Head of School

Martina is the Head of School at Cherry Tree. A natural leader, she combines warmth and empathy with determination, excellent judgement and a remarkable ability to turn ideas into reality. She sets high standards for herself and others and leads with both confidence and genuine care.

Her professional background is in production, event organisation and executive support, where she learned to manage people, priorities and complex situations with creativity, efficiency and calm. At Cherry Tree, she quickly became someone both children and adults can rely on. She is a fast learner, a creative problem solver and someone who takes genuine ownership of everything entrusted to her.

For Martina, children always come first. She describes love as her GPS, a simple principle that guides her decisions and the way she leads the school. She believes that high standards and genuine care belong together.

Martina has also been teaching group fitness classes since 2015 and brings her love of movement, energy and creativity into Cherry Tree. Outside school, she enjoys spending time with the people closest to her, creative projects, concerts and good food.

Head Teacher | Nursery Class

Zuzka holds a Master’s degree in Pedagogy from Masaryk University in Brno and has years of experience working with children in language schools, summer camps, as an au pair and at Cherry Tree.

Zuzka has been part of Cherry Tree for five years, making her one of the longest-standing members of our team and an important part of our preschool community. As Head Teacher of the Nursery Class, she brings a deep understanding of Cherry Tree’s approach and the particular needs of our youngest children.

Her naturally calm and reassuring personality creates a sense of security around her. Warm, patient and deeply trusted, Zuzka is loved by children and parents alike. Children feel at ease in her presence, giving them the confidence to explore, play and gradually become more independent at their own pace.

Outside Cherry Tree, Zuzka enjoys spending time at the gym, reading and camping during the summer.

Head Teacher | Preschool

Nafsika holds a degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Athens and a Master’s degree in Applied Theatre, bringing together her background in education with her passion for creativity and the performing arts. Her studies have shaped the way she sees art, movement and imagination not simply as activities, but as powerful ways for children to communicate, explore and learn.

Nafsika has been part of Cherry Tree for four years and has grown alongside our preschool, developing her own creative and thoughtful approach to teaching. Art, theatre and imaginative play are a natural part of her classroom, giving children different ways to express themselves, explore ideas and engage with the world around them.

Creative, energetic and deeply engaged with the children, Nafsika loves turning everyday experiences into opportunities for discovery. She encourages children to experiment, create and follow their own ideas, while giving them the confidence and space to express themselves in ways that feel natural to them.

Outside Cherry Tree, Nafsika enjoys spending time in nature, going to the theatre and staying active.

Speech & Language Therapist

Ada is a speech-language therapist with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders from Tel Aviv University and is currently completing her Master’s degree. She has over 16 years of experience working with children, parents and educational teams in both mainstream and special education, with particular expertise in multilingual development.

At Cherry Tree, Ada brings her specialist perspective into everyday preschool life. She works alongside our teaching team, supporting children’s communication and language development through play, observation and natural interactions. Her expertise is especially valuable in our international, multilingual environment and also provides our teachers and families with an experienced professional to turn to when questions about a child’s communication or language development arise.

For Ada, communication goes far beyond speech. She approaches each child with genuine curiosity, entering their world through play and laughter and creating meaningful interactions in which every child feels seen, understood and supported.

Ada is a mother of two school-aged children. In her free time, she enjoys nature, arts and crafts, and dancing.

Nursery Teacher

Tjaša holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Social Pedagogy from the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia. Having attended an international school herself, she developed an early interest in working with children across cultures and languages. During her studies in Denmark, she discovered forest education and the importance of free play, ideas that have strongly influenced her approach ever since.

Tjaša brings experience from a wide range of preschool and outdoor educational settings, working with different approaches including Montessori and international curricula. At Cherry Tree, she combines this experience with her love of nature, movement and creative expression, creating opportunities for children to explore, experiment and learn through meaningful play.

She believes that children thrive when they are trusted with the freedom to be curious, try things for themselves and discover what they are capable of. She enjoys supporting children in becoming confident and independent while respecting their individual personalities and pace.

Outside Cherry Tree, Tjaša loves dancing, singing and theatre, as well as reading, travelling and being active outdoors. She especially enjoys skiing, skating and swimming, and spending time with her own son.

Teaching Assistant

Originally from the Philippines, Kenainah brings warmth, patience and a naturally caring approach to her work with children. Her experience began while studying at Arden University, when she cared for children of different ages and developed a strong understanding of their individual needs and personalities.

At Cherry Tree, Kenainah supports children throughout their day, creating a calm and nurturing environment in which they feel comfortable, confident and cared for. She particularly enjoys bringing music into her time with the children and believes that songs, rhythm and movement are wonderful ways to connect, play and learn together.

In her free time, Kenainah enjoys music, reading and exploring Prague.

Kitchen & Care Coordinator

Natalia holds a degree in Food Technology and is also a professionally trained chef. She has many years of experience caring for children, both in Ukraine and the Czech Republic.

At Cherry Tree, Natalia combines her role as our Kitchen & Care Coordinator with working directly with the children as a preschool assistant. Her calm and caring personality makes her a natural presence in the classroom, and children know her as a familiar and trusted part of their everyday life at Cherry Tree.

A true master of our kitchen and snacks, Natalia combines her professional knowledge with genuine care for what and how we serve our children. She also makes sure that their environment is beautifully clean, organised and welcoming. Her attention to detail, reliability and warmth make her an invaluable part of our team.

Natalia’s interest in food and nutrition extends well beyond her professional life. She also loves travelling, fishing and, most of all, spending time by the sea.

For five years, Nikola led Cherry Tree as Lead Pedagogue and Head of School, playing a defining role in shaping the preschool into what it is today. She developed and brought to life Cherry Tree’s educational vision, creating an approach where creativity, curiosity, nature and meaningful play are at the heart of children’s everyday experience.

Nikola is a HEI Schools certified educator, and her background in early childhood education also includes studies in Early Child Psychology at Stanford University. Her educational philosophy has been particularly influenced by Anji Play. To deepen her understanding of the approach, she travelled to China to take part in its exclusive international programme and experience Anji Play in its original setting. Her perspective is further enriched by nine years of experience in the UK and the US and a continuous curiosity about progressive education around the world.

Today, Nikola continues to shape the future of Cherry Tree as a member of our Educational Advisory Board. Her deep understanding of its philosophy and development helps us continue to evolve, explore new ideas and ensure that the vision she helped create remains alive in everyday practice.

Anna is the founder of Cherry Tree and the person who first set its story in motion. The idea grew from her own experience as a mother and her belief that preschool could be different: more time outdoors, more freedom to explore and play, innovative approaches to learning, and genuine respect for each child as an individual.

What began as an idea became Cherry Tree, bringing together educators from different backgrounds and drawing inspiration from approaches around the world. Anna continues to shape its direction and long-term vision, with a particular focus on ensuring that Cherry Tree keeps evolving without losing the values on which it was founded.

Originally a lawyer, Anna holds a Master’s degree in Education from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She brings to Cherry Tree a combination of educational perspective, strategic thinking and a constant curiosity about how early childhood education can be made more meaningful.

Anna is now a member of Cherry Tree’s Educational Advisory Board. Outside Cherry Tree, she loves spending time with her family and friends, hiking in nature and going to the opera.