Petra Pajala
Education Centre Coordinator
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Petra has a Masters Degree in Education from Finland, extensive Nordic-Baltic Leadership Training and has been a vice-principal for many years. She’s designed and implemented educational content and experiences for exchange students in 3 different countries over the past decade. Petra believes in fostering natural curiosity and teaching tenacity. Trusting her team and always having the child’s best interest in mind are her keys to success. In her spare time, she likes to play sports and spend time outdoors.
Lorenza Amelio
Exploration Assistant
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Lorenza graduated from the University of Florence, specialising in Education. Professionally, Lorenza has worked in an after-school project for children with disabilities, in which educators taught the children how to do basic tasks independently, with the support of school teachers and parents. She has also completed a traineeship in a children's daycare, working with children up to three years of age.
Ilaria Stefani
Foundation Support Educator
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Ilaria was born in Pistoia, and has been living in London for several years. She has a Honour Bachelor’s Degree in Socio-Educational Sciences and in Tourism Sciences, both of which reflect her two great passions: travelling and education. As an educator, she is truly passionate about holistic education, mindfulness and arts & craft. She has worked as a teacher in international nursery schools, as well as a private tutor for multicultural families. Ilaria defines herself as a cheerful, creative, and funny person who loves nature, arts, yoga and meditation. She loves to learn new things and meet new people from all over the world!
Mikko Perkowsky
Upper Exploration Educator
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Mikko Perkowsky is a fully qualified Montessori and K-12 Physical Education teacher from Finland. He has his Masters in Education from the University of Wollongong, Australia. Teaching has taken Mikko all over the globe. Some of the more exotic places he has had an opportunity to teach in include Saudi Arabia, China, Singapore and the UK. Mikko believes that the future depends on what we do in the present. Additionally Mikko is qualified as a Shiatsu massage therapist. In his spare time he enjoys playing tennis.
Rachele Marchetti
Foundation Support & Spanish Educator
Rachele was born and raised in Pistoia and has a diploma in Pedagogy and Psychology, as well as a degree in Languages, Literatures and Intercultural Studies from the University of Florence. After graduating, Rachele managed an educational farm where she taught a nature-based curriculum. She also created English and Spanish workshops for kids at a cultural association, and taught in a public elementary school. Rachele believes in experiential education, and her dream has always been to bring the idea of forest schools and individual learning in Italy. In her free time, Rachele has a passion for travelling and tasting foods from around the world.
Wieneke van Sonderen
Foundation Lead Educator
Wieneke has a degree in Pedagogical Sciences from the University of Groningen, and a degree in Education and Teaching from the Stenden University of Applied Sciences. Before moving to the US, she taught at a Montessori School in the Netherlands. In the San Francisco Bay Area, she was the director of a language school and Head of School at a Montessori school. Since September 2022, Wieneke and her family have been travelling around the world, visiting 18 countries on five different continents before finally settling in Pistoia.