Meet Our Teachers

Georgiana Varbiu

Georgiana joined the BSB team in 2023 as Primary Executive Assistant. In this role, Georgiana ensures the effective and efficient running of the Primary School office.

Georgiana holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Foreign Languages and possesses vast experience in television. As Office Manager, she has demonstrated excellent planning, organising, and coordinating competences in the demanding environment of a branding company.

She has been involved in different charities, volunteered in scout organisations, and has been one of the voices offering emotional support on the Elderly Line.

Yelena Chivaran

Yelena joined the British School of Bucharest in 2023, assuming the role of Resource and Stationery Coordinator. She plays a pivotal role in maintaining the cohesion of the Primary School office, ensuring seamless and efficient operations.

With a Bachelor’s Degree in Foreign Languages, Yelena brings over 15 years of experience in Office Administration, Office Support, PA, and Document Control. She is a highly skilled professional in her field, and her expertise is evident in her work at BSB.

Jonathan Smith

Jonathan Smith joined the British School of Bucharest in 2015 as a teacher in the EAL Department.

Prior to moving to Romania, he taught English to children in Years 1 to 9 at a Czech state school, where he also worked on an initiative to introduce e-learning and promote inclusion within Czech schools. Jonathan’s significant experience with language learning also includes working with a prestigious Czech IT company, for whom he founded the English Language Training Department and helped establish an award-winning private international university, leading the English Department.

Ramona Boiangiu

Ramona Boiangiu joined BSB in 2003 and has worked in the Primary school with Year 2, 3 and 4 for more than 10 years.

She currently works with Year 1 and enjoys every single day with the children. Ramona has a BA in English and Spanish from Spiru Haret University and achieved a CACHE Level 2 Diploma for Teaching Assistants with Distinction Diploma. She has also gained the Cambridge English Level 2 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced) and recently the Cambridge English Level 5 Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA).

Raluca Bobeica

Raluca Bobeica joined the British School of Bucharest in 2016.

She has an MA in Public Relations and Communication and a BA in Foreign Languages. Before joining the school, Raluca was an English teacher and a freelance photographer, working with children aged two to 15.

Megan Thompson

Megan joined BSB in 2024 as a Primary Drama Teacher. After earning her degree in Theatre Studies (Theatre Education) from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014, she spent six years teaching middle and high school theatre. She then moved to Romania, where she has been teaching both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 homeroom classes. Megan is passionate about the role of theatre in education, believing it empowers children to develop 21st-century skills while fostering empathy, active listening, and a sense of shared responsibility among learners.

Jonathan Prestbury

Jonathan joined the British School of Bucharest as a Primary Teacher in 2023. He graduated with combined honours in Music Technology and Media Communications and Culture from Keele University and started his teaching career in Primary Schools in the United Kingdom.

Jonathan has extensive experience performing, composing and recording a variety of musical styles and is a featured artist on several major recordings working with well-known record labels in the UK, such as Bella Union. His main instrument is the guitar, but he has also taught and can play the drums, bass and piano.

He began teaching primary-aged children a range of creative skills such as music, animation and film making, working with schools across the whole of the UK before completing his PGCE in Music and moving on to work in Secondary Schools in the North West of England. Jonathan also achieved a Cambridge accredited qualification to teach English as a foreign language and is a passionate advocate and practitioner of all the arts. He firmly believes in the educational power of creativity.

Nicholas Morgan

Nicholas Morgan has a BSc in Astronomy and Maths, which he obtained whilst living abroad in Malaysia.

He started his journey as a teacher at the Nexus International School in Putrajaya, Malaysia. He is an experienced KS2 teacher who taught Year 6 for the last three years at The British School Kathmandu in Nepal. Having extensive knowledge of new technologies, he uses technology to enhance learning as an ICT coordinator and a Google Certified Trainer. He has an innate passion for developing a growth mindset in his students and encouraging them to embrace all facets of their education.

