Our Teachers
Milica Mirković graduated and earned her master's degree in Serbian literature and language at the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad. During her postgraduate studies, as a scholarship holder of the Ministry of Science of the Republic of Serbia, she was engaged as a research associate on scientific projects in the field of literature, and as a library assistant in the Seminar Library of the Department of Serbian and Comparative Literature. She worked as a proofreader in the Serbian language program editorial office of Radio Novi Sad and occasionally as a Serbian language teacher at the Gymnasium "Svetozar Markovic" in Novi Sad, to both native and non-native speakers. She has published book reviews and various papers on literary history and criticism in Serbian periodicals (Letopis Matice srpske, Detinjstvo, Polja), in the collections of papers from several international meetings dedicated to literature and the Conference on children's literature of the Zmaj’s Children’s Games; she is also the author of two books. Upon arrival in San Diego, she volunteered and worked as a library assistant at the San Diego Public Library. For more than four years, she has been applying her professional knowledge and experience teaching the melody of their mother tongue and Serbian culture to her two children through play, song, and everyday communication.
Aleksandra ( Sashka ) Johnson has lived in and worked in San Diego for the last 8 years. She comes from a little town in northern Serbia called Kikinda. In 2011 she graduated from the University of Novi Sad and earned a Bachelor`s degree in Sociology. Also, she has finished several child development classes in Miramar College in San Diego. For more then 8 years she has worked with children ages 0-10 years. Today she works for a preschool “San Diego Jewish Academy” in the position of lead teacher. Her passion and love for her work with children is infinite. Therefore, she always works on her own improvement and constant learning.
Natasa Gajic started teaching English language in high school during her senior year in college at Belgrade University. She graduated from the Department of Philology with a major in English language and literature, and continued teaching preschool and elementary school children. When she moved to San Diego, California USA, she earned her Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics: Teaching English as a second language at the San Diego State University (SDSU). Natasa enriched her teaching career at SDSU. In the recent years she has worked as an ESL teacher (English as a Second Language) at the American Language Institute (ALI) at SDSU. Her teaching experience covers multiple language skills such as grammar, reading, writing, speaking and listening. Her teaching focuses on a communicative approach where students learn a new language through communication in a relaxed atmosphere with lowered affective filters. In addition to regular teaching material, Natasa uses modern technology to make language acquisition a fast, fun and easy process.
Aleksandra Nikolova, Ed.D. TESOL, has taught ESL/EFL, Linguistics and English Literature courses in the United States, Mexico, and Europe for over 20 years. She has experience in teaching all language skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing, as well as grammar. She has been a teacher trainer at UCSD, SDSU, Alliant International University, and Ashford University in San Diego, California, as well as at CETYS Universidad in Tijuana, Mexico.Currently, she is the academic director at the International Academy of English in San Diego, California. After finishing her BA in English Language and Literature in Skopje, Macedonia, she attended and graduated from the MA TESOL program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She was working as an ESL/EFL instructor and teacher trainer for a few years, and then she graduated with an EdD degree in TESOL from Alliant International University in San Diego, CA. She has been living and working in San Diego for over 12 years. Aleksandra is a Pricipal of our school.
Slobodanka Lotina graduated with bachelor degree from Teacher Education Faculty, University of Belgrade. She has 20 years of teaching experience and has spent majority of her work experience teaching in elementary school “Lazar Savatic” (Zemun, Serbia). She worked with children between the ages 6 - 10 and taught various courses including Serbian language, mathematics, social studies and science, art and civil education.
M.A. Marija Petrovic earned a Master's degree in applied linguistics at San Diego State University. She has an extensive experience in working with bilingual and non-native speakers of English language she gained at Rosa Parks Elementary School in San Diego, San Diego State University, American Language Institute, and Miramar Community College. She also worked as a program coordinator and instructor at a Serbian-English preschool "Enjoy English" in Nis, Serbia.
Radmila Majkic: I am a Special Ed. Teacher specializing in Social Therapy and Rehabilitation. I have ample experience working with elementary and high school students in Belgrade, Serbia. I was a principal of an experimental school ‘Vožd’ in Belgrade that included elementary and high school curriculum. In my work with the students I put an accent on individual work and importance of an interactive class.
Dijana Peric graduated from the University of Belgrade and earned a Master's degree in Pedagogy, Faculty of Philosophy. After graduating she starts working in elementary school “Olga Petrov” Pancevo ( Serbia ), as well as in the Regional center for talents and gifted children “Mihajlo Pupin” Pancevo. As a school counselor, she was working with children from 6 to 14 years old, both individual and group activities. As well as planning and organizing various activities for both children and parents. After moving to San Diego she successfully finished the Child Development program - San Diego Continuing Education College. Ten years of work in elementary school and continuous professional development enabled her to apply the acquired experience in the education of her three children as well as the children who attend her family home daycare.