A smiling woman with short brown hair and glasses wearing a blue striped shirt, standing outdoors in front of colorful climbing toys.

‍ Special Education Teacher & Craft & Outdoor Educator

I am an interdisciplinary educator, special education teacher and craft specialist with a background in combining English with hands-on applied arts, including textiles (sewing, knitting, quilting), ceramics, and sculpture. I bring practical experience in fostering holistic learning environments for children and adults through creativity, nature, and emotional guidance.

Languages

  • Danish, English, Russian: Fluent / Expert (teaching, curriculum design, emotional & reflective support).

  • Spanish: Intermediate (everyday and play-based communication, self-directed learning).

  • I also learned and can remember my hibernating German and French (both are on levels A1-A2 now.

An art classroom with canvases on easels, some with paintings, and a ceiling covered in colorful paint splatters. Natural light coming from windows, with paint-splattered floor and wall.
A woman with glasses is crawling through a soft play structure with colorful foam blocks in a play area. There is a blue foam block on the floor in the foreground. The background features foam blocks in pink, yellow, green, orange, blue, and black, arranged in various shapes and sizes.
A messy table with crumpled brown paper, a small white cardboard model of a horse, and various art supplies including torn paper and paints.
Indoor climbing gym with various climbing walls, ropes, and a large round red climbing hold attached to a green wall, with windows allowing natural light.
Indoor play area featuring a large blue wooden house with white window frames, a small porch, and a red shingle roof. There are artificial grass patches, a pink helium balloon sculpture of a character with arms raised, and a white swan-shaped ride. The ceiling has bright lights and dark panels.

Background

Education

  • Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) | UC SYD (2024 – Present)

  • Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education | (2003 – 2008)

Certifications & Professional Training

  • Outdoor Life & Nature Pedagogy in Early Childhood Education | University of Stavanger (May 2025)

  • Certified Instructor in Outdoor Life & Nature Pedagogy for Children and Youth | Regional Center for Child & Youth Tourism (Ministry of Education) (April 2007)

  • Certified Guide for Sports & Active Tours | Regional Center for Child & Youth Tourism (Ministry of Education) (April 2007)

  • TESOL Certification (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) | (2025)

  • Montessori Educator (0–3 Years) | Moscow (2010)

With over 15 years of hands-on experience and continuous learning, I am an empathetic educator dedicated to supporting children's growth. Building on a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, I am currently studying special education, English, and visual arts at UC SYD. I combine my professional expertise, lived parental experience, and passion for creative arts to design safe, nurturing environments. My strength lies in my deep empathy for vulnerable individuals and my dedication to child psychology.

Key Focus Areas

Special Education Teacher

I am expanding my qualifications in special education to fully commit to this field. Grounded in 20 years of pedagogical experience, a Master’s background in early childhood education, and dedicated self-reflection, special education is my core focus. My broader skillset seamlessly integrates into this work:

  • Creative & Visual Arts

  • Outdoor Pedagogy & Nature-Based Learning

  • English Language Instruction

With extensive experience specializing in English, I particularly enjoy guiding young beginners into literacy using creative, play-based phonics approaches.

Projects and Related Education
Colorful coiled modeling clay on a white table with paint splatters.
Colorful coiled modeling clay on a white table with paint splatters.

Outdoor & Nature Pedagogy Educator

Outdoor schooling allows students to gain personal, concrete experiences with subject concepts, methods, perspectives, and practical applications through bodily and sensory engagement. Emphasis is placed on creativity, inquiry, and hands-on work.

Projects and Related Education
Colorful LEGO structure resembling a building or castle with flags and decorative elements.

Craft, Sustainability & Upcycling Educator | English Teacher

(Process-Oriented & Creative Upcycled Art)

Creative and aesthetic processes offer a medium to articulate complex, non-verbal experiences — including implicit emotions, sensory perception, and internal psychological states.

Through hands-on experimentation, an ongoing dialogue forms between the individual and the material. The tangible outcome actively influences the creator, sparking reflection until authentic expression is achieved.

This reciprocal relationship with materials fosters both cognitive development and emotional release, helping individuals:

  • Formulate a clearer understanding of self and environmental awareness.

  • Build identity, empathy, and emotional intelligence.

  • Translate somatic experience into structured expression, supporting self-regulation and personal insight.

Projects and Related Education
Hand holding a fabric and yarn sculpture of a unicorn against a bright red wall.