Vasiliki Charmani

Vasiliki earned her BA in French Language and Literature from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She holds an advanced master’s degree in Education of the French Language from the Open University of Patras (Greece) and an MA in Educational Psychology from the University of Nicosia (Cyprus).

Her teaching career began in Greece, where she taught French in various language schools and public and private schools in Athens. Over the last nine years, she worked
within the International Baccalaureate system, teaching French to students ranging from Year 4 to Year 13 in different European countries, including Switzerland, Austria, and Latvia.

Vasiliki has been an examiner for the French exams DELF DALF for two decades and possesses extensive expertise in A-level and IB courses. In Austria, she also served
as an intensive needs teacher assistant at an elementary school, providing support to students with learning difficulties.

In her leisure time, Vasiliki enjoys travelling, cooking, and expanding her language skills.

Geraldine Andrews

Geraldine has been a primary school teacher in the British Curriculum for 30 years, including 10 years as a Headteacher. She possesses extensive experience in a variety of schools in the UK and internationally.

Geraldine previously worked at BSB from 2019 to 2022 and rejoined BSB in 2023 with great excitement.

Dalila Istrate

Ms Dalila Istrate joined the British School of Bucharest in January 2005 as a Teaching Assistant. She brought a wealth of talent and experience gained working with children, both within and outside Romania. Dalila is a qualified Art Teacher and has completed three international courses as part of her continuous professional development during her 16 years as a Teaching Assistant.

Philosophy

After I lived in Argentina for several years and worked with children from poor backgrounds, I realised that I had the skills and knowledge to prepare them for a better world. Teaching is a way of offering a solid learning experience to each pupil, which is one reason that inspires me to continue to teach to this day.

What I teach my students

I will start with Maria Montessori’s metaphor, ‘The Child, His Majesty’.
Every year group demands specific necessities. Being an EYFS Music Teacher is a challenge for me to make them understand and embrace Music at such an early stage of their lives. Being a Primary Music TA is a perfect opportunity for me to support my students in learning and discovering Music and instruments.

Something unexpected

I am quite a good ping-pong and badminton player, and I received the title of Champion in Secondary School by competing with different school teams from Romania.

Andreea Nichita

Andreea Nichita joined BSB as a Teaching Assistant in August 2022. She is a certified Yoga teacher and completed her certification at Rishikesh, India, in 2020. Following her passion and continuous desire to keep learning, she is pursuing a Diploma in Psychology.

Andreea-Alexandra Tanase

Andreea joined BSB in 2024 as a Teaching Assistant. She holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Bucharest. Over the years, she has studied in both France and Poland, with a keen interest in topics such as instructional design, gamification of learning, LMS (Learning Management System), and BBL (Brain-Based Learning).

Professionally, Andreea worked for two years as a Primary School teacher and Social Sciences teacher within the public education system in Romania. She holds the title of QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) in the field of Social Sciences. Additionally, she has experience working with students with special educational needs related to ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), ADHD, and Dyslexia.

Andreea directed her teaching interest towards disadvantaged communities in rural areas of Romania. She was also a trained teacher within the NGO Teach for Romania, where she developed skills in working with students to improve literacy, numeracy, socio-emotional, and leadership skills.

In 2022, she obtained an Erasmus+ scholarship for teachers in Italy, where she participated in a training course in the field of digital tools in teaching – ICT tools.

Her hobbies include learning foreign languages, writing, photography, literature, and cooking.

Antonia Niculescu

Antonia has been part of the BSB Team since 2020 and has just returned from maternity leave in 2024.

Theodora Anagnostopoulou

Theodora has taught English, French and Greek as a foreign language teacher.

