Martin Drnek is a lifelong enthusiast of education and has been dedicated to it his entire professional career. He started as a teacher, then went on to create textbooks for secondary schools.

For more than 11 years, he worked at Scio and was behind the innovative digitisation of university entrance exams using artificial intelligence algotithms. He has experience in international research and commercial international projects. He also authored a successful tool for preschool children to develop emotional intelligence and has presented this topic repeatedly as an expert in the media.

He is currently the headmaster of Maple Bear, the first bilingual primary school in the Czech Republic, with a clear ambition to push the boundaries of quality education and modern pedagogy in the Czech environment one step further.

Tereza studied Special Education at Palacký University in Olomouc.
She has worked with children in the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Uganda, where she taught and trained local teachers.

She believes that the key to supporting children is understanding them and taking an individual approach.

In her free time, she enjoys traveling, doing sports, baking, and playing the violin.

Lucie Chlubná has been working in marketing for almost 10 years and has extensive experience with foreign projects. In the past, she successfully led the entire marketing team at Oscar Senior, which brought her valuable skills and perspective in the field. Her expertise and competencies have led her to speak at a number of prestigious Czech and international conferences, including the Engaging Conference and DEX Innovation Conference.

She currently heads marketing for Maple Bear, the first elementary school in the Czech Republic. Her interest and commitment doesn't just stop at marketing, but is also there for all children and parents who express interest in enrolling in the school. Lucie brings not only passion and creativity to her work, but also long-term experience and solid leadership.

Originally from the heart of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Marissa found herself in the role of educator. She spent her formative years in Canadian public schools before pursuing higher education. At university, Marissa earned dual degrees in English and Early Childhood Education.

Her unwavering passion and dedication to literature at an early age is evident in her work as an educator, where she works tirelessly to instill a love of reading and writing in young people. Marissa is a firm believer in the power of interactive, hands-on learning that allows children to explore and build knowledge together.

For Marissa, education goes far beyond academics. She is an advocate for holistic development and emphasizes the importance of paying attention to children's social, emotional, and physical well-being alongside their intellectual growth.

Marissa brings her enthusiasm for Canadian curriculum and teaching methods to the Maple Bear team, where she aims to continue to foster a love of learning in young minds.

Markéta studied Teaching and Special Education at Masaryk University.
She has experience teaching in both Czech and international settings, including an internship at a British school.

Markéta enjoys supporting children in developing their self-confidence and communication skills.

In her free time, she travels, learns languages, and engages in music.

Her main goal is for children to come to school with joy and feel comfortable and happy there.

Barbora comes from Havířov and studied Primary School Teaching at the University of Ostrava.
She has extensive experience in both Czech and international schools, including a Montessori school and the Czech School Without Borders in London. Her teaching journey even took her to New Zealand, where she found inspiration for her work with children.

Barbora is energetic, open to new ideas, and believes that children should have the opportunity to explore the world at their own pace. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, traveling, doing sports, and sipping a good cup of tea.

Her motto is: "Help me do it by myself."

Markéta has been working in the field of childcare and administration since she finished her studies. She received her education at the Secondary Industrial School in Brno, where she studied social work.

In her career, she worked as a caregiver in a children's group, where she was responsible for the care of children, their activation and education. She also participated in the administrative activities of the centre. In her spare time, Markéta enjoys playing sports, travelling and spending time with family and friends.

She is passionate about bringing her experience to the Maple Bear team to foster a love of learning and growth in children and colleagues. She is ready to take an active role in marketing and communicating the school, organizing visits and events, and creating a positive and professional environment.

Irena graduated from the University of Ostrava, Faculty of Education, where she studied Art Education for Secondary and Art Schools. She also studied at the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts, majoring in Theatre and Movement Education.

For many years, she has been dedicated to making art accessible to the public through gallery and museum settings, while also working to preserve art and culture for future generations.

She was a long-time scout. During her studies, she performed in puppet theatre, led workshops with art therapy elements called "Puppet Therapy", and participated in projects focused on promoting reading among specific groups. She has worked as an after-school educator in an innovative school and also taught at a secondary pedagogical school. Currently, she enjoys building bridges between art and various worlds.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family outdoors by the water, in nature, or being active.

Lorraine joined the Maple Bear team as a Year Zero teacher and brings with her a wealth of experience and a passion for education.

She is originally from South Africa and holds an academic degree in Education from the University of the Witwatersrand as well as a TEFL qualification.

With her previous experience teaching first year students, she is excited to now guide and develop young minds on their educational journey.

Outside of teaching, Lorraine enjoys a variety of hobbies including painting, bouldering and playing board games. She is committed to creating a positive and engaging learning environment for all students and looks forward to working with parents and to a successful school year.

Maddy comes from Minneapolis, USA, and has four years of experience as a teacher, primarily in third grade.
She has worked with children from diverse cultural backgrounds, which sparked her passion for working with multilingual students.

Maddy is creative and enjoys planning fun projects and field trips, such as visits to museums. She believes that the most important thing is to build trust and a sense of belonging in the classroom so that every child feels safe and can reach their full potential.

In her free time, she enjoys photography, running, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Michaela graduated from Masaryk University, Faculty of Sports Studies, majoring in Physical Education and Sport. After graduation she gained extensive experience as a physical education teacher in primary and secondary school, where she also participated in school projects and worked as an administrator. In addition, she has coached in the gymnastics club, managed the administration of the club and worked in the kindergarten.

Michaela brings to Maple Bear a wealth of experience not only from her work with children but also in the administrative field. She looks forward to contributing her skills to the school's quality learning environment.

Kate is originally from Wales but moved to the Czech Republic to experience a new culture and to enjoy a bit sunnier weather. In her free time, she enjoys horse riding, reading, and exploring nature through hiking. She studied medicine, so an interesting fact is that she is a qualified doctor. Currently, she is also learning Czech.

She looks forward to all the exciting activities planned for the children in the after-school club this year, and most of all, she is eager to get to know the children and discover all the little quirks that make each of them unique.