Here's a little interview with Yuliya so you can get to know her…
1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I have truly enjoyed getting to know you and your children over the past few months, so now here is a little about me.
My name is Yuliya, and I will be turning 43 in a few weeks. I was born and raised in Ukraine, then moved to the US in 2006 to be with my husband. In 2009, his work brought us to Amsterdam for what was meant to be one year - and 17 years later, we still proudly call Amsterdam our home. Two years ago, we moved to Amstelveen, where we enjoy a peaceful life with our two boys. Raising them I have learned so much, especially about raising neurodivergent children.
When I am not in the classroom, I have a lot of fun playing padel, I love that I have a small garden now to tend too, and I get so much joy seeing Matthew pursue his love of competitive swimming and Mark’s passion for artistic gymnastics and diving (even if it means helping them get to early trainings and weekends of sport.)
2. What do you love about Montessori?
I am passionate about the Montessori approach, driven by my deep love for nature and young children. Nothing brings me more joy than watching children acquire new skills through repetition and practice, mastering concepts that they later seamlessly integrate into their daily lives.
One of my favourite moments in class this week was seeing a child proudly using the scissors, repeating the process 3 times, and then putting the small pieces into an envelope. It was just 3 weeks ago that I showed him how to open and close the scissors.
I cherish the moments when I see parents amazed by their children's capabilities, nurturing their trust and belief in their little ones.
3. How did you first fall in love with Montessori?
When I, a young expat mom, brought my baby boy to his first class at Jacaranda Tree, I had little knowledge of Montessori, but there was no turning back after that. Under Simone's gentle guidance, I immersed myself in this enriching world. The more I learned, the clearer everything became, reinforcing my commitment to this educational approach.
A pivotal figure in my journey was Simone, who inspired me to pursue my dreams to work in Montessori. Years later, even after all the trainings and completing my AMI assistant training in London, I still remember and cherish Simone's presentations.
4. Anything else you would like to share?
Just that I feel incredibly honored to uphold the legacy of Jacaranda Tree, dedicating myself to serving the community and sharing the magic of Montessori education with the next generation.
See you in class!
