OUR TEACHERS
THE HEART AND SOUL OF ROSSINCA
KSENIIA GALANINA
Russian Language Teacher
Ksenia Galanina graduated from Lomonosov Moscow State University and the University French College with a degree in social studies and literary studies. She also completed advanced training at the Pushkin State Institute of Russian Language in teaching Russian to bilingual children. Ksenia has extensive experience working with bilingual children including developing her own educational courses, writing articles, and making worksheets.
KARINE SEMERDGYAN
Russian Language Teacher
Karine Semerdzhyan is a teacher of Russian language and literature and a teacher of English for adults and children. Karine received a diploma with honors from a teacher of Russian language and literature and English at Yerevan State Pedagogical Institute of Foreign Languages V.Ya. Bryusova and also defended her thesis on the specialty "Pedagogy" in 2004. She has more than 27 years of experience as a teacher of Russian and English at schools, as well as a senior teacher at the Department of Foreign Languages at Tula State Pedagogical University, Karine gained vast experience in teaching languages to children of all ages and adults. In addition to directly teaching, Karine was engaged in scientific work, she developed three teaching aids for teaching a foreign language, and published 27 scientific articles in collections of Russian universities.
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KARINA MIKOYAN
Russian Language & Piano Teacher
Karina Mikoyan - philologist, Russian language and literature teacher, great piano teacher, and wonderful performer. Karina graduated from the Baku Conservatory and also earned her bachelor’s degree from Philology Pedagogical Institute. Her more than 30 years of work experience as a language and music teacher in public and secondary schools teacher put her in the highest qualification category. Karina’s students won prizes in music competitions as well as Russian language olympiads.
ZUZANA KAMRADKOVA
English, Math, Science and Czech Teacher
Zuzanna Kamradkova holds Master’s Degree in English Language Arts and Literature and a Master of Science in Biology from Czech Republic Masaryk University. She also has an AS in Generic and Molecular Biology, an AS in Child Development from West Valley College, and an AS in Business Management. Zuzana has more than 15 years of teaching experience, working with diverse student groups, from preschoolers to 7th-grade Science & English Students, including experience working with children with special needs and learning disabilities.
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JULIA AFANASYEVA
Math, Science Teacher
Julia Afanasyeva holds a B.A. in Mathematics from U.C. Santa Cruiz. She worked at the Russian School of Mathematics, teaching K-9 students, preparing them for Olympiads and contests, and working with parents on developing individual learning plans for each student. She also worked at Versonix Corporation, developing mathematical models to optimize cruise ship resource booking. Julia joined Rossinca in 2023 as a Lead Science and Math teacher. She teaches Mathematics, Olympic Math, Science, and TRIZ (creative problem-solving class) in Rossinca Morning and Afterschool Programs, and conducts individual tutoring sessions for the middle-school students.
MARGARITA STOUT
Math, Science, Art, Ukrainian Teacher
Margarita Stout holds a Master's Degree in Family Psychology and Teaching and graduated from Donbas Pedagogical University with a degree in Physical Education and Valeology. She has experience as a psychologist and private school teacher. Since joining Rossinca in 2022, Margarita has become a beloved K program afternoon teacher, leading Math, Natural History, Art, and Valeology classes. She also created unique “educational capsule modules,” including: - Children’s etiquette - Art for kids - Physical exercises and relaxation - Reading and discussion Margarita is a creative, enthusiastic educator with a passion for sports, travel, literature, and the arts. She also speaks Ukrainian and developed a beginner’s Ukrainian language program.
DARIA MOISEEVA
Math Teacher
More about Daria will be added shortly.
EVGENIA KRASNOVA
Choreographer
Evgenia Krasnova is the artistic director and choreographer of the children's dance studio "Rossinca." Evgeniya is a professional choreographer and also has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Saratov State University. She has 16+ years of experience as a dance director in Russia and Ukraine. After she moved to the USA, she worked as a choreographer for the famous musical theater "Morning Stars" (San Francisco). The success of the dance study is also partly due to Evgenia's hobby — creating historic and stage costumes. Evgenia has been dancing since she was 4 and she is convinced that everyone can dance. For this to happen the child needs to be allowed to feel how wonderful this is: not only to have a full mastery of one's body but also to express one's emotions through movement to music. She encourages her students not only to have a good posture, a sense of rhythm, and professional dance skills, but she helps them to keep their love for and interest in dance through his/her whole life.
