HIRING TEACHERS
We are currently hiring teachers, substitute teachers, and looking for volunteers!
If you would like to teach the Czech or Slovak language or help in any other capacity please let us know!
We especially need teachers for Czech and Slovak adult classes.
We are currently hiring teachers, substitute teachers, and looking for volunteers!
If you would like to teach the Czech or Slovak language or help in any other capacity please let us know!
We especially need teachers for Czech and Slovak adult classes.
Czech Teachers
Preschool Class (3-5 years old) - Substitute Teacher
Jan Hannig grew up in Praha, Czech Republic. His mother was a preschool teacher and his father a popular musician. Jan studied mathematics at Charles University and moved to the USA in 1996 to study statistics at Michigan State University. He currently works as a professor of statistics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While at Michigan State University, Jan has taught Czech language to descendants of Czech immigrants in Owoso, MI. He also volunteers in a children’s program at his church. Jan is married to Shevaun Neupert and they have two children, Klára and Declan.
Jan Hannig grew up in Praha, Czech Republic. His mother was a preschool teacher and his father a popular musician. Jan studied mathematics at Charles University and moved to the USA in 1996 to study statistics at Michigan State University. He currently works as a professor of statistics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While at Michigan State University, Jan has taught Czech language to descendants of Czech immigrants in Owoso, MI. He also volunteers in a children’s program at his church. Jan is married to Shevaun Neupert and they have two children, Klára and Declan.
Upper Elementary Class (8+)
Kate Kucera is a scientist, hockey mom, teacher of the upper elementary class and serves on the board of directors. Kate grew up in Děčín, Czech Republic in a small house with a big yard full of vegetable beds and fruit trees. A daughter of two teachers, she has always been close to children and education. She studied at Střední Pedagogická Škola in Ústí nad Labem and at Charles University in Prague. She moved to the United States in 1998 and married a third-generation Czech-American with a last name more Czech than her own. She holds a degree in Genetics & Genomics from Duke University and works for a biotech startup company that develops precision medicine technologies and analytics. Kate, her husband Jon, and two sons live in Chapel Hill.
Kate Kucera is a scientist, hockey mom, teacher of the upper elementary class and serves on the board of directors. Kate grew up in Děčín, Czech Republic in a small house with a big yard full of vegetable beds and fruit trees. A daughter of two teachers, she has always been close to children and education. She studied at Střední Pedagogická Škola in Ústí nad Labem and at Charles University in Prague. She moved to the United States in 1998 and married a third-generation Czech-American with a last name more Czech than her own. She holds a degree in Genetics & Genomics from Duke University and works for a biotech startup company that develops precision medicine technologies and analytics. Kate, her husband Jon, and two sons live in Chapel Hill.
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Czech Adult Classes
Adela Deanova leads the adult Czech class and is excited to develop the School's new adult curriculum. Born and raised in Prague, Adela moved with her parents to the US where she completed high school and a college degree in Foreign Service at Georgetown University. She then relocated to London, where she completed her masters degree and worked in the leadership consulting industry for nearly ten years. Adela returned to the US in 2009 to complete a PhD in philosophy at Duke University. As part of her graduate career, she has taught a variety of undergraduate courses, as well as an introductory Czech language course at UNC Chapel Hill. Adela's hobbies are sci-fi, tennis, Ashtanga yoga, dancing, and traveling. She does not take sides in the Duke-UNC basketball rivalry, and is much happier watching some good old Czech hockey! |
Mirka Christesen (Substitute Teacher) is a graduate in English and Russian from Charles University in Prague. After working shortly as a reporter/editor for Radio Prague, she married an American opera singer, Robert C. Christesen. They lived in Germany where Mirka worked as an English and Russian middle, high school, and college teacher. After relocating to the USA in 1985, Mirka taught English and worked as Academically Gifted Coordinator at several middle and high schools in Raleigh and Apex. She was named 1996 Wake County and North Carolina Academically Gifted Teacher of the Year, 2000 Wake Forest Rotary Humanitarian of the Year, and 2001 NC Middle School Character Educator of the Year. She has a daughter and two grandchildren and she authored two books, Character Kaleidoscope and If School Desks Could Speak.
