PPATRYCJA KONARSKA-KAŁĘDEK
YEAR IV
As a Polish philologist, teacher of Polish as a foreign language as well as a management and leadership in education graduate (Jagiellonian University), my professional mission is built on combining knowledge, passion and commitment.
In my work as a school headmaster and Polish teacher I am guided by the words of Adam Mickiewicz: “Have heart and look into the heart.” That motto reminds me that real growth takes place not solely by acquiring knowledge, but primarily by adopting an individual approach to another human being and by improving one’s own empathy.
My interests are centred around education law, factual literature (with a smidgen of fiction) as well as theory of culture.li
ALEKSANDRA BAXTER
YEAR V
I am an early school education specialist. I studied and worked with children in Italy, Great Britain, Greece, The Czech Republic, and The United States. In 2019 I became professionally associated with Da Vinci’s International Primary School in Kraków. I am devoted to the international education idea, where the student is in the focal point. I like lessons which make it possible to discover the world around us and learn through play and discovery.
In my private life I am a traveller. I like handicrafts. When not trying to visit every European country, I sit at home and work on my Epic Pokémon Cross Stitch.
OKSANA UZUN
YEAR VI
My name is Oksana. I am Ukrainian and I have been living in Kraków for more than a year. I’ve always dreamt of being a teacher and have been working on my skills as a translator. As an interpreter I have taken part in many exhibitions. It makes me proud to see my name in a number of books which I translated from Turkish to Ukrainian.
I like learning foreign languages, reading non-fiction history books and travelling. I love gardening and interior design. However, teaching is my biggest passion as I deeply know that my mission as a teacher is not only to teach the foundations of my subject, but also to help students discover their own potentials and overcome inner communication barriers as well as the fear of making mistakes.
At Da Vinci’s International Schools I teach English. It is an honour for me to work in such a school!
MARTA KAMRAJ-FRANCE
YEAR VII
I have come to the teaching profession late in my life, and in my pre-teaching life, I worked as a lawyer, manager, supervisor, PA, etc., but none of these occupations gave me a feeling of fulfillment. So, I passed the TEFL course and started teaching in a middle school in Italy. Later on, I decided to get my teaching certificate at the University of Nottingham. For four years I lived and worked in China; first as an English teacher in a public school, and finally as a Grade 5 Homeroom and English Teacher, as well as a Social Studies Teacher at one of the Nord Anglia schools in Beijing. I have started my work at Da Vinci’s school in the spring 2025 and it brings me many challenges but also lots of joy. I realize from my own years as a student that my greatest obstacle in learning is boredom. If I didn’t understand something which led to boredom, I just stopped caring and neglected that subject. As long as you keep your students on their toes with anticipation of what will happen next during the lesson, their learning process will occur.
Recently, I have beI am always trying to treat my students like my equals: listen and respond to all their questions, and don’t laugh at them even if they might seem funny. Hear what they have to say and make sure that they know I am always there for them.
“Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.” John Lennon
JADWIGA PASIUT
YEAR VIII
I studied Polish philology at the University of Warsaw and completed media as well as language learning postgraduate courses.
In my free time I devote myself to literature and travelling. I love nature! I certainly prefer mountains over the seaside!
“Act as if though someone is looking at you all the time, someone who loves and respects you and is proud of you”.