Our stories
And because I have always felt uncomfortable talking about myself
(unless you ask me about thinking, differentiation, assessment, or curriculum),
I decided to give the floor to the people who know best what it is like to work with me.
They were there when I was learning, when I fell, when I got back up,
when we “gave birth” to ideas in the corridor because there was no empty classroom.
They know how much I care about children, about meaning,
and about teachers going home with the feeling that they have done something good.
These are their words — real, unedited, not mine.
I am not changing anything — only saying thank you.
Borislava Petrova - Leader of the Department of Foreign Languages / IB Teacher of Bulgarian Language and Literature / Coordinator of TBL (Thinking Strategies) at the British School of Sofia
We have been to more than one training, conference, operational, workshop together and at each of them, Tinata has always managed to immerse herself completely in the topic. Thanks to her, the most difficult moments of my attempts to understand a given concept were a song - in two voices. But my favorite moment was when, in Covid conditions, we managed to translate and adapt for the needs of the Bulgarian education system, the mind maps and thinking strategies developed by Robert Schwartz.
Айбике, 6А, 2021
I am incredibly proud of her. I am grateful that she trusted me and that we walked this journey together – from the initial expectations, worries, and shyness to the moment when she not only spoke English, but began to boldly express herself.
Aybike is an example of how with perseverance, kindness and courage one can change their world. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your story.
Mimi Gateva - Primary teacher of young talents, Maple Bear Sofia
My meeting with Radost
I met Radost in the master's program "Artistic Approaches in Education". This meeting was fateful for me, because she convinced me to take a bold step in a new direction and change my workplace. Today we are colleagues.
I don't know of another person as knowledgeable and capable as her, who breathes life into pedagogical theory. Thank God for the mind, heart, and beauty of this woman, who effortlessly translates between British, Canadian, and Bulgarian methodologies, builds bridges between programs and plans, between knowledge and life, between Earth and Space — and most of all, between teacher and child.
Joy burns in what she does and lights a flame in others. Thanks for the light, Radi!
In the language of radio amateurs – 73! 88!
Hayden, 2B 2008, British School of Sofia
I know teachers shouldn't have favorites, but this class—and Hayden—will always have a special place in my heart. This girl was gifted from a young age; every project she took on became a book full of imagination and courage. I have no doubt that she continues to be extraordinary today—creating, growing, and inspiring those around her.
Now all that's left for me is to find her mother on social media and tell her how proud I am to have been a part of Hayden's journey.
Ivona Alexandrova -
The inspiration!
I clearly remember how, with my sister, we stood in the yard, after my first 2 days as a teacher and I told her: "I can't, this is not for me, there's no way. I'm quitting!!!" I told her about the constant "ma'am", about the chaos and about how some children work very quickly, while others haven't started yet. She didn't calm me down with empty words, it was even a little funny, because she expected that I would end up in a similar situation. Nothing I told her surprised her. And she gave me solutions for each of my problems - exit passes, a timer, dividing into levels and a whole box of materials - it was like a first aid kit and it really saved me. I got into a rhythm, calmed down and everything fell into place. I'm still a "young teacher" and teaching is a challenge, but I always have an "idea in my pocket".
Alyssa Marinkov - Man and Nature, Biology, Chemistry and Science, Maple Bear Sofia
What is it like to work with Radost?
Life introduced me to Radost three years ago, and since then, there has never been a meeting with her that I have left confused or discouraged. She was the person who guided and supported me on my path to becoming a teacher.
Radost is a mentor who, with a few precise questions, can sort out the chaos in your head and turn the “perfect but non-working lesson” into a clear, understandable, and lively learning process. She thinks like the students – she asks herself the questions they would ask, and finds the most direct path for knowledge to reach them.
One of her most inspiring ideas was to have fifth-grade students represent human diseases through art. The result was songs, dances, poems, drawings, and a puppet show—and most importantly, genuine interest and meaningful conversations about the topics.
Radost is a person with a wealth of experience, deep knowledge, and exceptional practicality. When she proposes an idea or plan, she knows how to implement it in a real classroom. This is what makes working with her and her book so valuable, applicable, and real.