Nine tenths of education is encouragement.
Anatole France
From the first years of my childhood, my dream was to do beautiful things with and for children, to build a place where preschoolers and students could grow up beautifully. The dream came true a few years after graduating in psychology, which I attended at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. In 2009, with my first visit to the building that would become our first headquarter, on Polonă Street, I felt that everything would turn into reality, with people with the same vision and training in education.
I accepted challenge after challenge, as our schools grew up beautifully, and now we offer high quality competitive educational programs, in three locations where we encourage learning and research - Kindergarten, School and IOANID International High School, soul projects that remind me every day that I have a contribution to the future of children, with whom I grow and learn, in my turn.
I stepped for the first time in a classroom, with a gradebook in hand, twenty-two years ago! Yes, it's been a long time since then and yet, it's like it happened yesterday. The time I spent with the primary students immediately after I finished the Normal School "Elena-Cuza", with the specialization teacher-educator, were a very beautiful experience for me. The Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, English-Romanian section, within the “Spiru Haret” University did not convince me to change my activity level, although I also taught English at the secondary school. And, being an ambitious person, I didn't stop here. My professional training was completed, during my many years of activity, with training courses. “School Counseling and Orientation Hour”, “Classroom Management”, “Experiential Methods”, “Evaluation”, “Economic and Civic Education”, “Conflicts and Negotiation” and, last but not least, the “Human Resources Manager” course are just some of the most important improvements I've taken part in.
The first teaching degree obtained in 2008 with a grade of 10 confirmed that the profession I chose is the one that really suits me and, at the same time, encouraged me to carry out in the future the same activity among children, an activity that, at the end of each school year, gave me the satisfaction I needed. We must not forget the fact that we organized and coordinated several activities within educational partnerships with other educational institutions and not only, in order to offer children, in a different way than the classroom, a vast culture about which means education and values.
“School is not a teaching institute, but a temple whose priests are the teachers” (King Carol II). Through the job I chose I fulfilled my greatest wish I had ever since childhood: that of growing up and becoming a teacher. I considered that I truly grew up in 2003, the year when I graduated the courses of the Faculty of Letters – Department Romanian Language and Literature – French Language and Literature – within “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati. What I learnt in my university years was just the beginning, because the job I chose (or chose me) has to be embraced both with mind and soul. That is why I have always tried to become an increasingly better teacher. Therefore, I obtained the teaching certification level II and participated in training courses – “School counseling and orientation”, “Development of evaluation skills”, “Professional development of teachers through mentoring activities”, “Google for Education”, “Smart Notebook”, Intelteach – training in the society of knowledge”, the training program “Growth Mindset” – which I considered appropriate in accomplishing a part of the aims that this job involves – passion.
The experience I have gained, the results obtained by my students in examinations and school competitions and the years I have spent so far among children, have only confirmed that, although I use whiteboard, textbooks, notebooks, coursebooks, I actually work with souls and even if my existence in the middle of a generation of students is short, my influence lasts longer. I believe that in this job it has to be a close connection between mind and passion and a teacher with a calling is the one who helps students to become great people not only through the information they send, through evaluation and ranking by scores, but through their self-confidence, patience, enthusiasm and passion for this job.
I was very fond of my primary teacher, I loved and admired my Chemistry teacher in high school. That is how the idea of becoming a teacher occurred to me. Why Mathematics? Because it is honest, it shows you exactly what you know or you don’t know, where you are and where you want to be.
I graduated from the University of Bucharest, Faculty of Mathematics, in 1994 and I started teaching back when I was still a student. I got a Master’s Degree in “Real and Complex Calculus” at the Faculty of Mathematics, in 1995. I was awarded the 1st Teaching Degree with the highest score (10) in 2005. I have attended several courses which have helped me improve, such as: “Lifelong learning course on differentiated approach to teaching students”, “School-based curriculum, an interdisciplinary approach”, “Communication and personal development strategies”, mentoring courses.
Back in 2008 and 2009, I worked with the Campion Publishing House towards publishing a collection of exercises “How to solve Baccalaureate exam tests 2008” and “How to solve Baccalaureate exam tests 2009”. In 2009 I published the “Collection of exercises for the 10th grade”, at the same publishing house.
I started my career as a computer teacher at the National Children's Palace, and ever since then I managed to understand that is it only the experience of private schools can provide an alternative to the Romanian educational system.
With over 16 years of experience in the computer science department or, more correctly, next to my students, in front of the keyboard, I can say that every student, every class, every generation has shown me that we always learn from each other and that we can be one for others inspiration.
Whether you choose to become a programmer or choose another profession, IT is an essential tool in today's human survival kit.
I was born and raised in a society which promoted an authoritative and pragmatic behavior, a closed system, in which any type of escapes, either physical or mental were punished, in a world where wings were often broken, and dreams hardly ever became true. Therefore, I am happy with the “foundation” that our children build their perspectives on. I have the belief that, in each of us there still is the primordial nature of human being, free and willing to express himself/ herself artistically, that is honestly and creatively. Together with my younger fellows, IOANID pupils, we speak the same language which we reinvent, each time in a different way, but with the same means of expression based on colour, shape, line, point, shade and light…My entire life, professional and private, my personal philosophy is based on the idea of art. And because the true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination – as Einstein said – I strive to (re)imagine my world, either simplifying or developing.
Stefania Bolos is an alumna of the Faculty of Musical Performing within the University of Music from Bucharest, Classical Canto department. In 2007 she graduated the Master’s courses of the Faculty of Musical Performing, department of Vocal Art. She is a graduate of the College of School Teachers – department of Music of the Faculty of Musical Pedagogy within the University Valahia from Targoviste. In 2006 and then again in 2008 she obtained the Teacher License (definitivat) and the teacher certification level II – Classical Canto. At present she is a lyrical artist at George Enescu Philharmonic from Bucharest, collaborating successfully with both local and foreign musical institutions.
