Team
Genesis Kipinä
Caring for and developing children requires attention, empathy, care, and support to allow them to reach their full potential. An essential component in a successful educational system, including in Finland, is the adequate training of teachers and educators. By training them in the Finnish education methods of Kipinä, we ensure that we provide a suitable, safe, and stimulating environment in which children can play, explore, and learn.
Iuliana Cretu | Preschool teacher
Iuliana is a graduate of the Faculty of Social Work within the Department of Humanities and Social-Political Sciences of Stefan cel Mare University and of the Pedagogical profile of Mihai Eminescu National College in Suceava, in the specialization of teacher-educator.
She has significant experience in working with preschoolers: she did volunteer work and internships in various specialized child protection institutions, kindergartens, and schools, and coordinated and carried out activities with children for two years with the Triki Riki Association in Suceava, before joining the Genesis team in early 2020. In her free time she likes to write, draw, spend time with her family, travel and observe nature.
Although over time she followed another professional path, Iuliana chose to work again with the little ones because she likes their smiles, games and hugs.
Goals: I believe that play is the best exercise for children’s minds, bodies and souls. Play moves their muscles, stimulates their creativity and enhances the joy of living.
Iuliana Crețu
Preschool teacher
Denisa Enache | Preschool teacher
Denisa graduated from the Spiru C. Haret Pedagogical High School in Buzau and then from the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Bucharest, specializing in Pedagogy, after which she pursued postgraduate studies in the Management and evaluation of educational organizations and programmes. She has experience with FasTracKids and has attended specific courses for working with preschool children such as “Giving Positive Feedback”, while also being a trainer in education.
She has worked alongside children of different ages, and this profession makes her feel the joy of development and improvement every day. She says empathy and creativity led her to pursue a career in pedagogy. She loves to travel and receive any new experience with great openness.
Goals: I love teamwork… Especially when the team is made up of energetic and curious children, for whom the answer is, every time, a new challenge. Patience, compassion and energy are all qualities that guide me in this profession.
I am able to inspire, encourage and develop children, keeping in mind that each of them is different in terms of abilities, challenges and personality.
Denisa Enache
Preschool teacher
Laura Beșliu | Preschool teacher
Laura is a graduate of the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work of the University of Bucharest, where she specialized in the psycho-pedagogical training of teaching staff. She holds a master’s degree in counselling from the same educational institution. Laura also completed the bachelor’s degree program at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, specializing in Pedagogy of Primary and Preschool Education. When she’s not spending time with her kids, her hobbies include reading, travelling, watching movies, and going out in nature.
Goals: George Enescu’s words remained in my heart: <<What a mistake it is to think that a child, because he is small, carries tiny dreams within him!>> I want to give wings to every child’s dream, to see the little ones grow and evolve, becoming more capable and talented.
Laura Beșliu
Preschool teacher
Alexandra Nistor | Preschool teacher
Alexandra graduated from the Pedagogical College of Valahia University of Targoviste, deepening her professional training at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, specializing in Pedagogy of Primary and Preschool Education.
She has over 15 years of experience as an educator, and in kindergarten she is often the one who launches ideas for outdoor activities and extracurricular projects.
In her spare time, she likes to play sports and go hiking. She loves art and always manages to express herself with its help.
Goals: I like to turn information into knowledge and knowledge into experience. My mission is to play with children, experiment and learn with them! We play together, work together, learn together
Alexandra Nistor
Preschool teacher
Iasmina Ene | Preschool teacher
Iasmina Ene is a graduate of the Pedagogical High School, specializing as an educator-teacher, but she went on to get a degree as a teacher of Geography and graduated with a master’s degree in education.
in our kindergarten she coordinates the “Active Kids” education programme for health and active life.
Iasmina is adept at practical activities and is constantly concerned about the well-being of children. In everything she does, she is dedicated to making the little ones come to kindergarten with pleasure. Iasmina is empathetic and involved, continuously discovering the most appropriate approaches in the educational process, adapted to the particularities of preschoolers.
Goals: I believe that this profession of educator is not meant for everyone, but only for those who are able to live at the same time as children in every stage or moment of the day.
