Teachers
Istoda Mulladjanova
Hello, I’m Istoda, a substitute teacher joining such an amazing community of Smart Stars Academy. I am excited and feel honored to be a part of this community and get to know the children. I recently graduated from Brooklyn College with a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education. I have worked as an assistant teacher for a few years both at public school and private school. What amazes me working with children is how children learn about the world by exploring and experimenting their surroundings. Working with children inspires me to see the world through their lenses and how the world is full of possibilities. A little about myself , I like spending time in nature, exploring new coffee places. Also I am a theater goer, love musicals and broadway shows.
Mireille Poliard
Hi everyone, my name is Mirielle but the students call me Ms. P. I have four amazing and beautiful children of my own. I take the same approach to my students as I do my children. I am proud to teach preschool and kindergarten this year at Smart Stars Academy. It is an honor to be a part of the Smart Stars Academy family. I’ve had many years of experience in early childhood education and have obtained my degree in Elementary Education. However, I discovered my passion for working with young learners and have been doing so for a number of years now. I look forward to communicating and working with you as your child grows and develops.
Anais Salcedo
Hello everyone, I am so excited to be joining the Smart Stars Academy Family! My name is Anais Salcedo, and I am thrilled to be a part of your child’s journey. Teaching younger children is my passion, and I consider it a privilege to guide them as they grow, discover, and reach new milestones. For the past few years, I have had the privilege of tutoring children of all ages, which has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. A little about me: I was born in Queens, New York, and spent my early childhood there before moving to Huntington, Long Island, for my elementary and middle school years. Later, I moved to Brooklyn, where I attended high school, and I am now completing my degree at Brooklyn College. I am currently pursuing a degree in psychology with a minor in early childhood education. Growing up in different places gave me the opportunity to meet wonderful people, embrace new experiences, and adapt to diverse environments—qualities that I will bring into the classroom. In addition to my academic and professional experiences, I am fluent in both English and Spanish, which allows me to connect with a diverse range of students and families. Helping others and fostering growth is my calling, and I look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in every way I can. I am passionate about being a part of a child’s educational journey. I firmly believe that learning is a partnership between students, parents, and teachers. Together, we can create a positive and supportive environment where your child feels encouraged to explore, grow, and thrive. I am not only here to teach your child but also to learn from them. Children inspire me every day with their curiosity, creativity, and resilience, and I strive to inspire them just as much. I believe that even the smallest efforts to help someone can make a meaningful difference, and I carry this philosophy into everything I do. I look forward to meeting each of you and working together to ensure a successful and memorable preschool experience for your child. I am excited to connect and embark on this journey together!
Lana Krinberg
Hello, I am Lana Krinberg. I am deeply committed to early childhood education, driven by a profound belief in the remarkable transformations that enriching and thoughtfully designed educational experiences can ignite in young minds. I look forward to starting my professional journey in education after obtaining my Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, which I expect to complete by winter 2025. My academic journey included an exhaustive examination of core educational concepts alongside practical teaching methods, which delivered complete knowledge about how children in the early stages of development learn best. The different campus initiatives I joined at the start of my academic career have developed my ability to take proactive action while being responsible with collaboration efforts. The Peer Scholars First Generation Celebration allowed me to develop strong relationships and build supportive networks in the university community. Personal interaction skills and independent work ability emerged as essential elements for working alongside colleagues, building parent trust, and creating superior learning spaces for students. The Elementary and Early Childhood Education program's extensive curriculum has taught me a profound knowledge about key developmental markers of early childhood growth. The knowledge I gained through my academic career includes essential child psychology elements, concrete teaching approaches for curriculum planning, classroom leadership methods, and inclusive education space development. My rigorous academic studies have delivered fundamental theoretical information and practical solutions, enabling me to properly support young learners' cognitive development alongside their social, emotional, and physical development in developmentally suitable ways. An authentic dedication to developing educational experiences that stimulate young learners forms the core of my professional philosophy. My most crucial belief is play-based learning combined with hands-on activities because it helps children develop an approach that supports natural discoveries and engages them thoroughly in learning. The best practices I learned through my academic studies involve evidence-based approaches to teaching early literacy and foundational numeracy skills and developing essential social and emotional competencies. My background knowledge lets me create purposeful activities that align with individual child development needs. I dedicate myself to creating classrooms that welcome all students and provide an environment of safety, feelings of belongingness, and personal significance. Building positive student relationships and establishing trust is essential because I prioritize understanding how each learner learns along with their strengths and learning potential. The individualized teaching style enables me to deliver customized lessons and customized help, allowing every student to achieve success while maximizing their potential. I possess empathy and education skills that develop daily, which positions me as a teacher who understands and supports a wide range of educational needs for children. My upcoming graduation with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education for winter 2025 fuels my excitement about becoming an elementary school teacher who makes a meaningful difference in children's lives. My college experience has given me thorough knowledge about child development alongside practical teaching strategies. Through campus leadership, I developed professionalism and social collaboration skills through my self-driven method and excellent social interactions. My deep commitment to designing interactive learning projects based on play and inquiry is my foundation for developing meaningful learning activities that support complete child development at the elementary school level. I am confident about being a promising education candidate because my dedication to classroom support and readiness to implement learned knowledge will create meaningful positive effects in young lives. Developing professional skills remains essential for becoming an effective future educator, so I maintain my status as a lifelong education learner in this evolving field.