I started working in education 16 years ago, right after completing my studies at the Faculty of History of the University of Bucharest. I chose this path because I wanted to share with the children the knowledge I acquired during the 4 years of college and 2 years of master's degree. In all this time, I had the privilege to meet as many different student typologies as possible, who provided me with the much-needed challenges for a teacher to stay active, to further improve and to adapt to the new generations. Albert Einstein said: "It is the supreme art of a teacher to awaken the joy and creativity of knowledge." For me, it is a great joy to see how, gradually, my students become interested in the topics we are discussing in class and are more actively involved. It is the second year here at IOANID High School and IOANID International High School, where I met open, thinking, modern, professional people, who form a great team. I look forward to the new challenges that my students will bring and I will try to remain faithful to values such as: truth, perseverance, respect, determination, integrity, teamwork, empathy, tolerance and honesty.
“Daca vrei sa construiesti un vapor, sa nu incepi prin a-i trimite pe oameni dupa lemne, cuie, unelte, sfori si alte materiale. Invata-i intai sa tanjeasca dupa marea indepartata, nesfarsita.” (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)
Cel mai important lucru pe care m-am straduit intotdeauna sa-l insuflu elevilor mei a fost dorinta de a sti mai multe, de a tinti mai sus, de a fi mai buni decat au fost ieri, competitia cu tine insuti fiind cea mai importanta forma de motivatie in orice tip de invatare. Trebuie sa recunosc faptul ca limba engleza are statutul privilegiat de a fi depasit stadiul de obiect de studiu cu predare, invatare si evaluare la final, prin aceea ca a devenit, de cateva decenii mai ales, un instrument de adaptare intr-o lume in continua evolutie. Urmand o frumoasa traditie de familie, am pus multa energie si suflet in profesia de dascal si am cautat mereu sa ma perfectionez si sa invat lucruri noi, atat pentru propria dezvoltare profesionala si personala, cat si pentru a fi un bun exemplu pentru elevii mei. Pe langa Facultatea de Litere, in munca mea ma ajuta enorm atat masteratul de Stiinte ale Comunicarii si ale Limbajului, pe care l-am absolvit in 2007, cat si numeroasele cursuri de perfectionare la care am participat incepand cu anul 2002. In cadrul echipei IOANID am remarcat atributele unei scoli care se ghideaza dupa principii solide, cu profesionisti care demonstreaza constant preocuparea pentru un invatamant de calitate.
I have been working with children for about 16 years and every day I feel lucky and fulfilled by my job. As a teacher of English and Spanish, I want to help my students discover the pleasure of communicating in foreign languages and the unlimited opportunities that a good knowledge of them can offer.
The trend of the specific interdisciplinary approach IOANID, which encourages connections between subjects, also gave me the opportunity to teach the trip Around The World, much loved by children, in which they discuss topics of geography, biology, history and civilization. in English.
I am happy to be part of a dedicated team, which focuses on both the academic development of children and their emotional well-being, with visible results every day.
"I'm always ready to learn, but not always ready to let myself be taught"; this quote of Oscar Wilde best defines my conception of the profession I practice and embodies the essence of its challenges. I try to present myself to my students with enthusiasm, especially and to produce on them that kind of intellectual fascination that will determine them to want more of what I have to offer. I think that here resides the talent of a pedagogue, in "how", above "what". And in the case of the German language, which has a reputation for "heavy" or even unapproachable discipline, this concept is fully verified. The study and mastery of this language strengthens a child's character and increases his self-esteem, while bringing him closer to a culture that capitalizes on specialization and improvement in any field.
After graduating from the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures Bucharest, specializing in German-Image Science and after a master's degree in Advertising Expertise, I started teaching this language as a trainer in multinationals and I had contact with professionals from many areas of activity. I then taught in two German schools in Bucharest, DSBU and Zeppelin Schule. A non-German school is a new challenge for me and I hope to train new practitioners of this language and followers of this high-performing culture here. I want my students to discover satisfaction as a difficult thing, if done well, it will seem easy to them.
From the first year I studied Physics in high school I wanted to be a Physics teacher. Therefore, I decided to follow the courses of the Faculty of Physics within the University of Bucharest, with a specialization in Biophysics. But I was disappointed with the public education system, so I took a 7-year break in the United States, where I studied Genetics at Kansas State University and Iowa State University. When I returned to Romania, I resumed my dream of being a teacher, in a private school with English teaching, and for three years I also taught in the International Baccalaureate (IB) system.
I think we live in a world that bombards us with negative messages and forms a dystopian image of the future. But the world of science and technology is a positive and fascinating oasis, so I hope to attract my students to get to know her and keep in touch with her, even if not everyone will want to "move" there.
Liviu Rebreanu said that "a true sportsman is a knight in all the manifestations of life". I chose the profession of physical education teacher because I think that the sport really builds characters, helping children not only to develop harmoniously and to choose a s healthy lifestyle in the long term, but also to become tidy, disciplined, develop their team spirit, sociability and learn to cope with both success and failure. I have been doing performance sports since the age of 10 and I realized that I want to practice in this field, especially since I really like children, and I have the greatest satisfaction when I see the progress they make from all points of view, thanks to the sport. I became a basketball coach when I finished my playing career, with 11 years experience in working with children. I graduated from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, with the intention of transmitting to the children the love for sport. Over time I have attended national and international courses and specializations in the field and I think it is important to invest in our own professional education.
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