Iasmina Ene
Preschool teacher
Ileana Cristea | Preschool teacher
Ileana or Miss Eli, as the children call her, is an educator with 13 years of experience acquired in preschool education. She is a graduate of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Bucharest and she has completed a master programme in the field of Management and evaluation of educational organizations and programs with the same university. Ileana participated in all the professional training courses of the development programmes organized by Genesis College. She has vast experience in working with children, being adept at practical, experiential activities, which she supports with modern teaching methods, being concerned to find the most appropriate approaches in the educational process, adapted to the particularities of preschool children.
Her experience also includes organizing and guiding activities with children outside the classroom and kindergarten, in contexts such as cultural and sports activities, trips and other extracurricular activities. Ileana is also the coordinator of the educational project “Ludoteca in the Garden”.
Goals: During the years spent in class with children, I convinced myself that play is the best way to train their minds and be as close as possible to their souls.
Ileana Cristea
Preschool teacher
Madalina Podoleanu | Preschool teacher
As a graduate from the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Bucharest, specializing in Pedagogy of Primary and Preschool Education, Madalina is the kind of person who did her best to follow her dream: that of working with children. Although at the end of high school she followed another university route, her passion always remained pedagogy, which determined her to return among children.
She collaborated as a volunteer with many educational institutions, most often with School nr. 11 Ion Heliade Rădulescu in Bucharest, until she decided that it was never too late to follow her original vocation.
She loves to create figurines, games and collages for children. At Genesis Kipinä Kindergarten she is the coordinator of the Do It Yourself programme. She values practical activities and learning through discovery, and in her free time she is passionate about reading, sports and music.
Goals: I chose this profession because I believe that teachers are people who model, guide and give… They are like sculptors, who from a banal piece of wood, through work, dedication and grace, manage to create true masterpieces.
Mădălina Podoleanu
Preschool teacher
Mihaela Florea | Preschool teacher
Mihaela started her career as an educator 15 years ago, and since then she says she has constantly gained experience, not only from colleagues, but especially from the children in her care. She is a graduate of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences – Pedagogy of primary and preschool education, University of Bucharest.
Miss Miky, as the children call her, frequently coordinates creative workshops for children and coordinates the sustainability and environmental education programme ECONatura.
Mihaela loves art in all its forms – dance, music and painting, and in her free time she likes to read, travel, go to the theatre and concerts. She loves nature and outdoor activities (trips, camps), being an adept of outdoor movement.
Goals: I chose my job as a teacher because it requires skill, talent, patience and a lot of dedication, attributes that characterize me and that I have always wanted to highlight. I turned working with children into a passion, and collegial relationships into teamwork with people from whom I can learn continuously.
Mihaela Florea
Preschool teacher
Alexandra Enache | Preschool teacher
Alexandra graduated from the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work within the University of Bucharest, and the psycho-pedagogical training module for teaching staff. Since her university years she has worked in various kindergartens and non-governmental organizations.
She has completed a master’s programme at the University of Bucharest and continues her educational path within the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, specializing in Pedagogy of Primary and Preschool Education. She believes that all children are wonderful, and the satisfaction that the pedagogical activity gives her cannot compare to anything.
In her free time, Alexandra enjoys reading and travelling.
Goals: This is a profession that gives me the opportunity to use my imagination and encourage the little ones to use theirs, but which also involves great responsibility. People who teach must give themselves to others, there is no other way.
Alexandra Enache
Preschool teacher
Roxana-Daniela Berescu | Teacher assistant
A graduate of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at Babeș Bolyai University, with a specialization in Pedagogy and a master’s degree in School Counselling, Roxana feels happy around children and fulfilled when she contributes to their formation and development.
During college, Roxana was also a volunteer at various kindergartens and career counselling centers.
Roxana is a communicative, creative and empathetic person, and in her free time she likes to read, walk in nature and experiment in the kitchen, especially desserts.
Goal: The main concern of children is play, so I always aim to apply the pedagogy of play in working with the little ones, so that they benefit from the accumulation of age-specific knowledge and skills, in an easy to understand and fun way for them.
Roxana-Daniela Berescu
Teacher assistant
Ana-Maria Mihaiu |Teacher assistant
Ana-Maria graduated from the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Pitesti, where she also attended the psycho-pedagogical module and completed a master’s degree in Management of Social and Health Services. Over time, she participated in various scientific communication sessions and gained teaching experience in various contexts.