Kateřina Solařová (Substitute Teacher) was born and raised in Prague. She received her MBA degree at SUNY New Paltz. Kateřina moved to the United States in 2011 with her family and currently works as a global product marketing manager for a computer company. Kateřina has two children and her hobby is to spend time with them. In the future, she would like to focus on education of young children. Kateřina is looking forward to teaching Czech to the group of youngest children through fun and play. Kateřina’s hobbies include volleyball, zumba, and traveling.
Jana Olecka (Substitute Teacher) was born and raised in Silesia, a region in Northern Moravia near Opava that is small but rich in history and culture. She is very proud of her heritage and takes every opportunity to visit with her family. Her mother and both grandmothers were teachers so Jana knew from an early age she would also love to work with children. Jana worked as an Elementary School teacher in the Czech Republic and later, when she moved to United States with her husband in 2003, she worked as an ABA therapist for children with autism. Jana is very grateful for the opportunity to be part of the team at Czech and Slovak School of NC. Jana loves to spend time with her two children and to teach them as much as she can about the world around them. She loves all things outdoors - hiking, camping, exploring. She is looking forward to teaching Czech and having fun with children in the Lower Elementary Class!
Slovak Teachers
Preschool Class (3-5 years old) / Slovak for Adults
Ludmila (Milka) Štefánová was born in Velke Kapusany in the eastern part of Slovakia, but she lived most of her life in Michalovce. Her early educational training focused on teaching, with an emphasis on young children, and she later specialized in working with children experiencing communication difficulties. During her 30+ years teaching career, she worked with kids of all ages, but mostly with kindergarteners. She served in many different roles, from helping children one-on-one to correct speech problems, through
teaching, to being a school principal. Working with children is her strong passion. Ludmila has two children of her own, and she currently lives in Chapel Hill with her daughter and son-in-law. Moving to the U.S. was a tough decision, but she has been very happy in her new home. After coming to Chapel Hill in 2012, Ludmila started learning English, and she still attends English classes four times a week. She is very grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Czech and Slovak School of NC and to bring
her expertise to this community. In her spare time, she likes to paint, swim, learn new things, and practice yoga. She is also a certified yoga instructor.
Ludmila (Milka) Štefánová was born in Velke Kapusany in the eastern part of Slovakia, but she lived most of her life in Michalovce. Her early educational training focused on teaching, with an emphasis on young children, and she later specialized in working with children experiencing communication difficulties. During her 30+ years teaching career, she worked with kids of all ages, but mostly with kindergarteners. She served in many different roles, from helping children one-on-one to correct speech problems, through
teaching, to being a school principal. Working with children is her strong passion. Ludmila has two children of her own, and she currently lives in Chapel Hill with her daughter and son-in-law. Moving to the U.S. was a tough decision, but she has been very happy in her new home. After coming to Chapel Hill in 2012, Ludmila started learning English, and she still attends English classes four times a week. She is very grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Czech and Slovak School of NC and to bring
her expertise to this community. In her spare time, she likes to paint, swim, learn new things, and practice yoga. She is also a certified yoga instructor.
Preschool Class (3-5 years old) / Slovak for Adults
Lenka Lamb is from Kosice in the Slovak Republic. She graduated from Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Natural Sciences with a Master's degree in Biology and Geography Education. She is married, has a four-year-old son, and has been living in the U.S. since 2010. She likes reading, hiking, traveling and spending time with children.
Lenka Lamb is from Kosice in the Slovak Republic. She graduated from Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Natural Sciences with a Master's degree in Biology and Geography Education. She is married, has a four-year-old son, and has been living in the U.S. since 2010. She likes reading, hiking, traveling and spending time with children.
Elementary Class (6+ years old)
Maria Duroskova was born in Kezmarok in the Northeast of Slovakia. She received her Bachelor's degree in Biology and Geography from University of Skalica, Slovakia. Maria moved to the US in 2015. She has extensive experience with children of different ages and cultural backgrounds as she worked as a nanny in England, Netherlands, and the US. Before relocating to the US, she worked as a Technical Analyst for Lenovo. For many years, she performed on stage, singing at weddings and various other cultural events and social gatherings. Maria is also a certified Pilates trainer.
