English program team
Meet our team. Native speakers teach English through games and common communication and give your children a head start over their peers at an early age.
Elena Šarifová
Manager
Education: university
”It has always been my great hobby to learn foreign languages, that is why I graduated from the University of Pedagogy, majoring in English and German. At the same time, I have always gravitated towards children, I have 3 children myself, which is why I decided in 2005 to found a language center for children of preschool and school age. I know from my experience that the earlier a child starts learning a foreign language, the better. Children in this period learn the language quickly, they do not think about it like adults. So my goal is to teach children a foreign language through play, so that learning takes place in a natural way.
After gaining a lot of experience in teaching children’s language, I founded a Czech-English kindergarten in 2015. It is a joy for me to see when a child begins to speak not only one foreign language, but two at the same time. I know that teachers are a very key factor, I always choose them with my heart and some of my own intuition, and I must point out that I am doing well. We have a great team of teachers.”
Jordyn Pax
Teacher,
teacher, native english speaker
Education: University
Hi, my name is Jordyn! I am from the United States, where I graduated from Indiana University Indianapolis with a bachelor’s degree concentrating in Social and Behavioral Sciences, and minors in Sociology and Communication Studies. I am currently pursuing my master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and have completed my TEFL and Young Learners and Teens training at The Language House in Prague.
Since I was 14, I have been working with children of various ages as a tennis and volleyball instructor, babysitter, tutor, and volunteer. Through these experiences, I discovered how passionate I am about helping children build confidence and develop new skills. My background as a collegiate athlete has also shaped my approach to teaching by showing me the importance of patience, encouragement, empathy, teamwork, and experiential learning. As a teacher, I want my students to feel comfortable being curious and expressing themselves as they begin discovering the world around them.
Early childhood is truly a remarkable time when the sky is the limit and children are constantly growing, discovering, and developing into their own unique selves. I believe children learn best when they are actively involved and having fun, so I aim to create an energetic and supportive environment where learning English feels natural. Most importantly, I want my students to fall in love with the process of learning, just as I have throughout my own life.
Words cannot express how grateful I am for the opportunity to be a part of your child’s journey.
Michaela Blažková
Teacher,
teacher, native czech speaker
Education: University
Hi, I’m Míša!
I’m originally from Prague and currently live in Štěchovice. I’m a mum of three older children, and working with children is something that truly brings me joy. I have been working as a teacher for more than seven years, with experience in kindergartens, primary school, and a children’s group.
I believe in a respectful approach combined with clear boundaries, as children thrive and naturally develop in a safe, caring, and supportive environment where they can enjoy the joy of discovering and learning new things.
I love bringing music into my teaching through singing and playing the guitar, as well as incorporating elements of children’s yoga. What I enjoy most is being there to see children make progress, grow, and discover something new.
I graduated from a Secondary School of Education in Prague and studied Health Education and Art Education at the Faculty of Education, Charles University in Prague.
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Tamara Barabáš
Kindergarten Support Staff
My name is Tamara Barabáš and I work as support staff member.
I take care of cleanliness and tidiness, prepare and serve lunches, and also prepare morning and afternoon snacks.
I am calm and easy-going, and I really enjoy working with children. They inspire me, and I am happy to see their progress and achievements.
I enjoy working at Opalinka. I appreciate the pleasant environment and the wonderful team, where we support and help one another.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, knitting, cooking, spending time in nature, and being with my family and pets.
Aneta Řezníčková
Director, teacher, native Czech speaker
Education: university
I perceive early childhood education as a crucial period during which a child forms a fundamental image of themselves, others, and the world around them. In my work, I therefore place strong emphasis on ensuring that children experience a sense of safety, acceptance, and respect, as these experiences form the foundation of healthy self-worth and self-confidence. I believe that when a child is accepted unconditionally, they learn to see themselves as capable and valuable, whereas an environment based on pressure or evaluation can lead to insecurity, fear of making mistakes, and dependence on external validation. Together with my team, we actively create this approach in our daily practice.
We place great emphasis on the development of emotional intelligence, as the ability to understand and work with one’s emotions is fundamental to mental well-being and healthy relationships. Children who develop these skills from an early age are better able to cope with challenging situations, show greater empathy, and build inner stability. We guide children to see mistakes as a natural part of learning and to learn from their experiences, which helps them develop courage to try new things, intrinsic motivation, creativity, and independence, while also strengthening their resilience and healthy self-confidence.
An important part of our approach is also guiding children toward self-reflection, helping them recognize their strengths as well as areas where they can try a different approach.
I believe that every child carries unique potential within them, and my goal is, together with my team, to create conditions in which they can discover it with joy and confidence in themselves.
My education, from secondary school through to a master’s degree, has been focused on early childhood education. I have gained practical experience as a teacher in kindergartens both in the Czech Republic and abroad, specifically in an English nursery and primary school in London.
Spencer Derr
Teacher,
teacher, native english speaker
Education: University
“My name is Spencer and I hail from California where I earned a degree in theater. For over seven years, I have been teaching children at various levels from 2 to 17 years old in the Czech Republic, including: kindergartens, elementary schools, summer camps and private lessons/etc. Specifcally, I have experience working in a kindergarten for over 4 years, dealing with the 4-6 year old classes and their preschool preparation.
When I first began to teach, I had initially wanted to work my way up the age ladder, but I realised this age group was perfect for me. I love to be a kid myself and I can’t help but to play with them! They grow up right before our eyes, every little moment counting up and adding to create the foundation of the human being they will eventually become. I do my best to help children express themselves in English and beyond! ”
Antonie Kateřina Szmatanová
Teacher,
teacher, native czech speaker
Education: secondary school of education
“My name is Antonie Kateřina Szmatanová, and I am a graduate of the Secondary School of Education in Litomyšl. Working with children is not only my profession but also something I truly enjoy. In my free time, I work as a summer camp leader and teach singing and musical instruments.
Music and theatre are great passions of mine, and I love incorporating them naturally into my work with children. I believe that every child is unique, learns at their own pace, and thrives in an environment where they feel safe, accepted, and free to be themselves.”
Contact
Opalinka Flora
+420 773 529 404
Head of Opalinka Flora
flora@opalinka.cz
CEO
Opalinka mateřská škola a jesle s.r.o.
+420 773 529 411
flora@opalinka.cz
facebook.com/opalinka.praha
Other branches
All branches navigation
www.opalinka.cz
Address
Slezská 117
130 00 Praha 3-Vinohrady
Opening hours
Mo-Fri 8 AM to 6 PM (English program)
Mo-Fri 8 AM to 5 PM (Czech program)
Corporate information
Opalinka mateřská škola a jesle s.r.o.
Registration number: 03708411
File number: C 236535 (Municipal Court in Prague)
Application
Do you want your children to attend Czech-English kindergarten with native speakers? Sign up to Opalinka!
The application form can be found HERE.
We would like to inform you that we succeeded in applying for a grant from the European Union funds within the Operational Program Research, Development and Education (Templates III. For OPALINKA kindergarten and nursery sro, reg. Number CZ.02.3.X/0.0/0.0/20_081/0022651 ). Our goal is to increase the quality of education and training, including strengthening their relevance for the labor market. Staff support, joint education and development of children and pupils in cooperation with parents / public. Facilitating the transition of children to kindergarten and subsequently to primary school.