Our Team

Our schools are built around our teachers—as everyone else will tell you. But we really do take our time selecting them. We want our teachers to be there for our students:

guides

partners

motivators

That is why we select people who have successful professional careers and experience, who are passionate about learning and enjoy sharing their knowledge, so that they can inspire children to discover and explore and foster their curiosity.

See what our teachers have to say.

watch the videos

See what our teachers have to say .

watch the videos

Management

Mgr. Světlana Smejkalová
Principal of Fostra High School
svetlana.smejkalova@fostra.cz
+420 734 667 589

I am an experienced educator with many years of practice in secondary education and a strong connection to the grammar school environment. I believe that a school should be a safe, inspiring and supportive place where not only students, but also teachers can grow. I have a long-standing focus on the quality of teaching, professional pedagogical practice and meaningful innovation. I value a systematic approach, clear rules and open communication. I strive to foster a positive school climate built on respect, trust and cooperation. My vision is a grammar school that prepares students not only in terms of knowledge and skills, but also supports their personal and values-based development. It encourages them to take responsibility, become independent and think critically, while providing them with a strong foundation for further study and for active and meaningful participation in society.

  • Twenty years of teaching experience at a grammar school, specializing in mathematics and computer science;
  • methodological work with ICT and support for the digitalization of teaching and school operations;
  • responsibility for the preparation, organization and administration of final secondary school examinations;
  • experience in leading both teaching and student teams;
  • career guidance and support for students in their educational orientation;
  • organization of school projects, charity events and extracurricular activities;
  • systematic support for gifted students and their participation in competitions;
  • emphasis on constructive and respectful communication with students, parents and colleagues;
  • professional experience outside education, providing expertise in process management, communication and problem-solving.

    • PhDr. Jarmila Belmihoubová, MBA,
    LL.M.
    Deputy Director
    jarmila.belmihoubova@fostra.cz
    +420 734 676 260

    I place strong emphasis on students’ personal development, language skills and the competencies they need to thrive in the 21st century. My approach to education is inspired by the ideas of Jan Amos Comenius: “School should be a workshop of humanity, not a torture chamber for the mind.” In my teaching practice, I focus on an individual approach to students, developing their abilities and skills, and creating a safe environment that supports their growth and creativity. With expertise in pedagogy, psychology, philosophy and security management, I bring a broad perspective to education along with the ability to provide strategic leadership. I continuously develop my professional knowledge and bring current topics into the classroom, including digital literacy, cybersecurity, team leadership and risk prevention. My vision is to build a school where academic excellence goes hand in hand with respect for every student as an individual. I see school as a vibrant and stimulating environment for developing humanity, character and readiness to face the challenges of today’s world. I enjoy travelling and discovering different cultures. In winter, I enjoy skiing, as well as a range of other sports. In my free time, I listen to different kinds of music and occasionally play the piano.

  • More than twenty years of experience in education, working across all levels of the education system – from primary school and secondary vocational education through higher vocational education to university teaching and adult education as part of distance learning.
  • Contributed to the leadership of Trivis School, where I served as Deputy Head responsible for higher vocational and secondary vocational education for seven years.
  • At the same time, worked across all types of schools as a school counsellor and prevention specialist.
  • Provided both educational and career guidance to students, while also providing methodological support to teaching staff and class teachers and communicating with students’ parents.

    • Bc. Irena Tůmová, MBA
    COO - Managing Director
    irena.tumova@fostra.cz

    I am the Chief Operating Officer of the Fostra grammar school network. In my role, I combine strategic management with the day-to-day operations of the schools, focusing on ensuring that people have clear roles, effective processes and a calm environment where they can concentrate on their work and professional development. I have been professionally connected with the Fostra grammar school network for many years. This gives me a deep understanding of its operations, values and the specific needs of an educational environment, which I can translate into everyday practice. I am a mother of four sons, and I see education not only as a professional field but also as a personal responsibility. I care about creating schools where both children and adults can feel comfortable, thrive and enjoy being part of the community.

