy is “Learn all you can today; use what you learn to change your tomorrow”.

As an educator, She finds joy in the process of both learning and teaching. Andrea loves dancing, listening to music, and audiobooks. She also gets excited about fashion jewellery and quirky eyeglasses.

Bachelor’s Degree in Primary and Music Education, University of Cadiz, Spain.
Bachelor’s Degree in Flamenco Guitar, Conservatory of Sevilla, Spain.
One year study in the School of Modern Music and Jazz, University of Cadiz, Spain.
Host of Czech Television’s nationally broadcast “Hola niňos“ Spanish lessons for children

Adán was born in Arcos de la Frontera, Cadiz, Spain. At the age of 7, he started learning flamenco guitar in his hometown, in the long-standing tradition of his family. Music has always been a very important part of his life, and the reason why he decided to study music education and to share his passion with young learners.

Adán joined TOIS in 2015 as a Music and Spanish teacher in both the PYP and MYP programmes.

He loves to spend his free time with his wife and children, and to perform with his band around the Czech Republic.

Bachelor’s Degree in Art and Design, Amesham and Wycombe College, UK
Master’s Degree in Teaching English and Art, The University of Ostrava
Semester of English studies at Hogskolan Kristianstad, Sweden

Lenka was born in Rožnov, Czech Republic and has a rich background in studying art under well-known local artists, such as J. F. Kovář, L. Kovářová, M. Kotrba, V. Ženožička. She is currently cooperating with the E. Thiemlová Art studio in Hlučín.

Lenka joined TOIS Primary in 2010 as a Class Teacher, and later fulfilled the role of librarian, and now Art Teacher.

She is the mother of three children scattered throughout the school at Early Years, Primary and Middle Years, and the wife of an enthusiastic rugby coach from Scotland.

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Korea
TESOL Certificate, Canada

Jennifer has lived, worked and studied in Korea, Canada and the Czech Republic. Before moving to Ostrava, she worked for the education division of the company DaeKyo, developing and implementing curriculum for young learners. Jennifer has also taught adults and completed her TESOL certificate in Canada.

She likes to try new things, to travel, and watch movies. She says: “I believe that teaching is a difficult, important and rewarding calling, because I can see that they are growing”.

Bachelor’s Degree in Czech Literature, Silesian University of Opava, Czech Republic

Iva was born and raised in South Bohemia and joined TOIS in 2015. She loves the smell of books and coffee and tries her best to live life offline.

Master’s Degree in Language and Literature, Faculty of Philology University of Belgrade
Master’s Degree in Business, Marketing and Management, Metropolitan University Belgrade
TEFL and IELTs Certification

Katarina was born in Serbia and has extensive experience in teaching EAL in international environments. She has served as a Nursery School Lead, and Primary School teacher.

Katarina has travelled around most of the world and enjoys international environments and cultural exchanges.

Master’s degree in Technology-Mediated Language Teaching and Learning, Open University of Catalonia, Spain
Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain

When she was nine years old, Mercedes joined a scout group where she learned a lot about nature, friendship, problem-solving and many other things. When she was old enough, she started as a scout leader, which made her realize education was what she was made for. Since then, her motto has been “think global, act local”, because she was taught to leave the world in a better place than she found it.

As a good southern Spaniard, she enjoys a day at the beach and many of her country’s traditions, such as La Feria de Abril, and Spanish gastronomy.

Her biggest hobby is travelling; she really enjoys getting to know other places and cultures.

Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Training, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, Sports Academy, Belgrade.
Basketball Coach at O.k.k Jagodina, Serbia

Nikola has experience teaching PE at both the Primary and Secondary school level in his native Serbia. In addition to having been an active basketball player himself for over 10 years, Nikola also has experience coaching at a high level.

Nikola’s international experience includes six years working for Royal Caribbean International as a member of their sports staff, where he met the challenge of teaching and coaching enthusiasts of all ages from all kinds of backgrounds.

Masters in Philosophy, minor in Rhetoric & Communication, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

PhD in Philosophy, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic

Lasse is an IB DP graduate from Denmark. Besides teaching Design and Humanities in the MYP and TOK in the DP, Lasse also oversees Academic Honesty at TOIS. Since he started in 2015, Lasse has taught at all levels of the school, including the Early Years, Primary School, Middle Years and the Diploma Programmes. This has made him fully prepared to take on the new role of IB Continuum Coordinator.

He came to the Czech Republic to be with his Czech wife and he has never looked back. In his spare time, Lasse loves playing D&D, drums, and board games, reading books and spending time with family and friends.

Magister’s Degree in Education (Geography and Social Sciences), University of Ostrava, Czech Republic.
International Communications course, Kristianstad University, Sweden.

Born, raised and educated in Ostrava, Jiří always wanted to experience working abroad. Working at TOIS has allowed him to experience an international working environment while taking advantage of staying in his hometown, close to his family and friends.

