Neverland Preschool: Our Team

Principal, Drama Teacher - Vanessa Gendron

Born in Quebec, Canada in 1974, Vanessa Gendron holds a B.A in Education and a B.A in Theatre both from the University of Ottawa. She has taught pupils of all ages and from a wide range of cultural backgrounds while at the Global Concepts International School in Prague and at the National Film Acting School in Montreal. Gendron has also been involved with several Canadian, Czech and International theatre groups, leading her to create diverse projects which she performs or directs. In 2003, she created the concept of the Neverland Art Preschool in collaboration with owner Osnat Sagi.

Office Manager - Ivana Vavrova

Ivana Vávrová was born in North Moravia, Silesia. After finishing her Gymnasium studies, she went to the J.A.Komensky Academy where she obtained a certificate of English language. After passing her entrance exams at the University of Ostrava she studied English and Civics in the Faculty of Philosophy. During her studies she worked as a promoter and taught as a preschool teacher in a kindergarten. After completing her Masters Degree she became a high school teacher. Now she joins our team in hopes of learning new methods and meeting friendly new faces in a unique environment.

School Nurse : Pavla Meckovska

School Nurse : Pavla is a certified nurse available for parents to consult and teachers. In case of emergencies Pavla is always present to assure the proper care of your children. She undergoes periodical trainings with the Canadian Medical Center to provide our staff with proper training. 

1 UP Teacher "Ladybugs" - Pavla Meckovska

Pavla graduated in 1986 as a pediatric nurse from the Prague gymnasium. After her studies she worked in a spa helping preschool children with asthmatic problems. The following two years she worked as a nurse with children between the ages of 2-3 years. In 1992 she moved to Glasgow in order to perfect her English. Upon return to Prague she worked as a shop assistant for pregnant woman by advising them. From 1996-1999, she managed the childcare center at the IBTS Jeneralka. She has now been a member of the Neverland Art Preschool for 2 years, providing the school with her nursery skills.

1 Up "Ladybug" Assistant, Iddah Tsumah

Iddah Tsumah is 24 years old born and grew up in Kenya. She graduated from the University of  Nairobi with a B.A in personnel management. After completing my studies, I decided to come live and work in Prague. I have several years experience working with children from a tender age of  3 months to 4years.English is my native language and besides working with children, my hobbies are reading and traveling.

2 UP "Frogs", Teacher, Sheetal

Hello.My name is Sheetal. I am from India. I did my graduation in commerce from Indian University with major English and then did my master's in library sciences. And from 2001-2007 I worked in an international school as an English Teacher and part time as a yoga teacher. I came to Prague to join my husband. I believe that a teacher can create a vast mosaic of curiosities to imagine and secrets to unfold. Children yearn for knowledge and we should be grateful to have the opportunity to be silent guides on their path.Working with children is not a job for me, its a vocation. For me only love is the reason for teaching.

2 and Up Assistant "Frogs", Dana Vondrackova

Dana is 42 and earned her degree in Economics. Being a mother, she has always been involved with children. For the past 10 years she has been working for various kindergartens in Prague. Dana is one of the pioneers at Neverland. She has been with us for three years and prior to that she worked for Osnat Sagi in her previous Kindergarten. Dana is a very charismatic and warm lady who brings her creative energy to the classroom giving all the children love and understanding. 

3 and Up " Penguins" Teacher, Melissa Walker

Melissa Walker has been a Teacher of English as a Second Language to children and adults for 5 1/2 years.  She started her career teaching in private English kindergartens in South Korea, where she taught for three years and was much loved by her students and respected by the staff for her innovative teaching methods blending storytelling, drama, music and dance in the English classroom.  Melissa has taught in the Czech Republic for the last 2 1/2 years, after first spending a month going back to school herself to get the prestigious Trinity certificate in TESOL from Oxford Tefl, Prague.  Her approach to teaching children can be best summed up by one of the greatest minds ever, Albert Einstein, who said, 'Imagination is more important than knowledge'."

3 and Up Assistant "Penguins" Anila Dangol

 Anila is from Nepal and is a Psychology graduate from the University of New York in Prague. She came to the Czech Republic after receiving a scholarship for graduate study while studying Food Technology in the Central Campus of Technology, Dharan (Nepal). She started working with children while in Nepal, first as an assistant teacher and then as a teacher of English as well as Science for grades 2,3 & 4 in Lalitpur Secondary Boarding School, Nepal.  She has also completed a special course in Traditional Nepalese dance as well as Bollywood (Indian Film) dance and has worked as an assistant choreographer for the Bollywood Film festival in Prague. Apart from her interest in Dance and Drama, she has also completed a course in First Aid and Swimming Life guard training. She loves working with children and thinks its the best job anyone can ever have.

4 and Up Teacher "Dinosaurs" Liza Botha

Born in South Africa, Liza graduated from the University of Cape Town with a B.A. (Hons) Fine Art.  She spent the following two years in Taiwan where she gained her first teaching experience at an all English kindergarten. With her return to Cape Town, Liza completed another B.A. degree, this time from AFDA (African Film and Drama Association), majoring in Animation. The combination of art, animation and working with kids, inspired her to explore the field of children stories.  Liza aspires to pursue in this direction by working closely with children.  Her passion for travelling led her to Prague where she has been teaching since August 2007. Liza is thrilled to be part of the Neverland team.  

4 and Up Assistant "Dinosaurs" Steven Schwartz

Steven was born and raised in California. He has experience with children of all ages, first with teaching music and being an assistant in afterschool programs.  He came to Prague, earned a TEFL certificate, and began teaching adults English as a foreign language. dissatisfied with this, he is happy to do something more rewarding and work with children again. 

5/6 and Up Teacher "Lions" - Steve Smith

Steve Smith is a teacher and musician from the United States.  He has previously worked at Neverland with the Ladybugs, Butterflies and holiday/summer camps. 

Steve-o is very excited to be teaching the Lions class and leading the Neverland music program.

He is challenging the Lions with one simple game called "Solve Your Own Problem."  This game encourages independent thought, experimentation and leadership in the students.  

Steve loves to talk with parents about the kids so please come and say hello, even if your child is not in the Lions class!

Steve holds a fine arts degree in music from the City College of New York and has been living in Prague for three years. 

Outside of Neverland his activities include playing piano, DJing, and teaching audio engineering lessons with adult students. 

Czech program "Teacher" Marketa Kynclova

Marketa graduated from the Charles University of Prague, Faculty of Education in 2005, where she earned her degrees in child education and psychology, English language and literature and mathematics. During her studies as a part of the training she gained lots of experience with the kids of all ages. She also spent six months in Mallorca where she worked as an English teacher at one local preschool and primary school. As she loved working with the kids so much, she joined our team in 2005. First three years she worked as a teacher of 2-ups then she was home with her baby for a year and now she is really excited about being back as the Czech teacher.

Amber, Volunteer at Neverland

Amber is 16 and was born in England.

She has been living in Prague for 6 years with her family in Nebusice.
 
Even from a young age, Amber has been fasinated with arts and crafts.
Starting out with baby sitting Amber's interests in child care and child psychology has lead her to Neverland to work voluntarily in the classes for experience. She has had experience with children of all ages ranging from 18 months and above.
 
Before she came to Neverland she attended Riverside where she studied the british curriculum. Now that she has finished her exams she has decided to take a year off school to undertake work experience until she moves back to England where she will begin her college course.
She has a reserved place for Autumn 2010, to study BTEC Art and Design at the Cambridge Regional College, in the UK.
 
She is truly enjoying her stay at Neverland and she says that she feels in her element when she works with children.