Sociable, patient and empathetic, Ana-Maria says that her love for children defines her.
Goals: An educator job involves dedication, love for children, adaptability to be able to cope with any situation and creativity – qualities that I fully use in working with the little ones. I am happy to think that I can contribute to creating a stable and consistent basis for children’s education, and I want to be their support, source of information and guide in achieving emotional balance.
Ana-Maria Mihaiu
Teacher assistant
Bianca Sholy | Teacher assistant
Bianca is a graduate of the Faculty of Letters – Department of Arts (Acting) within the University of Craiova, a Master Programme of Acting at the Faculty of Theatre and Film in Cluj-Napoca, and two psycho-pedagogical modules. During her master’s degree studies, she discovered her passion for children’s theatre and pedagogy, and since then she has started working with them. She gained experience working with children through drama workshops for children, which she supported and still supports today, later deciding to combine her love for acting and pedagogy outside drama classes. Bianca is the coordinator of the Kids Club programme, where she is also the teacher of the Drama Club. As a preschool teaching assistant, Bianca is always attentive to children’s needs and seeks to provide them with a fun and relaxing work environment. She enjoys walking, travelling, reading, going to the theatre and playing badminton.
Goals: “I constantly seek to enhance my working methods and provide children with the opportunity to incorporate play as frequently as possible in classroom activities, believing that learning through play is a suitable method for them.”
Bianca Sholy
Teacher assistant
Diana Gabriela Zmău | English Teacher | Kipinä Coordinator
In her almost 14 years of experience in Romanian public and private education, Diana has become a creative, dynamic teacher, close to children and always looking for new teaching methods.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Letters of Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, Romanian-English Department, and has participated in several continuing education courses, both in Galati and Bucharest. During her professional career, Diana taught English to primary and secondary school students, and worked as a Teacher Assistant for the English in the Community Foundation, Peacehaven, East Sussex, England. In 2012 she joined Genesis College as an English teacher for preschool education.
Some of the continuing education programs Diana participated in are: the training program at Häme University of Applied Sciences, the university where teachers in the Finnish education system are trained, in preparation for the application of Kipinä methods, “100 Kindergarten Games” (British Council), “Critical Thinking and Active Reading”, the programmes “Modern European Dimensions in English Language Teaching” and “Introduction to Information Technology” (Ministry of Education) and “Making the PYP Happen” (International Baccalaureate). She also attended various workshops such as “Teaching Young Learners” or “English is fun with drama-Drama Class”.
Since 2018, Diana also holds the role of programme coordinator within the kindergarten, a position from which she ensures the smooth running of international programmes at kindergarten level.
Goals: I want to convey to children from kindergarten the love for English and to support them in the process of cognitive, emotional and social development. Being passionate about improvisation drama and painting, I like to include in the activities I carry out with children both movement games, and concentration, imagination and language development, as well as various ways of representation and expression.
Diana Gabriela Zmău
Ana-Maria Sulu | English teacher
Ana-Maria has over 18 years of experience in teaching English both in public and private institutions, as well as in alternative education systems, being familiar with various pedagogical approaches – Cambridge, Montessori, Reggio Emilia. She is an ANC authorized teacher, trainer of trainers, and author of English grammar exercise books. Ana-Maria developed the Multisensory English programme – the first in Romania designed to offer children a different teaching of English, in a multisensory manner, being based on the Theory of Multiple Intelligences.
She considers herself a lifelong learner, she is open to information and knowledge, as warranted by the numerous certifications and participation in courses and workshops in the field of education. She is interested in knowledge and a healthy and harmonious lifestyle.
Goals: I want learning English to be an easy and particularly attractive process for children, so I always propose interactive, experiential activities, in which the emphasis is on the cognitive, motor and sensory side.
Ana-Maria Sulu
Peter Fogarty | Director of International Studies
Peter has been a qualified teacher since 2000. He has taught in schools in the UK and in international schools in Europe and the Middle East. He obtained a postgraduate certification in education from the University of Southampton. In addition, he has a degree in Botany, a master’s degree in Agriculture, and a doctorate in Microbiology.