In her free time, Maria likes to write lyrics and novels. She likes outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, running, Pilates, and workout. Maria appreciates the opportunity to be part of the Czech and Slovak school where she can help children improve their Slovak language so they can easily to talk with their grandparents and relatives in Slovakia
Maria Duroskova was born in Kezmarok in the Northeast of Slovakia. She received her Bachelor's degree in Biology and Geography from University of Skalica, Slovakia. Maria moved to the US in 2015. She has extensive experience with children of different ages and cultural backgrounds as she worked as a nanny in England, Netherlands, and the US. Before relocating to the US, she worked as a Technical Analyst for Lenovo. For many years, she performed on stage, singing at weddings and various other cultural events and social gatherings. Maria is also a certified Pilates trainer.
In her free time, Maria likes to write lyrics and novels. She likes outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, running, Pilates, and workout. Maria appreciates the opportunity to be part of the Czech and Slovak school where she can help children improve their Slovak language so they can easily to talk with their grandparents and relatives in Slovakia
Elementary Class (6+ years old)
Anna Pecha was born in Bojnice, Slovak Republic and spent 5 years in London in my 20s. She moved to USA in 2008 and lived in Pensylvania where she got her bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management from Muhlenberg College. She currently resides in Durham, NC and works as a sales manager for a major biotech company. She taught English language to children and adults in Slovakia privately. In her free time she loves to travel to different places around the world, visit her family in Slovakia and spend time outdoors.
Anna Pecha was born in Bojnice, Slovak Republic and spent 5 years in London in my 20s. She moved to USA in 2008 and lived in Pensylvania where she got her bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management from Muhlenberg College. She currently resides in Durham, NC and works as a sales manager for a major biotech company. She taught English language to children and adults in Slovakia privately. In her free time she loves to travel to different places around the world, visit her family in Slovakia and spend time outdoors.
Elementary (Substitute Teacher)
Ing. Dominika Turner is from Oravska Jasenica, a small village in northern Slovakia. She received her MA degree in accounting and auditing from the University of Economics in Bratislava. Mrs. Turner is a certified real estate agent currently serving as a property manager with Southern Properties of NC. Dominika has experience teaching English to preschool children in Slovakia and she is a proud mother of two bilingual children.
Ing. Dominika Turner is from Oravska Jasenica, a small village in northern Slovakia. She received her MA degree in accounting and auditing from the University of Economics in Bratislava. Mrs. Turner is a certified real estate agent currently serving as a property manager with Southern Properties of NC. Dominika has experience teaching English to preschool children in Slovakia and she is a proud mother of two bilingual children.
Past Teachers
Martina Fischerová (Czech)
Marina is a trained middle school teacher. She grew up in a village called Velké Karlovice in the eastern part of the Czech Republic, close to the border with Slovakia. Martina graduated from a teacher preparation program at the Faculty of Education, Masaryk University in Brno. In the Czech Republic, she worked as an assistant teacher and a private tutor offering remedial classes. Martina has been living in Raleigh, NC with her husband and a small dog since June 2015. Martina likes to spend her free time walking her dog, playing guitar, hiking, reading, and cooking. She is excited to be part of the Czech and Slovak School of North Carolina and hopes to turn Czech language learning into a fun activity for the children.
Marina is a trained middle school teacher. She grew up in a village called Velké Karlovice in the eastern part of the Czech Republic, close to the border with Slovakia. Martina graduated from a teacher preparation program at the Faculty of Education, Masaryk University in Brno. In the Czech Republic, she worked as an assistant teacher and a private tutor offering remedial classes. Martina has been living in Raleigh, NC with her husband and a small dog since June 2015. Martina likes to spend her free time walking her dog, playing guitar, hiking, reading, and cooking. She is excited to be part of the Czech and Slovak School of North Carolina and hopes to turn Czech language learning into a fun activity for the children.