Our team
This is who we are – your children’s guides on their journey of discovery. In ordinary schools we would be called teachers, teaching assistants, qualified teaching or professional staff. At the Free School, we accompany children and are ready to answer their interest in the world around us and the world within us. We have devoted years to study, practice and experimentation in education and training, and it is with respect for the experience and wisdom of those before us that we have founded the first Free Democratic School in the country.
Juraj Mazák
We founded the Free Democratic School together with my wife Lenka and our team. I am its director, but I enjoy the time spent with the children in critical thinking, technology or physics much more than the endless bureaucracy. Together we peer into the mysteries of how and why things work in the world. What happens when we hit two metal balls against each other and there is a piece of paper between them? And what if a meteor hits the Earth? Or do we destroy it ourselves before that? Why is nobody doing anything about it? We will explore all this.
I have a degree in computer science and several years of experience in mainstream schools. As a parent of three sons, I could think of a better form and outcomes of education and learning – we found them in the model of Summerhill School, which recently celebrated its centenary. Freedom of choice and free play is what I want to offer our children and families who choose this form of education and upbringing. We have a long way to go in experimental validation, but the result could be a Summerhill School in your town in 2030.
Lenka Mazáková
I am a mother of three sons, and I work at the Free School as a Guidance Counsellor, Guidance Counsellor and School Special Educator. I love being a part of how children play, learn and discover. I also enjoy reading and exploring the world around me through trips, observing the landscape and nature around me. And these are exactly the kind of activities you can find me doing at the Free School. In addition, I am also available to parents if they need advice, guidance on learning and we can meet during your half-termly portfolio presentations.
Katarína Maliňáková
My vocation and mission is to help others feel their best and enjoy life. I work as a psychologist and guide in the Free School, so we will meet every day. I will be there for you so that you have someone to talk to, someone to be angry with, someone to shush or someone to just be quiet with. I love to read and create, nature gives me energy, so I hope we will spend a lot of time together in the woods and meadows. I believe we will have a lot to learn from each other and I look forward to it.
Rastislav Cichý
Shalom, my name is Rasto and in the Free School my mission is to guide you through the world of zeros and ones, the internet, the Bible and bureaucratic paperwork. I will communicate with you either by email or phone and help you and your children navigate the world of information technology. I am available every day of the working week and have a computer science club with the children in our school. Some of my biggest interests in my spare time are Bible study, then it’s woodworking, whether it’s sawing and splitting for the fireplace or building various things needed at home (garage, gazebo…).
Eva Kostelníková
Hallo allerseits:)
My name is Evka and I studied German and History. I work as a tour guide at the Free Democratic School. I spend a lot of time with children, whether it is learning, creative making, playing or working in the workshop. I love German and try to bring the language to our children’s ears. That’s why you might hear a German word or phrase from me from time to time. I like to play German fairy tales for my children. I also do a lot of interesting things about the world, especially things that happened in the past. And because history is so varied, we will be covering all kinds of topics. As a little tidbit, I will mention, for example, mysterious cities built by ancient civilizations, incredible buildings like the Great Wall of China or the pyramids, inspiring personalities, inventions and much more:).
I like to spend my free time in summer kayaking, hiking, theatre and good food. I would be very happy if I could learn to play the piano and speak Italian:).
Katarína Vassová
I brought myself and my two sons to the Free School. All the children put a smile on my face and I try to put a smile on theirs. I am available to help the children when they need help climbing a tree or finding out the name of a bug that is currently crawling in the grass. I like to draw, sing and dance, so sometimes it is noisy and lively around me. I love nature, animals and reading books. So maybe you can find me somewhere under a tree reading a story and join in. I also like to play, sometimes I’m a fairy Indian, sometimes I’m a Sally… It’s lovely to see how with all the play we always learn something new. Yes, I learn from children too, so I will look forward to them!
Lenka Drangová
Hello, friends! My name is Lenka and I speak to the children at the Free Democratic School in English. It has grown close to my heart after a long stay in England and the USA. You can meet me at various creative projects or at the cooking and baking club. I chat with homeschoolers online during conversational English classes. I like to spend my free time in nature with my family exploring castles and ruins, which abound in our beautiful Slovakia.
Eva Račková
I studied Russian language and culture as part of my philology degree, and my studies gave me a deep insight into the language, literature and culture. At the same time, I have a passion for interacting with people, which is reflected in my approach to my work as a Free School administrator. My skills are diverse and include a wide repertoire of activities ranging from telephone and electronic communication and the organisation of ring activities to the day-to-day running of all administrative processes.
Natalia Nagyova
Hi, my name is Natasha and I am Ukrainian. I am available in the Free School every day of the working week for PC. I like children, their presence and sincerity. We meet during the creative creation of Our School and we can communicate in foreign languages while doing it. I like to spend my free time with my family, traveling and exploring new places. All the joy of life is placed in a child’s smile! I believe that in our Free School you will always be happy and realize your abilities and talents.
Timea Rusnaková
I came to the Free School directly after graduating as a teacher of psychology combined with Slovak language. I work as a guide, school psychologist and examiner. I put a bit of myself into each of these areas and try especially hard to make others feel at ease and relaxed in my presence, despite my occasional awkward humour. So we can meet at Monday support groups for parents, during the mid-year portfolio presentation, or just somewhere in the school hallway. There is still a playful child soul in me, so I am always happy to be swept away by their energy and coaxed into different adventures in the presence of children😊. I am always happy to offer them a “jack of all trades” containing topics in psychology, philosophy, literature, grammar, health and sports. But I will do everything in my power to enable them to experience childhood and school life in general according to their wishes. Apart from that, I love sports from all over the world, adrenaline, mountains, nature, dancing, good coffee and books. In the near future I plan to learn how to play the guitar, so maybe we will play together sometime.
Tetiana Korshun
My name is Tanya. I like ice cream. Mostly chocolate. I prefer books to movies. When I was 5 years old, I wanted to have 2 children: a son and a daughter. My dream came true. What I value most is freedom. And I need to have a meaningful job, that’s why I’m in this school now. My interests are mainly social sciences and humanities. I look forward to every opportunity to travel, it helps me look at the world a little differently. That’s why I plan school trips. I believe that people are curious by nature, they have a thirst for knowledge. However, we only need inspiration, support, sincere interest to be successful. And still occasionally meet people that have a passion for something, be it work or a hobby, or life in general.
Majo Krkošek
Hi, my name is Majo, I come from Bratislava and I am a psychologist. I like adventure, history, exploring everything interesting and new and researching in the depths of the human soul. In the past I have worked on the development of the non-educational part of the education and guidance system, and in the Free School I will be helping to cover the research part of the experimental validation. In addition, I work as a psychologist for cancer patients, but currently my main role is to act as an entertainer, a baby changer and a nurturer for our three-month-old daughter.
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