People

We enjoy life with children

Preschool

Petra Holáková
Teacher of children aged 1.5 - 3
Petra Holáková
Teacher of children aged 1.5 - 3

I love working with toddlers and their parents together in Montessori playrooms and therapy. I enjoy being in nature, dancing and healthy and really good cooking.

With us since 
2016
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Heloise Jang
Teacher of children aged 1.5 - 3
Heloise Jang
Teacher of children aged 1.5 - 3

I grew up in the USA, though I come from Korea, where I fell in love with Montessori through my son and managed my own preschool. I love working with my hands and getting to know different cultures.

With us since 
2022
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Martina Zábranská
Teacher of children aged 3 - 6
Martina Zábranská
Teacher of children aged 3 - 6

I enjoy sharing and working with the parents; my two daughters are already growing up and I see that who they are now is who they've always been. I enjoy doing what the children enjoy, as well as music and art therapy.

With us since 
2013
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Anna Miller
Teacher of children aged 3 - 6
Anna Miller
Teacher of children aged 3 - 6

I fell in love with Montessori back in university, during which I assisted in a preschool for four years. Even after ten years of teaching in Montessori schools at home in the USA and in Thailand, I still love how it develops independence, creativity and a life-long love of learning.

With us since 
2023
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Michaela Wenzlová
Teacher of children aged 3 - 6
Michaela Wenzlová
Teacher of children aged 3 - 6

I enjoy the colours of life and people and I prefer spending my free time traveling. I then enjoy passing on my adventures to children in various games and activities.

With us since 
2019
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Hana Burešová
Assistant to children aged 3 - 6
Hana Burešová
Assistant to children aged 3 - 6

I love children's imaginative spirit and their enthusiasm, which can be so contagious. I enjoy watching their progress and success when they learn something new. I love nature and I love to sing.

With us since 
2023
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Ester Vrbová
Assistant to children aged 3 - 6
Ester Vrbová
Assistant to children aged 3 - 6

Young children are irresistible and fascinating, so pure, open and themselves! Until recently I had no desire to be a teacher, I wanted to study law and get to know the world, but this work changed me as it makes so much sense to me.

With us since 
2021
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Markéta Schnellerová
Flutes
Markéta Schnellerová
Flutes

With us since 
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Miroslav Kodym
Aikido
Miroslav Kodym
Aikido

With us since 
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Ivana Hessová
Kathak
Ivana Hessová
Kathak

With us since 
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Pavla Hrušková
Everything around food
pavla@willowtrees.cz
Pavla Hrušková
Everything around food
pavla@willowtrees.cz

I enjoy the happy faces of children when their tummies are full or when they taste something new. I love baking goodies with them, putting them to sleep with fairy tales and thinking up exercises during afternoon clubs.

With us since 
2014
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Clara Vávrová
HR & Personal Development
clara@willowtrees.cz
Clara Vávrová
HR & Personal Development
clara@willowtrees.cz

I am fulfilled by helping people discover and develop their own nature, strength and gifts.

With us since 
2016
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Lucie Černická
Community Development
lucie@willowtrees.cz
Lucie Černická
Community Development
lucie@willowtrees.cz

With us since 
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Montessori work with the children has brought me humility, respect for the creative strength in each of us and a greater understanding of myself.

I experience each child's first steps to independence with a quiet wonderment. The beginnings of the miraculous processes of a blossoming personality. I enjoy the endless search for ways to help that, and I'm inspired by the diversity and endless possibilities.

Martina, Teacher of children aged 3 - 6
I first taught the children English and back then I already knew I was caught and I wouldn't stop, my joy and passion grew whenever I saw them in their eyes.

But then, when I became a mother and thought about my school experiences, I understood that I have to take the Montessori path. I really enjoy meeting the children and their parents every day and learning with them and from them.

Heloise, Teacher of children aged 1.5 - 3
Willowtrees lives for the Montessori philosophy not only for children, but also for adults.

It never stops creating and evolving its environment, with respect to the uniqueness of each child and their family and also with respect to the uniqueness of each teacher. This harmonic connection creates an atmosphere that is palpable as soon as you enter the school. We together perceive that our sense is to fine-tune all the components so that every soul, whether child or adult, can fully shine their authentic light. And this journey and joint growth is what I enjoy and what fulfils me the most.

Petra, Teacher of children aged 1.5 - 3

Elementary school

Nicole Horová
Head Teacher of Grades 1 - 3
nicole@willowtrees.cz
Nicole Horová
Head Teacher of Grades 1 - 3
nicole@willowtrees.cz

I taught little children as well as adults in the past and Grades 1 - 3 at Willowtrees are the best! They go headfirst into everything, wonderfully curious and honest. I enjoy being there as their independence, awareness of themselves and their gifts blossom.

With us since 
2019
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Chase Merino
English Teacher of Grades 1 - 3
Chase Merino
English Teacher of Grades 1 - 3

With us since 
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Chris Gaston
English Teacher of Grades 1 - 3, Art
Chris Gaston
English Teacher of Grades 1 - 3, Art

I come from the USA, spent some of my life in Japan and all of it making and sharing art. Art is self-expression and a tool for connecting with others and each of us is an artist somewhere.