Through this extensive experience, she has acquired new techniques in teaching, become more patient, made new friends and visited new places to meet her students. In 2013, though her coming to Romania did not seem like a step in the right direction as she did not speak the language back then, she reinvented herself and taught in nurseries. Her last position as Deputy Headmaster at a French kindergarten also helped her gain experience in preschool stages. “I know only one thing that I know nothing”, by Socrates, keeps her forever interested in learning daily from her students.
She likes learning languages when she doesn’t work or tries to create with yarn and needles what she cannot draw. Having no pets in her new location, she turned her love to plants and found out she has green fingers, after all.

Eibhlin Goppert

Eibhlín Göppert joins the British School of Bucharest as a teacher of Arts, Design & Food Technology.

She received a first honours BA in Education and Psychology from the Mary Immaculate College in Ireland, specialising in Art in Education and ABA in Psychology. She also attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston to receive the Nord Anglia training on launching STEAM challenges in school.

Eibhlín has taught across both Primary and Secondary schools, including as Head of Art at the British International School Hanoi in Vietnam. In that role, she achieved excellent results and created an engaging curriculum that challenged and provided increased interest in IGCSE and IB Visual Arts courses.

She aims to continue working internationally and in Secondary Art Education, collaborating with professionals and students from around the world to provide meaningful learning opportunities that align with our ever-changing environment.

Teodora Ghinea

Teodora Ghinea joined the British School of Bucharest in 2022 as a School Counsellor. She graduated with a MA in Assessment, Counselling and Psychotherapy for children, couples and families from the University of Bucharest.

Teodora is a Member of the Romanian Psychologists College, professing as an Autonomous clinical psychologist and psychological counsellor. She has experience working with children with emotional, social or school difficulties, as well as experience working with children with special needs, including expertise in personal development workshops. Teodora also has long-term training in Experiential and Unification Psychotherapy focused on adult-child-couple-family.

Teodora volunteers for children in different associations and non-formal activities, providing them with emotional support.

Emma Morgan

Emma Morgan started working at the British School of Bucharest in August 2022.

She holds a Mathematics degree from the University of Bristol and is currently completing a master’s degree in the Psychology of Mental Health and Wellbeing. She has a wealth of international experience, having worked in Thailand, Malaysia, and Nepal as a Maths teacher and Head of Mathematics. Emma has fostered strong bonds with her students throughout her 11-year teaching career and is now applying those skills in supporting mental well-being and helping guide pupils and students be the best they can be.

Larisa Constantin

Larisa joined the British School of Bucharest in 2012 as part of the Office Team and has worked as a Senior Project Coordinator and Deputy Customer Relationship Manager.

Larisa holds a bachelor’s degree in Management from The Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE). She completed ‘The Management of Professional Relationships through Communication’
training course, and she holds a ‘Marketing Essentials’ Distinction Level Certificate, which has been instrumental in coordinating large-scale events at the School and understanding the importance of diplomacy and customer care.

Iulia Gogiia

Iulia Gogiia works as SENCO in our Secondary Special Educational Needs (SEN) Department.

She joined the British School of Bucharest in 2015. Iulia holds a BA in Psychology and has recently completed a Postgraduate Certificate International Award for SEN Coordination at Middlesex University.

Ana Maria Marin

Mrs Ana-Maria Marin joined the British School of Bucharest in 2000, our opening year. Ana-Maria has been with the School through all the essential steps to create and deliver an excellent learning environment for children. She worked with the School Office, gave Romanian lessons to students and parents, was a co-teacher in Pre-Nursery and played a supporting role for the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Department and the Able, Gifted and Talented Department. She assists with organising trips and other enrichment activities for Primary. Additionally, she is a Romanian and English Literature graduate from the University of Bucharest.

Philosophy

I believe a child learns when feeling safe, when feeling seen and when opportunities are plenty. Children are more likely to take risks, ask questions, welcome diverse opinions, and generate more productive and creative solutions if they are in continuous competition with themselves.

What I teach my students

As a librarian, my job is to match the child with the right book and ensure they come back for another book and another and then some more. As a support staff member, I encourage their creativity, spontaneity and individuality.