Goals: The learning process should be fun and allow each child to perform in a certain discipline. I support children to develop multiple intelligences and tackle the same projects using different materials and techniques to ensure that everyone has multiple ways of learning. Children love to speak English and share knowledge with others. I actively encourage children to work in groups, as a whole class and in pairs, allowing them to discuss with each other before expressing their ideas to the whole group. Their every success must be recognized and celebrated.
Peter Fogarty
Lavinia Dragusin | Music and movement teacher
She graduated from the Dinu Lipatti National College of Arts in Bucharest, Panflute specialization. She continued her studies at the National University of Music in Bucharest – Faculty of Music Interpretation. Seeking improvement, she continued to deepen her knowledge in the field of music with a master’s programme at the University of Pitesti – Faculty of Theology, Letters, History and Arts, specializing in Contemporary Music Education.
Goals: The desire to pass on the accumulated knowledge and the love for music makes me use different methods of presentation in front of students (rhythmic musical games, songs with movement, use of musical instruments). One of my goals is to help children become aware of their feelings, thoughts and sentiments, and understand that music helps us express ourselves. My main objective is to convey the desire to deepen the musical art to students and to understand that it favors mental and artistic development.
Lavinia Drăgușin
Monica Gheorghe | Sports teacher
Monica Gheorghe is a professional athlete and multiple champion at various sports competitions. She graduated from the National Academy of Physical Education and Sports and currently teaches various sports disciplines and specialties, from classical aerobics and step, to TRX or TaeBo. Over time, she worked as a teacher of gymnastics, physical education and sports, aerobics and fitness for various educational institutions. Currently, Monica teaches sports and movement classes at Genesis Kipinä Kindergarten, being also in charge of implementing the Finnish sports programme MoovKids.
Monica is passionate about poetry, music, psychology, philosophy and dance, and she is a communicative and well-organized person.
Goals: Children have fragile bodies, but strong souls, and we as adults must give them the confidence that they are special, wonderful and unique!
Monica Gheorghe
Marius Ionita | Aikido instructor
Marius is the President of the Aiki-Budo Sports Cultural Association and has been practising this sport since 1991. Over time, he had over 5,000 enrolled children who trained in aikido and were formed according to the principles of this Japanese martial art. Marius Ioniță is a founding member of the Romanian Federation of Modern Aikido and of the Romanian Aikido Federation, being an aikido instructor for children since 1997. He is also a graduate of the National School of Coaches, within the Ministry of Youth and Sports, specialty aikido, a school recognized at European level.
Marius organized over 50 contest-type camps, with different themes – ecology, geography, history, spirituality and knowledge of ethnic minorities -, attended by more than 1,000 children.
Marius Ioniță
Alina Iancu | Psiholog
Alina is a licensed psychologist, certified by the College of Psychologists in Romania. She graduated from the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, specializing in psychology and has a Master’s degree in clinical psychology and psychotherapy from Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Iași.
Subsequently, she completed a professional training program in cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy and attended a series of courses, including art therapy, relaxation techniques and mindfulness, psychodiagnosis and intervention in child and adolescent clinical psychology. She has significant experience working with all age groups and loves reading, music and outdoor activities.
Goals: “I strongly believe that we have the power and duty to shape, facilitate and guide children’s paths in reaching their maximum potential and becoming responsible, engaged adults prepared for life’s challenges – ,,The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are” – Carl G.Jung”.
Alina Iancu
Psiholog
Luiza Rădulescu | Art Teacher
Luiza Rădulescu is a graduate of the Faculty of Journalism and Philosophy at Spiru Haret University and later of the Faculty of Educational Sciences, being a teacher for primary and preschool education. With over 14 years of experience working with children of all ages, she has put all her energy and good spirits into organizing and conducting numerous drawing, painting, and modeling courses, as well as art & crafts workshops, theater, and outdoor activities.
Beyond the mentors who shaped her, she believes that the vocation to work with children is, first and foremost, a passion and, secondly, a continuous process of learning, self-improvement, and self-education. She is also a tour guide and volunteers with the National Organization of Romanian Scouts. She loves animals, books, painting, and especially spending time in nature.
Luiza Rădulescu
Art Teacher