With us since 
2019
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Zuzka Áčková
Assistant for Grades 1 - 3
Zuzka Áčková
Assistant for Grades 1 - 3

The safety, peace and harmony of others warms my heart. I like looking for and finding ways to understand the perceptions of the world of those who are different, and to build bridges for them. I love nature and movement.

With us since 
2022
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Bára Perknerová
Head Teacher of Grades 4 - 6
bara@willowtrees.cz
Bára Perknerová
Head Teacher of Grades 4 - 6
bara@willowtrees.cz

I studied maths and Montessori helped me discover how beautiful, colourful and playful it can be. I also enjoy the German language and adventures in nature thanks to my two sons.

With us since 
2016
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Šimon Svoboda
Teaching Assistant
Šimon Svoboda
Teaching Assistant

I love word play, storytelling, poetry and moderating open mics. For me, it's a natural way to learn and work together, including with children. I enjoy swimming in ice-cold water and I'm learning to cook healthily.

With us since 
2019
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Alejandra Núñez
Spanish, Painting
Alejandra Núñez
Spanish, Painting

With us since 
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Jarda Kalousek
Head Teacher of Grades 7 - 9, Social Sciences
jarda@willowtrees.cz
Jarda Kalousek
Head Teacher of Grades 7 - 9, Social Sciences
jarda@willowtrees.cz

My driving force is the constant search for the courage to grow and to overcome obstacles, the courage to reach for your dreams. And I try to pass that on not only in Czech Language and Social Sciences, but through sports and mental fitness as well.

With us since 
2014
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Tomáš Birčák
Teacher of Grades 7 - 9, Science
Tomáš Birčák
Teacher of Grades 7 - 9, Science

My passion has always been nature, and I love spending time in the wilderness. I try to pass on how we can live in harmony with it and everything is interconnected. I also see it in chemistry, food, strengthening our bodies and in Thai boxing.

With us since 
2019
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Semina Sersinou
English Teacher of Grades 7 - 9
Semina Sersinou
English Teacher of Grades 7 - 9

With us since 
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Arun Rajeev
English Teacher of Grades 7 - 9
Arun Rajeev
English Teacher of Grades 7 - 9

With us since 
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Vláďa Hájek
Music
Vláďa Hájek
Music

With us since 
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Adéla Zmrzlíková
Drama
Adéla Zmrzlíková
Drama

With us since 
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Markéta Schnellerová
Flutes
Markéta Schnellerová
Flutes

With us since 
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Miroslav Kodym
Aikido
Miroslav Kodym
Aikido

With us since 
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Monika Jarošová
Afternoon care & food
monika@willowtrees.cz
Monika Jarošová
Afternoon care & food
monika@willowtrees.cz

With us since 
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Jitka Dvořáková
Organisation & Communication
jitka@willowtrees.cz
Jitka Dvořáková
Organisation & Communication
jitka@willowtrees.cz

I love being the invisible eyes and hands in the background, giving things a framework, order and beauty. I am overjoyed with every encounter with parents or neighbours and with the development of our school garden.

With us since 
2019
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I have already experienced many miracles at Willowtrees. It's unbelievable how soon we can kindle our inner flame and are then able to change the world around us.

A personal approach, safety, and trust are necessary for searching for and finding this flame. Only then can we create a space where we have the courage to live great dreams, to love life and its whimsy and to always return to oneself as a source of happiness and peace. Together. I hope my students can think critically and manage to stand up for themselves and to become who they want to be.

Jarda, Head Teacher of Grades 7 - 9
It never ceases to move me how the children look forward to coming here every day, the joy they return with after the weekend, that they miss coming here when they're sick.

For me, Willowtrees is a place where children learn everything with curiosity and the teachers help them with love and understanding. A place where things make sense, where everything is real. I'm lucky I can be a part of it.

Nicole, Head Teacher of Grades 1 - 3
It is wonderful when work is a hobby, and even more so when its so fulfilling. Each day I look forward to the joy, laughter and adventures large and small that we share together.

Every day I experience the children's nature and genuineness. Their desire to learn, understand and live unsullied by fear. I enjoy inspiring and supporting this and I enjoy growing with them and learning from them.

Bára, Head Teacher of Grades 4 - 6
When I first came to Willowtrees, It wasn't a school like I knew, but a family full of life, movement and creativity, people immersed and enthusiastic about what they are currently doing.

A school that truly develops a love for learning and allows children to be who they really are, to grow and to make mistakes. As I child, I would have liked such a school and I am very glad I can help to create it.

Chris, English & Art Teacher

Founders

Vojtěch Vrba
School Principal, Physics & ICT
vojtech@willowtrees.cz
Vojtěch Vrba
School Principal, Physics & ICT
vojtech@willowtrees.cz

During my middle life crisis, I got a school instead of a motorcycle. All my life I've been working in the virtual IT world, but this is reality that is of profound importance.

With us since 
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Nina Kodymová
CEO, Vision & Development
nina@willowtrees.cz
Nina Kodymová
CEO, Vision & Development
nina@willowtrees.cz

I am pleased to see us all grow. And I am moved by and truly enjoy being with adolescents, some of whom I have known since preschool. And I am amazed at how far they have come and how they shine more and more with their inner flame.

With us since 
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Career

Come join us!

Do you enjoy working with children? Are you interested in Montessori methods of teaching? We offer all this at Willowtrees, and even much more!