Something unexpected

I have named my daughter after a student I worked with, a little Japanese girl that came to us with no English at all. She could only express herself through gestures and art, but sometimes the most profound connections do not need words.
Since 1997, when I first came across it, I have read my favourite book seven times. I’m pretty sure I might reread it in the future.

Cătălina Paraschiv

Miss Cătălina Paraschiv joined BSB in 2007 and is currently working with Year 6 pupils, having worked in upper Key Stage 2 for many years. She graduated (B.A.) in Literature at the University of Bucharest, including the pedagogical module. She also completed the University of Northampton’s Teaching Assistant course and enjoys being part of the teaching staff at the BSB Primary School.

Philosophy

I consider Teaching Assistants the backbone of any classroom. Therefore, passion and energy, dedication, adaptability, forward-thinking and being friendly are necessary so that every pupil has the support they need for their lessons.

What I teach my students

I support, motivate and encourage children to reach their high expectations in learning, and create a desire to always strive for more.

Something unexpected

I am a certified cycling instructor 🙂 and a collector of old children’s books.

Andreea Stanescu

Andreea joined the British School of Bucharest in 2023 as a Teaching Assistant. She graduated in 2021 from the Faculty of Letters, specializing in Romanian Language and Literature – Modern Language and Literature (with French), at the University of Bucharest. After that, she started a master’s degree in Ethnology, Cultural Anthropology, and Folklore. During this time, Andreea also developed a passion for teaching and educating younger generations, engaging in teaching the Romanian language and participating in a Teacher Training programme.

In the past years, and particularly during her master’s degree, Andreea discovered the beauty of cultures around the world and the significance of multicultural and multiethnic places. Now, she aspires to pursue her passion for education by sharing and teaching students about the diversity offered by our world.

Roxana Moldovan

Roxana Moldovan joined the British School of Bucharest in 2024 as a Secondary Learning Support SEN Assistant, bringing extensive expertise in psychology and special educational needs. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, and she is a licensed Clinical Psychology Practitioner under supervision.

Throughout her career, Roxana has worked closely with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, and other learning difficulties. Her hands-on experience as an ABA therapist and educational shadow has involved implementing individualised therapeutic interventions to enhance language, communication, and social skills. Roxana’s work focuses on supporting students’ cognitive and emotional development while addressing behavioural challenges through strategies tailored to each student’s unique needs.

Passionate about fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment, Roxana integrates academic support with emotional and social guidance. She brings strong organisational skills and a deep commitment to creating a nurturing and structured environment for students, helping them overcome challenges and reach their full potential.

Ana-Maria Pocol

Ana-Maria joined the British School of Bucharest in 2021, as a school counsellor.

She graduated with a master’s degree in assessment, counselling and psychotherapy for children, couples and families, from the University of Bucharest. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and psychological counsellor and is currently undergoing training in hypnotherapy and cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy. She has five years of experience working with children with special needs.

In June 2020, she became a member of the research team at the Laboratory of Clinical Psychology for Children, Adolescents and Families.

Ana-Maria is also a volunteer for children with special needs and has offered her assistance in various hospitals in the pediatric psychiatric ward.

During her master’s degree, she was introduced to the notions related to play therapy and drama therapy, which she has since integrated with her therapeutic work with children.

While working with children, she focuses on connecting and providing a safe framework to grow emotionally. As a school counsellor at BSB, Ana conducts assessments and lesson observations, assisting children in developing their cognitive and emotional abilities. She also supports children in understanding their inner and outer world better and adapting their behaviour according to their needs.

Camelia Howard

Camelia joined BSB in 2024 after working for nearly nine years as a School Counsellor and DSL at an international school in Bucharest.

Camelia is a licensed counsellor and psychotherapist, and she has been a member of the Romanian Board of Psychologists since 2010. She graduated from the University of Bucharest, Faculty of Educational Sciences, and continued her professional education in experiential psychotherapy for children, adults, and families. In 2011, she opened her private practice and explored other methods of therapy, such as Emotion-Focused Therapy, Play Therapy, Drama Therapy, and Emotionally Focused Therapy, to build on her professional skills and offer broader and deeper support to clients.

