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, Deputy Head of Primary School at the British School of Bucharest, joined in 2014.

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, Deputy Head of Primary School.

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.

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.

Nicoleta Bragadireanu

Nicoleta Bragadireanu started at the British School of Bucharest in 2006, working in Pre-Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 as a Teaching Assistant.

She is a graduate of the University of Bucharest (Department of Foreign Languages and Literature) and, in 2014, completed her CTAIC (Certificate for Teaching Assistants in an International Context) with the University of Northampton.

Kelly Salmon

Kelly Salmon has been a Class Teacher in Primary at the British School of Bucharest since 2021.

She completed her Primary PGCE at the University of Sussex in 2014 after completing a Psychology (BSc) degree in 2010. After graduation, she taught KS1 in England, then moved to Shanghai, China, for three years, where she taught in bilingual kindergartens. Kelly has joined us after teaching Reception for two years in an International School in Cadiz, Spain. She has a big passion for ‘learning through play’ and encouraging ‘hands-on’ learning throughout the curriculum.

Claudia Gagea

Claudia Gagea joined the British School of Bucharest in 2006 as a Teaching Assistant. She worked throughout the school but mainly in Key Stage 2 (years 4, 5 and 6).

She graduated from the Romanian-American University in Bucharest with a degree in International Relations, International Banking and Finance. She obtained her CTAIC course (Certificate for Teaching Assistants in an International Context) from the University of Northampton and currently works in EYFS, Pre-Nursery class.

Ann-Marie Isaac

Ann-Marie Isaac joined the British School of Bucharest in 2015. She combines her role as a Class Teacher with being the Key Stage 1 Coordinator for Primary.

She studied teaching at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Carmarthen, where she specialised in Music and Key Stage 1. Ann-Marie’s international school experience includes teaching children from Reception to Year 2 in Kuwait, where she taught for many years in different schools.

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).

​ Lucy Harrison

Lucy Harrison joined the British School of Bucharest in 2019 as a Teaching Assistant. She graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario, Canada.

Lucy obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, specialising in Social and Community Psychology, and a PGCE from the University of Birmingham. Lucy has volunteered in schools and worked as an Activities Director. She is a Class Teacher now and passionate about providing quality education to students and promoting a lifelong love for learning.

Ana-Maria Bragadireanu

Ana-Maria Bragadireanu currently works as a Teaching Assistant. She joined the British School of Bucharest in 2005 and has mostly been with Pre-Nursery and Nursery.

She also held the Resources Coordinator position for three years, covering classes in Years 1 to 6 during this time. Ana-Maria attended the George Cosbuc Bilingual High School, studying English as a second language, and has also studied English with a teaching module at the Spiru Haret University.

Matthew Scragg

Matthew Scragg is a dedicated teacher with experience across KS1 and both lower and upper KS2 at schools in England and overseas.

Matthew graduated from the University of Manchester in 2004 and, after spending several years working in Human Rights Law, obtained his PGCE at Sheffield Hallam University in 2010.
He first joined the British School of Bucharest in 2012 as a Primary School Teacher in Year 4, coordinating the ICT and PSHCE Curriculums. He spent the next seven years leading KS1 and KS2 English in international schools in The Netherlands and Qatar before rejoining the British School of Bucharest. Whilst in Qatar, Matthew taught Primary School Music in partnership with The Juilliard School in New York.

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.

Anna Atanasiu

Anna received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in the UK in Private International Law. She worked for major international companies in the UK and Cyprus, such as Deloitte, KPMG, and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner.

She joined BSB in 2018 as our Data Protection Officer. Being a part of the BSB community and observing the work of our dedicated teachers inspired her to make a career change. She completed her PGCE with the University of Sunderland (graduated with distinction) in 2022. Having been raised in multiple countries (Cyprus and Sweden), Anna has a unique set of skills allowing her to cater for the needs of our international students. In her classroom, Anna applies the amalgam of science and empathy. She is always on top of the latest educational research to pander to children’s needs. Anna enjoys discovering the Arctic, observing nature, botanical drawing, and various kinds of sports in her free time.

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.   

Philip Holland

Philip Holland joined the British School of Bucharest in 2022 and he is a dedicated teacher with a great deal of experience working across Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

He graduated from Aberystwyth University with a degree in Business Economics. Before completing his Primary PGCE at Edge Hill University, he worked as an EAL specialist for two schools in Vietnam, the British Vietnamese International School and the British International School.
Since completing his Primary PGCE, he worked as a Key Stage 2 Teacher at the renowned Kuwait English School. Philip’s expertise is language acquisition and he combines humour with exciting opportunities to ensure his students are successful.

Livia Bud

Livia Bud joined the British School of Bucharest in 2007 as a Teaching Assistant, working with Key Stage 1 for six years and, more recently, spending time with Key Stage 2.

During her time with the school, Livia has completed many courses, including Teaching Assistant, Child Protection, First Aid, Online Safely, Safeguarding Young People and The Prevent Duty.

Emily Marsh

Emily Marsh joined the British School of Bucharest in 2019 as a Primary School Teacher and one of our Curriculum Coordinators.