OUR LEADERSHIP AND STAFF
THE CORE OF ROSSINCA’S MISSION
NATASHA VENZON
Founder & CEO
Natasha is not only a talented teacher and linguist, but also a successful entrepreneur. She has a bachelor's degree in linguistics and education from the State Pedagogical University of Komi Republic, Russia, and a bachelor's in linguistics from San Jose State University. When she was 29, she was chosen as "One of the 40 under 40" by the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Just a few years ago Natalya and her great team of teachers and parents succeeded in starting several Russian-language programs for preschool and elementary-age children, and her ultimate dream of opening a Cultural Russian language center for the families of the Silicon Valley became a reality. Only a person with endless energy and limitless optimism, an inspirer and tireless creator can accomplish such a monumental task in such a short time. Natasha sees the main purpose of Rossinca Cultural and Educational Center as providing our students with an opportunity to be exposed to the rich cultural, literary, and language heritage of Slavic countries so that children would not only speak, read, and write Russian proficiently and correctly, but that they would develop a love for the Russian language, history and the rich culture of the Slavic nations. Together with Rossinca staff, Natasha works on implementing the latest methodologies and uses up-to-date textbooks and materials, so that studying Russian would be fun and exciting for children of all ages.
ERIC VENZON
CFO
Eric Venzon serves as the CFO at Rossinca Heritage School, bringing valuable financial expertise to support the school’s mission. He draws on experience from his roles at Hoops2Dreams, A Schmahl Science Workshop, Sticks-2-Schools, and Rossinca Heritage School itself. Eric holds a degree from the University of Southern California, earned between 1983 and 1989.
YULIA KHITRYKH
Principal, Russian Program Coordinator
Yulia Khitrykh is a co-founder and director of Rossinca Heritage School, coordinator of our after-school and Saturday programs, and a Russian language teacher. Yulia has several degrees, including a Master’s degree in education from Moscow State Pedagogical University, an MBA from the University of Vermont as well as various certificates in business and education. She has over 18 years of experience in teaching and business administration. After graduating from college, Yulia worked at unique charter school in Moscow headed by the famous Russian pedagog V. V. Davidov, whose innovative system of developmental education is widely used by Yulia and other teachers at Rossinca school. Yulia knows everything about contemporary pedagogy and implements the best ideas and methods into her work of nurturing and educating students. It helps to recognize a talent in every child and find ways to foster its development. This is an important task that requires time and close collaboration between parents and teachers. As she watches children learn something new, or acquire a new skill, or grow older and make good decisions, Yulia is convinced that their success justifies all the hard work that goes into it. The academic and athletic accomplishments of her 18-year old son are the best proof of the effectiveness of this approach.
ALEXANDRA UGAROVA
Business Manager/Marketing
Alexandra Ugarova is a Business Manager of Rossinca Heritage School and Rossinca Cultural Center and also teaches Russian literature as well a Theater program. She joined the staff in 2014 after several years of volunteering for Rossinca. She has a bachelor's degree in management from the Ordzhonikidze State University of Management (Moscow, Russia) and a US accounting degree. Currently, she is taking online course “Teaching Russian as a foreign language”. She became interested in teaching as she was raising her bilingual sons, now ages 18 and 10. Alexandra believes that teaching and interacting with kids should be based on mutual trust and acceptance of each child's unique personality. This helps the teacher to both grow and develop professionally with each child and to connect with one's inner child. Alexandra's favorite hobby is reading. One of her favorite authors is psychologist Ludmila Petranovskaya, who writes books not only for parents but also for children.
ALENA KLIMOVICH
Business Administration
More about Alena will be added shortly.
ELENA SUPRYADKINA
Language Program Coordinator
Elena has a bachelor's degree in linguistics and education from the State Pedagogical University of Komi Republic, Russia. She fluently speaks four languages and is studying her fifth. She continued her education in the USA and has a bachelor's degree in child and adolescent development and education (University of San Jose). Elena Supryadkina and Rossinca have always been inseparable. From the start of Rossinca Elena volunteered for all the programs of the center. Immediately after her graduation, she was offered a full-time job at Rossinca as a coordinator of programs for primary school-age children. Elena has a unique combination of both education and experience to bring together all the advantages of the Russian and American systems of education and development so that the pupils of Rossinca preserve and develop the Russian language and supplement the knowledge acquired in the American school. Elena also works with parents, promoting the importance and benefits of bilingual education, recommending particular pedagogical and educational methods and techniques, or simply showing how to play and engage with children.