She has extensive experience working with a multicultural adolescent population across a range of issues, including anxiety, interpersonal relationships, and academic pressure, and she loves working in a vibrant school environment. Camelia is delighted to be part of the BSB community, and she hopes to make a difference in consolidating students’ well-being.

Daniela Serban

Daniela Serban is an Autonomous Integrative Psychotherapist and a Member of the Romanian Psychologists College.

She has over 20 years of experience working as a student mentoring and training programme coordinator. She organises individual and group psychotherapy sessions and is a consultant for human resources development and organises training sessions for social educators, as well as in vocational and personal development. Daniela joined the British School of Bucharest in 2017 as a Human Resources Development Consultant and has now rearranged her schedule to allow for individual sessions for BSB parents and staff members, helping them to get through the stressful period of COVID-19.

Elena Tudor

Elena joined the British School of Bucharest in 2020 as a School Nurse. In 2017, she graduated as a General Nurse from the Carol Davila School.

During the same year, she started to work in education at a private school in Bucharest, providing medical assistance and creating a warm and friendly environment amongst children and staff. A large part of Elena’s training required of her to do internships in the paediatric department of the hospital. There she gained a great deal of experience in knowing best how to act and treat children. Being a mother of two, this has also helped her immensely with her own children.

She studied Psychology and enjoys working with children, and believes that individual health can be defined as a state of physical, mental and social well-being.

Elena’s philosophy is that as long as we are in harmony with our body, we can easily solve medical problems and that, any individual when not feeling well, needs care, kindness and a big smile.

Andrei Bruss

Andrei joined the BSB Team as the Primary Nurse Practitioner in 2023. He holds a bachelor’s degree in General Practice Nursing and has extensive experience in ICU, OR, ER, and Anaesthesiology. As the Charge Nurse, he has demonstrated excellent planning, organising, and coordinating skills in the challenging environment of many branding companies.

Andrei actively participates in various charitable activities, engages with non-governmental organizations associated with the Ministry of Education, and volunteers at SABIF (112). He is passionate about his work and finds enjoyment in reading and travelling during his leisure time.

Constantina Alexandru

Constantina has gained over 20 years of experience in the medical field, having worked extensively in both Romania and the UK. Her professional background primarily involves providing care to patients in NHS and private hospital settings.

With a wealth of experience, Constantina embraces the challenge of working in paediatrics and aspires to deliver the highest standard of care at BSB, where she joined in 2024.

Outside of her professional endeavours, Constantina cultivates a passion for music, particularly classical, and finds enjoyment in activities such as travelling and cooking.

Veronica Diaconescu

Veronica Diaconescu joined BSB in 2018 as a Teacher’s Assistant. Three years later she shifted to Extracurricular Coordinator.

Veronica completed a Master’s degree in Economics at the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest. Following her graduation, she worked for six years as an accountant for a private IT company. She then specialised in the payroll and human resources field, working for a year as Human Resources Inspector for an Accounting & Human Resources company. At BSB she experienced her first teaching assistant role and now her first role as an Extracurricular Coordinator. In the future, she plans to explore and gain experience in management to further develop her career.

Rebecca Doganay

Rebecca Doganay joined the British School of Bucharest in 2017 as a Year 5 teacher and PHSCE Coordinator.

Rebecca graduated with a degree in Primary Education from the University of Worcester in 2006 before spending two years working within the British school system in the UK, in both middle school and primary school settings. She then moved to an international school in Istanbul, where she was subject leader for PHSCE and English and a Year 5 teacher for five years. Before joining our school, Rebecca was Head of Year and Humanities, Arts and PHSCE subject leader at another international school in Bucharest. She is also the Coordinator for Year 6.