Emily graduated from the University of Edinburgh and attended the University of Exeter, where she obtained her Primary PGCE, specialising in the Humanities. Emily started her teaching career 10 years ago, is a dedicated teacher with experience across the EYFS, KS1 and lower KS2 in the UK and overseas. She joined us after six successful years in Shenzen, China.

Daniela Iliescu

Daniela Iliescu has worked as an Early Years Teaching Assistant at the British School of Bucharest since 2011, working in Nursery for four years and, more recently, in Year 3.

Previously, she taught English in a Romanian Public School and volunteered in a village school close to Bucharest for Nursery and Primary children. These combined opportunities helped Daniela to move into working with children as a career. Daniela has a degree in Theology and English from the University of Bucharest.

Laura Gildea

Laura Gildea is the Primary Learning Support Coordinator and a class teacher, having joined the British School of Bucharest in 2017.

She worked as an EAL (English as an Additional Language) teacher before moving to London to complete her PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) in Primary Education and then teaching in London for several years. Before joining our school, Laura gained experience in teaching the British Curriculum in an international setting with the British School of Beijing, where she taught in both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

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.

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.

Bianca Zamfirescu

Bianca Zamfirescu joined the British School of Bucharest in 2012 as a Teaching Assistant.

Throughout her time at BSB, she has gained valuable experience in supporting children across the Primary School, with a particular focus on Key Stage 2. Bianca graduated from Transylvania University in Brasov with a degree in Romanian-English Literature and also a master’s degree from Bucharest University in Communications and Public Relations. She completed a Certificate for Teaching Assistants in an International Context at the University of Northampton, which has helped to shape and develop her classroom practice.

Adam Pegrum

Adam Pegrum has been at the British School of Bucharest since 2015.

He completed a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) in Primary Teaching after taking the CELTA (Certificate in Language Teaching to Adults) language course in 2007. Following his qualification as a teacher, Adam spent eight years teaching EAL (English as an Additional Language) in the UK, South Korea and Vietnam, where he specialised in teaching young learners. Adam also has a degree in Tourism Management from Sheffield Hallam University.

Anca Huțanu

Anca Huțanu joined the British School of Bucharest in 2019 as a Teaching Assistant.

Anca graduated from the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iași, and she has Bachelor’s Degrees in both Psychology and English with German, together with her teacher training qualification. Anca has four years of experience in the private education sector, teaching English in different schools in Romania.

Karen Cojocaru

Karen Cojocaru joined the British School of Bucharest in 2014 as a Class Teacher.

She graduated with a Primary Education degree from the University of Lancaster. She taught in primary schools in the north of England for a few years before moving to western Germany, spending 10 years teaching in an international environment. During this time, Karen played an important role in setting up a new bilingual international school in Cologne as part of the school’s Leadership Team.

Denisa Muscalescu

Denisa Muscalescu joins the British School of Bucharest as a Teaching Assistant for the Primary stage.

She has experience working with Primary and Secondary pupils as a private English tutor and is currently finishing her Law Degree. Her passion for the English language has transformed into an academic career which she plans to follow by becoming a certified English teacher by taking the Cambridge Proficiency, TKT and CELTA exams.

Ellis McConnell

Ellis McConnell joined the British School of Bucharest in 2022 as a Primary class teacher.

She graduated with a PGA degree from the University of Brighton, where she was the school-wide lead in English. Before starting her international teaching journey at BSB, she spent the last few years teaching in a school in the UK. As a former international school student who completed her secondary education and IB diploma in Thailand, she is eager to share her knowledge and expertise with her pupils. Ellis leads the Guides at BSB and has a keen interest in pastoral development.

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.

Thomas Williams

Thomas Williams holds a First Class Honours Degree in Education.

He started teaching in 2012 and has worked at a prestigious international school in Kazakhstan. He has taught a wide range of Primary students and held his first leadership role in 2015 as Head of EYFS. Thomas is exceptionally committed to professional development and recently led whole staff training. His extensive background and broad experience enable him to get the very best from each child in his class. He is also a very dedicated chess player.

Ingrid Munteanu

Ingrid Munteanu is a Teaching Assistant in Year 6, having joined the British School of Bucharest in August 2017.

She has a BA in Foreign Languages from the University of Bucharest and an MA in HR Management. After graduation, Ingrid used her foreign languages expertise to teach French in a Romanian public school.

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 5 and Year 6.

Philip Jak Kain

Jak Kain joined the British School of Bucharest in 2022 as a Primary Class Teacher and Science Lead. Jak gained his PGDipEd (in Primary Education) in 2015 from The University of Birmingham. He subsequently taught for four years in the UK state system, leading Years 4 and 6.

Jak is a dedicated and passionate teacher with a wealth of experience across Key Stage 2. He enjoys the exciting challenges and variation teaching and is passionate about helping students reach their full potential. In 2019, Jak taught at an international school in Hanoi, Vietnam and led Maths across the Primary School.

Catalina Stefan

Catalina Stefan has worked as a Teaching Assistant at the British School of Bucharest since 2011.

She spent four years teaching Early Years before changing to work within Key Stage 2 and now Year 6. Catalina’s teaching experience includes time spent at a Romanian nursery and working as a Teaching Assistant and Substitute Teacher in an American international environment. She has a BA in Social Work from the University of Bucharest.