Jiří has been with the school from its very beginning and has witnessed the growth of IB programmes in the TOIS curricula. Currently, he is coordinating the Middle Years Programme at TOIS, drawing upon his years of experience as a teacher of MYP Technology, and Individuals and Societies.

Jiří is an enthusiastic traveller, using any opportunity to explore the cultures of other countries to enrich his intercultural understanding.

Bachelor’s Degree (HONS) in Biology, Middlesex University, England
Postgraduate Certificate In Education (PGCE), Goldsmith’s College, University of London, England
QTS, United Kingdom

Paul is originally from London, England and after having lived there for most of his life he decided to move to the Czech Republic with his wife and two children. Paul lives in a small village that is very close to both the Slovak and Polish borders. He has a lot of experience in both the UK and international education, and was part of a successful school improvement leadership team in England. Paul has been at TOIS since 2015.

In his spare time, Paul enjoys playing soccer and spending time with his family and friends.

Master’s Degree in Education, Biology and Chemistry, the University of Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Pavel has spent his entire life in Ostrava and its surroundings. Since childhood, he has always been fascinated by the world around him and how nature works. Pavel decided early on to study the natural sciences, and his interests have always brought him close to nature. He enjoys outdoor sports in summer and winter, preferably with his family. He has extensive experience in teaching biology and chemistry and in helping to prepare students to pursue their interests in these fields at university.

Pavel is The Head of Science, and an IB DP Chemistry and Biology Teacher, as well as the leader of the TOIS Duke of Edinburgh Programme.

Master’s Degree in Education in Advanced Teaching, University of the People, USA

Master’s Degree in Euroculture, University of Groningen, Netherlands & Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
Master’s Degree in Communication, Major in Communication Research, University of the Philippines
Bachelor’s Degree in Humanities, Major in Political Economy, University of Asia and the Pacific, Philippines

Lorybelle joined TOIS in 2016 and started as an EAL Teacher at the Primary School. Currently, she is the EAL Coordinator at Secondary, as well as an English and Individuals & Societies teacher.

She dabbles in photography and enjoys travelling, watching films and TV series, baking, and trying out new recipes.

Master’s Degree in Teaching Music, Choral conducting and Czech Language, University of Ostrava.
Graduate of the Brno Conservatory, Classical Piano
One Semester at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst, Graz, Austria.

Kateřina always knew she wanted to become a teacher, and she joined TOIS in 2016 after almost ten years of teaching at various institutions. Her goal is to make her subjects both challenging and enjoyable for her students.

Kateřina loves reading and discussing ideas found in books. She also likes spending time with her twin children, listening to jazz and classical music, playing the piano, practising yoga and cooking.

She is convinced that her life goal is to be happy and to share happiness with others.

Bachelor’s Degree in Primary and Music Education, University of Cadiz, Spain.
Bachelor’s Degree in Flamenco Guitar, Conservatory of Sevilla, Spain.
One year study in the School of Modern Music and Jazz, University of Cadiz, Spain.
Host of Czech Television’s nationally broadcast “Hola niňos“ Spanish lessons for children

Adán was born in Arcos de la Frontera, Cadiz, Spain. At the age of 7, he started learning flamenco guitar in his hometown, in the long-standing tradition of his family. Music has always been a very important part of his life, and the reason why he decided to study music education and to share his passion with young learners.

Adán joined TOIS in 2015 as a Music and Spanish teacher in both the PYP and MYP programmes.

He loves to spend his free time with his wife and children, and to perform with his band around the Czech Republic.

Chandler is originally from the state of Georgia in the US. After teaching in the US, China, and Turkey, she and her husband decided to move to Ostrava and join the international community at TOIS in 2023. Chandler has always enjoyed learning languages, and she loves sharing the joys of exploring new cultures and perspectives through language with her students.

Besides learning new languages, Chandler likes to spend her time writing, biking, rollerblading, and going to museums.

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Korea
TESOL Certificate, Canada

Jennifer has lived, worked and studied in Korea, Canada and the Czech Republic. Before moving to Ostrava, she worked for the education division of the company DaeKyo, developing and implementing curriculum for young learners. Jennifer has also taught adults and completed her TESOL certificate in Canada.

She likes to try new things, to travel, and watch movies. She says: “I believe that teaching is a difficult, important and rewarding calling, because I can see that they are growing”.

BA in German and Music for secondary schools, University of Leipzig
MA in German and Music for secondary schools, Charles University in Prague

Hedwiga was born in Romania to a Romanian father and a German mother. Soon her parents moved to Stuttgart/Germany, where she grew up.

After her wedding to a Czech husband, she has now been living for more than 10 years in the Czech Republic. With this international background, she was always eager to get to know new cultures, languages and people of different nations. At the same time, it gives her joy to rebuild the reputation of the German language in the Czech Republic.

