Meet Our Teachers

Victoria Smith

Victoria Smith joined the British School of Bucharest in 2015 as Head of Primary School. She acquired her PGCE and MA in International Education from the University of Sunderland in England.

She holds additional degrees in Spanish and Political Science. Following her passion for professional development and school improvement, Victoria is an accredited facilitator of the COBIS leadership training programmes, including CPAH (The COBIS Programme for Aspiring Heads) and CPML (COBIS Programme for Middle Leaders). These courses are delivered to delegates from around the world.
She is also qualified as a ‘Lead Improvement Partner’, helping other international schools obtain COBIS accreditation. Victoria has over 20 years of experience working with children in schools. Before becoming a Teacher and senior leader, her background was in social services and Special Educational Needs (SEN).

Dan Batson

Dan Batson, Director of Academic Studies at the British School of Bucharest, joined in 2014. Dan is also the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the Whole School.

Dan has a BA in Education from Wolverhampton University, a MA with distinction from Liverpool Hope University, and an NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headship). He started his teaching career in Birmingham in 1998, working mainly in Key Stage 2 within the British Curriculum. In 2005, he joined a highly respected international British school in Abu Dhabi, where he worked as Assistant Headteacher. At BSB, he oversees all curriculum and assessment matters within Primary and has led many whole-school projects, seeking opportunities to incorporate technology effectively within the classroom.

Paul Gildea

Paul Gildea joined the British School of Bucharest in 2015, taking on the Key Stage 2 Coordinator role and, more recently, Director of Pastoral Care and Inclusion.

He studied at the University of Durham and graduated with a BA degree in Russian and Eastern European Studies before undertaking a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) focusing on Modern Foreign Languages at the University of London, and has an MA in Education, Leadership and Management from the University of Derby. Paul gained eight years of experience in the British school system, rising to the position of Assistant Headteacher while working in two London primary schools. He has also worked as an English Subject Leader and Year 6 Teacher at the British School of Beijing.

Jodie Lewis

Jodie Lewis joined BSB in 2014. She qualified with a BA(Hons) in Primary Education from the University of Central England in 2001 and worked for four years in a mainstream primary school in the UK.

Jodie then taught in a special needs school for children with profound and multiple learning difficulties. She moved into international teaching 12 years ago and taught in Egypt and Kuwait before moving to Bucharest as a KS1 coordinator and returned after her maternity leave as EYFS coordinator. In 2023 Jodie assumed the role of Director of EYFS and KS1.

Aisling Kinsella

Aisling Kinsella joined the British School of Bucharest in 2022.

She obtained her PGCE from Sunderland University and for the last three years, Aisling has taught Early Years in a highly respected International School in Cambodia. She is passionate about providing an individualised experience that encourages every child’s voice in her classroom to be heard and considered.
As a specialist in early child development, she has a keen interest in nurturing students and providing stimulating learning experiences. An expert in transition and attachment, she brings her breadth of experience to Primary School.

Andreea Slodoneanu

Loredana Barbu

Catherine Holland

Catherine Holland joined the British School of Bucharest in 2022.

She studied Primary Education at Edge Hill University and graduated with a BA(Hons) in 2009. She is an exceptionally experienced teacher having taught in several schools, both internationally and in the UK.
As a highly skilled EYFS teacher, Catherine discovered her passion for learning through play and gained the Early Years Professional Status in 2011. This has influenced her approaches to teaching and learning.
During her international teaching journey, she finely tuned her extensive experience, working in global academic environments.
She has worked in Qatar, Vietnam, the UK and most recently, Kuwait, where she was the Reception Curriculum coordinator.

Sofia Anagnostaki

Cristina Bucur

Cristina has completed a BA in English and Theology at the University of Bucharest in 2007. Previous experience with children includes working as a caregiver and Teaching Assistant in a Nursery at a private kindergarten in Chiajna from September 2020 to August 2023. She joined the British School of Bucharest as a Teaching Assistant in 2023.

Cristina has also volunteered for about seven years with ‘Asociatia FREE’, working with at-risk children from underprivileged environments, conducting prevention classes against human trafficking, and more. She has been involved as a leader in various children’s summer camps in Romania and the Republic of Moldova.

She is deeply passionate about illustrating children’s books, crafting, calligraphy, exploring nature, and cycling, among other interests.

Cheryl Baker

Cheryl completed a degree in Primary Education and Art in 2005. She then spent eight years teaching Years 3-6 in London schools before her first international post in Shanghai. Cheryl first joined BSB in 2016, teaching Year 4 and then Year 6. She moved back to England for a few years in 2019, where, after completing her maternity leave, she worked in special educational needs schools with children having complex, profound, and multiple learning difficulties, ASC, and sensory impairments. She then accepted a position in a private nursery, using Montessori methods to teach preschool-aged children.

Cheryl is delighted to return to BSB in 2023, this time as an EYFS Teacher.

Adriana Sima

Adriana Sima has been with the British School of Bucharest since 2008.

Her experience as an Early Years Teaching Assistant covers Pre-Nursery and Nursery, and she has also worked with older children, aged 6 to 11, at the popular BSB Summer School. Adriana has an MA in Psychology – Human Resources and a BA in Psychology – Education Sciences. She graduated from the CTAIC (Certificate for Teaching Assistants in an International Context) course in 2014.

Dana Cirje

Dana Cîrje joined the British School of Bucharest in 2007.

Over those fourteen years she has worked in the Early Years Foundation Stage and she is currently working as part of the School Learning Support Team. Dana studied Management and in 2015 completed the course ‘How to talk so kids can learn’.

Jenna Batson

Jenna Batson joined the British School of Bucharest in 2014 as a Music Teacher for Primary and is now one of our EYFS Curriculum Coordinators.

Jenna completed her teacher training at Chester University, specialising in Art. Following graduation, she spent her first few years in a Lancashire school before moving to the Middle East as a Class Teacher and Subject Coordinator in a highly respected British Curriculum school in Abu Dhabi.

Daniela Vezeanu

Daniela Vezeanu began working at the British School of Bucharest in 2008 in Early Years.

She has a BA in Universal and Comparative English Literature. During her time working with children, she has specialised in working in the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1.

Nicola Cartledge

Nicola joined BSB in 2023 after relocating to Romania from the U.A.E. with her family. She previously worked in a British School in Abu Dhabi as Head of Nursery, gaining extensive experience. Before that, she worked in various school settings in the UK, primarily focusing on Early Years teaching and leadership. Nicola has completed numerous training courses in education and related subjects, including a master’s degree in Psychology.

In her free time, Nicola enjoys going to the gym and being outdoors.

Adriana Diaconescu

Adriana Diaconescu joined the British School of Bucharest in 2019 as a Teaching Assistant.

She has a degree in History, specialising in Medieval history from Dimitrie Cantemir Christian University and has worked for many years within the administrative sphere including several years within an international school.