  • Extensive experience in managing operations, processes and teams
  • Experience across multiple sectors, including education and other fields
  • Management of operations and organizational structures in an educational environment
  • Designing effective processes and establishing clear roles
  • People management, leadership support and team development
  • Recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff
  • People development, onboarding of new colleagues and change management
  • Connecting strategic goals with day-to-day operations
  • Creating a stable and well-structured environment for work and development

    • Mgr. Lenka Vopařilová
    Deputy Head for IB and Pedagogical Development
    lenka.voparilova@fostra.cz

    I believe that school can be a place where children not only gain knowledge, but above all grow as individuals – with confidence and respect for themselves and others. I am a language and art teacher with many years of classroom experience, as well as experience in school leadership. I enjoy finding the balance between structure and creativity, fostering collaboration and encouraging open dialogue. My international experience outside education has given me a broader perspective and valuable life lessons. This is why I believe that every student should have the opportunity to gain similar experience during their education, even as early as secondary school. As an IB Coordinator, I connect the school’s vision with the values of international education and support teachers and students in transitioning to new ways of thinking and teaching. For me, school leadership has been a daily exercise in decision-making and organization, but what I enjoy most is still being close to students – seeing how they think, create and grow. I believe that every child has something exceptional within them, and our role is to help them discover and develop it.

    I enjoy staying active and love hiking, long walks and dancing. I enjoy engaging in conversations about challenging topics and finding solutions to a wide range of situations.

  • Head of a private eight-year grammar school
  • Teaching English, German and Art, including CLIL methodology at grammar school level
  • Organization of international exchange programmes, school projects and events for parents
  • Experience in both Czech and international environments outside education (Czech Republic and USA)
  • Strong organizational and communication skills, with a focus on collaboration, openness and reliability
  • Graduate in Art Education and German Philology from Palacký University Olomouc, with a degree in English Language Teaching from Charles University Prague

    • Ing. Lucie Svobodová
    Deputy Director for Projects and Customer Service
    lucie.svobodova@fostra.cz
    +420 730 199 589

    Lucie brings her strong management and organizational skills to the school environment, gained through her professional experience at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. This experience enables her to contribute effectively to the school’s development and to innovation in the educational process. Lucie is actively involved in project-based learning, which supports students in developing skills applicable to the real world. She also organizes school trips and educational excursions, providing students with new experiences and opportunities to learn beyond the classroom. Lucie ensures smooth communication with public authorities, handling both administrative matters and cooperation with external partners. She leads the Student Affairs Office, where she is responsible for supporting students and communicating with parents. She also plays a key role in organizing the admissions process, ensuring that it runs smoothly and transparently.

  • Ministry Counsellor, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MŠMT), 2021–2022
  • Tour Guide and Project-Based Learning Manager, CK2 – Travel Agency, 2018–2020
  • Exhibition Zone Manager, City of Robots, 2019
  • Head of Health and Wellness Stays, Kovotour plus, 2018–2019
  • Master’s Degree (Ing.) in Urban and Regional Development Management, Ambis University, 2018–2020
  • Bachelor’s Degree (Bc.) in Quality Control and Safety Technologies, University of Regional Development – Prague, 2015–2018
  • Diplomatic Services Administration, Secondary School of Administration for the EU, 2010–2014

    • Mgr. Nina Haas
    IB DP Coordinator
    nina.haas@fostra.cz

    Teaching high school students is one of the most rewarding roles, because the students are at a delicate transition in learning their own passions, talents, and motivations. One of the most important ways to support these students is through modelling and helping them to explore those interests with focus and long-term planning. Through the IB program, students are especially encouraged to be risk-takers, be critics but not skeptics, and develop key skills that will benefit their educational future and their personal lives. I am also a certified Vinyasa yoga teacher, and professional surrealist oil painter with regular solo shows in Prague, New York, and Miami.

  • 3 years of experience teaching the IB and IGCSE programs in a Czech school, while working as the IB University and Career Counsellor
  • Taught Academic Writing (ENG 300) to students at University of New York in Prague in their final year of university
  • Graduated from Villanova University in Pennsylvania, USA with a Masters in Classical and Ancient Studies, having received a full Teaching Assistant stipend, a tuition remission scholarship, and publications
  • Tutored Ancient Greek language to undergraduate and graduate students, prepared scholarship, syllabi, and exams for undergraduate teaching
  • Worked as a Program Assistant in the Eastern and Central European Studies department of FF UK, communicating between faculty and the international student body and guiding field trips from Prague to enrich understandings of European history and culture
  • Researcher in Washington, DC and New York, NY for the George Washington University Museum, The Textile Museum, The Frederick Douglass Bicentennial (a Library of Congress project), and the Whaling Museum; practicing grant-writing, acquisitions research, provenance research, exhibition design, curatorial decision-making, non-profit funding, bibliography compilation, and event planning.