Assistant Teachers
Lyudmyla Serbovets
I have obtained a pedagogical education degree, from Ukraine. I also have extensive experience working with children in the Early Education Field, both in Ukraine and America. I love my job and watching the children under my care progress, with my professional assistance. I will always make myself available to my students and their parents. I look forward to getting to know every child individually and their families, here at Smart Stars Academy.
Tatyana Ardasheva
I am so happy to join the Smart Stars Academy family! I have been in America for over 18 years and originally I immigrated from Russia. I was a professional swimmer and athlete for many years. I have two adult children of my own and spent over 14 years being a babysitter for families that I still stay in touch with. I think building such bonds is extremely important when working with young children. I can’t imagine my life without helping and teaching young students to become the best they can be. What I love about being a teacher assistant is that there are no two days alike. I love having the opportunity to use my skills and be a part of the children's lives. I am artsy, musical, creative, very active, and fun! My educational philosophy is that all children have the right to access education- and some are only able to do so with the help, patience and understanding of their caregivers. I strongly believe that all children are capable learners, and it is our job, as educators, to make sure that our students will reach their best learning potential. That is why I'm so excited to join the professional team of educators at Smart Stars Academy and I'm looking forward to helping our children learn and thrive!!
Somia Khan
Hi! My name is Somia Khan. I am a sophomore in Brooklyn College, with a major in Psychology. I am so excited to have become a team member here at Smart Stars Academy. I've been working at the Smart Stars Academy preschool for almost a year now and one thing I’ve learnt is that children often teach us in the process of us teaching them. It has been the best experience possible! They’re so imaginative and I'm so privileged to be able to work with them. I myself am very into painting and art. I get inspired by the children I work with. My background is Pakistani, but I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. I am super excited for what’s to come next from these bright, creative children!
Nigina Zikiryaeva
Hi everyone! My name is Nigina Zikiryaeva, and I was born in Uzbekistan. From a young age, I knew I wanted to work with children. At 19, I began my career in a kindergarten, and ever since, I have been deeply passionate about my profession. Every day, I strive to grow, learn new approaches, and explore traditions to become even better at what I do. Now, I live and work in the United States, where I’ve been continuing my journey in early childhood education for the past two years. Working with children is not just my profession—it’s my calling, bringing joy and inspiration to my life. I look forward to working with you and your children!
Emaan Salman
Hi! My name is Emaan, and I absolutely love working with children. I’ve always had a special connection with kids they make me smile, and I love making them laugh and feel safe. Children feel comfortable around me, and I enjoy creating fun, loving, and caring environments where they can learn and grow. I also have a three year old little sister who has taught me so much about patience, care, and how magical early childhood can be. Being around her has helped me understand how important it is to give children love, attention, and encouragement as they explore the world around them. I’m excited to be part of a team that helps little ones feel happy, confident, and supported every day
Extracurricular Teachers
Alena Tsemnova, Music Teacher
Hi, my name is Ms. Alena and I like to consider myself a talented music teacher, who is knowledgeable within the realm of classroom performances, classroom instruction, classroom management, and multimedia strategies. I truly enjoy implementing various literary arts and techniques into the children's performances. I always aim to excel in the organizational aspect just as much as the productions the students put on for the families. I am thrilled to join Smart Stars Academy. I look forward to getting to know each child and each family. I hope to help expose my students to newly found talents. The goal is to help them find their own spark and help them develop using music as a form of teaching.
Coach Lukasz
Hi! My name is Coach Lukasz and I am a lifelong soccer player and a soccer coach, with 10+ years of coaching experience. I always implement engaging and imaginative themes for my soccer lessons, to ensure that children have fun, but also learn the basics and skills of the beautiful game of soccer. Every lesson is age appropriate with an emphasis on the children learning how to be comfortable with using the soccer ball with their feet and skill development. I am very excited to meet all the little soccer players at Smart Stars Academy and work with each one of the stars!
Chef
Aurica Vincze, Chef
My name is Aurica Vincze and I am a very kind, friendly, and patient individual. I have two strong passions, which are cooking and children. I enjoy trying new things, and creating various dishes. I love watching children learn and grow, as well as working beside them to help them in any way I can. I love spending time with family and friends. I am very pleased that I am able to do both of the things I love, such as cooking and taking care of the students, here at Smart Stars Academy. I look forward to getting to know you and your children and providing the best of both skills that I can offer.