Being part of the development process, and raising children and young adults has filled not only her professional life, but also her free time, as she is engaged in different non-profit organi

PhD in Economics and Management, Tomaš Bata University in Zlin
Master of Commerce (Marketing), University of Cape Coast
Bachelor of Management Studies, University of Cape Coast

Christina’s passion for human and intellectual development inspired her choice of profession after her Bachelor’s degree program. She served as a teaching assistant at the University of Cape Coast (School of Business) and rose through the ranks in academia.

Christina brings her expertise to IB DP Economics and Business Management at TOIS. She loves to sing and enjoys adventures.

Master’s Degree in Applied Mathematics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana

Francis grew up in Kumasi, the second-largest city in Ghana. The “Garden City” as it was called by Queen Elizabeth II on her first visit.

Francis first came to the Czech Republic in January 2020 to pursue his Doctoral degree in Economic Policy and Administration at Tomas Bata University.

He finds fulfilment in passing on knowledge to the younger generation because he believes that this is his own way of making the world a better place.

Integrated Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece

PhD in Materials Science, University of the Aegean, Greece

Angeliki has always had a passion for science and learning. This will be her first time teaching abroad, and she is excited to bring her expertise and enthusiasm to TOIS. She is committed to creating a dynamic and interactive learning environment that inspires students to explore science and mathematics.

Outside of the classroom, Angeliki enjoys learning new languages, reading books, travelling, and hiking with her dog.

Master’s degree in Mathematics, Ostrava University, Czech Republic

Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia

Jitu’s passion for math began during her childhood, influenced both by her father and a passionate teacher at her primary school. This love for math also ignited Jita’s interest in the teaching profession. For her, teaching goes beyond simply completing tasks from textbooks; it involves imparting life lessons and shaping young minds.

To further enhance her qualifications, she has started pursuing MA in Educational Leadership and Management. With four years of experience in teaching mathematics, she has always envisioned making a positive impact on children; their hope for the future inspires Jita a lot.

Faculty of Animation, Academy of Music and Performing Arts, Bratislava, Slovakia

Born in Slovakia in 1984, Mišo studied movie animation and has always been interested in drawing, comics and cartoons. He worked for over a decade in the field of advertising and graphic design for companies and music television in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, as well as doing freelance illustrations. He joined TOIS in 2016.

Mišo loves to work at TOIS, because of the rich background of international students and colleagues, who make him feel he can belong anywhere in the world. His students call him Mr. Mišo.

In his free time, Mišo illustrates children’s books that he co-creates with his wife and their two cats.

Master’s Degree in Informatics, Computer Graphics specialization, VSB-TU Ostrava, Czech Republic
PhD in Informatics, Computer Graphics specialization, VSB-TU Ostrava, Czech Republic

Milan is from the Ostrava region and loves interdisciplinary connections, in his personal life and in his teaching. Milan not only teaches Computer Science, but he is also a programmer, a journalist and an artist – busy as a painter, illustrator, and stock photographer. Milan tries to connect all of these fields into his life and lessons.

He also strongly believes that algorithmic thinking can improve the lives of students in many non-IT situations, and he tries to develop this in his students.

M.ED in Inclusive Education, University of Glasgow, UK
BA in Spanish and Teaching English As a Foreign Language, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
Postgraduate Certificate of Education, University of Southampton, UK

Greg has been teaching various languages, including French, German, and Spanish, for over a decade and served as Head of the Modern Languages Department at TOIS. Driven by his passion for understanding young minds, he decided to combine his language-teaching expertise with psychology. Now, Greg teaches both languages and psychology, using psychological insights to enhance his teaching and create individualized learning strategies that support students’ academic and personal growth.

Outside of work, Greg leads an active lifestyle and is the current Polish champion in racewalking.

Bachelor’s Degree in English Language and Literature, Humboldt State University, USA.

Bachelor of Secondary Education, major in English, Negros Oriental State University, Philippines

Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Training, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, Sports Academy, Belgrade.
Basketball Coach at O.k.k Jagodina, Serbia

Nikola has experience teaching PE at both the Primary and Secondary school level in his native Serbia. In addition to having been an active basketball player himself for over 10 years, Nikola also has experience coaching at a high level.

Nikola’s international experience includes six years working for Royal Caribbean International as a member of their sports staff, where he met the challenge of teaching and coaching enthusiasts of all ages from all kinds of backgrounds.

Master of Philosophy in Botany, Government State University, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Master of Science in Botany, University of Sargodha, Pakistan

Bachelor of Science, University of the Punjab, Pakistan

Farwa was born in Chakwal, Pakistan where she completed her early education before completing her studies in Faisalabad. She has taught at both the highschool and university levels in Pakistan and Oman, and is therefor well-positioned to help TOIS students on their paths to tertiary studies in the sciences.

She moved to the Czech Republic in 2020 for study purposes and joined TOIS in 2023. She has always enjoyed travelling and exploring new places, as well as spending time on arts and crafts.