Meet Our Teachers

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.

Alexandra Killham

Alexandra joined the British School of Bucharest as a Primary Music Teacher in 2020.

She graduated with combined honours in Music and Social Anthropology from Dalhousie University, and she started her teaching career in public schools in Nova Scotia, Canada. Her main instrument is voice, and she studied piano and orchestral percussion throughout her academic career. She began teaching early years and primary music internationally in a British school in Kuwait in 2015 and stayed there for five years. She was the choir director and also taught piano, voice, and dance. In 2018, she obtained a master’s in education from the University of New Brunswick. She’s also very passionate about critical education and language studies.

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.

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. 

Kalliopi Diimitropoulou

Kalliopi Diimitropoulou joined the British School of Bucharest in 2019 as a Teaching Assistant.

Kalliopi graduated from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, with a specialisation in Preschool Education and obtained her Master’s diploma in Human Resources, at the Bucharest University. Kalliopi speaks fluent English and Romanian, and her mother language is Greek. She joins us after several years teaching Primary students.

Andreea Banciu

Andreea Banciu first joined BSB in October 2007 and worked as a Teaching Assistant for 10 years in Early Years, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

She took a hiatus from working at BSB in 2018 to manage some personal projects and also worked as a private English Tutor during this period before coming back this year as a 1:1 Teaching Assistant in Key Stage 1.

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.

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.

Milena Stefan

Milena Stefan joined the British School of Bucharest in 2009 as a Teaching Assistant and now works as Learning Support in the Secondary Special Educational Needs (SEN) Department.

She studied Modern Languages and has worked as a translator and interpreter. Milena also worked for a few years with different groups at risk (single mothers, abandoned children, homeless people, refugees and Roma people) and has supported poverty projects, both in Romania and outside the country. Milena holds a degree in Social Care from the University of Bucharest.

Andreea Knight

Andreea Knight joined BSB in 2022, bringing her passion for education alongside promoting a healthy lifestyle and practising sport.

She is a graduate of the University of Bucharest, Department of Social Care, specialising in Mother and Child Protection. She has been volunteering for more than five years for non-profit organisations, providing assistance with the social reintegration process.

She has been teaching English since 2005, tutoring students and also giving class lessons in private kindergartens in Bucharest. CPD certified in teaching Phonics, her professional background also comprises co-teaching the Early Years programme at San Silvestre, Lima, being responsible for lesson planning, coordinating and delivering lessons and a contribution at the International School of Milan.

She speaks Spanish fluently as she lived in South America (Argentina and Peru) for four years. Outside of School she is a certified trainer for the Romanian Federation Sport for All. She is also a Yoga, Pilates and Tae Bo instructor.

Ana-Maria Corliceanu

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.