Director

Jay M. Loftin
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Hello Parents and Students!

My name is Jay Loftin, and I am the Ljubljana International School Director. I am originally from Missisisppi and have taught in public, private, international, and boarding schools. My family and I have recently joined QSI Ljubljana from our sister school in Novosibirsk, Russia. While I am certified kindergarten through secondary, I have spent much of my career with middle schools and remedial programs. I have a master’s in political science with another on the way in higher education administration. I love Ljubljana for the nature, freedom, and especially scenic rivers; I love canoeing. We hope this year will be YOUR best as we know it will be ours.

Classroom Teachers and their Assistants

• Pre-School (3 and 4 year old class): Laurie Loftin and Sally Ramachandran
• Lower Elementary (5 and 6 year old class): Demetra Cuden and Jana Skrjanec
• Upper Elementary (7 through 9 year old class):  Marcia Pottruff and Kerry Trobec
• Middle School (10 through 13 year old class):  Kathleen Wills
• High School:  Matt Maples
  

Specialists

• Nina Golob:  Slovenian, German
  
• Tyler Horn: Secondary-level Mathematics and Science
• Marjeta Jelovsek:  Music, Slovene Life
  
• Lara Majcen:  Technology, Elementary-level Mathematics
  
• Matt Maples:  Physical Education
• Kathleen Wills:  Visual Fine Arts

Other Support Staff

• Ksenija Majcen:  School Business Manager
• Lara Majcen: MAP Testing Coordinator
• Sally Ramachandran:  After-school Care
• Jana Skrjanec:  After-school Clubs Coordinator
• Monika Znidarsic:  SAT Testing Coordinator
• Peter Znidarsic:  School Facilities Manager

Staff on Maternity Leave

• Maja Bogataj Voros
  
• Monika Znidarsic

And Finally a Short Introduction by each Staff Member

Maja Bogataj Voros - currently on maternity leave
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Maja is from Slovenia, but was born in New York. She has a Bachelors Degree in Social Work from the University of Ljubljana. She has been teaching all grade levels of physical education, fitness and health education at QSI Ljubljana for nine years. She is also a snowboard instructor and loves the outdoors. Her hobbies include sailing, jogging and drawing.

Demetra Cuden - 5 and 6 Year Old Classroom Teacher
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Teaching is exchanging knowledge. That is why I love my profession. You always learn something new and students, hopefully, learn from you.
It is quite complicated for me to tell you where I am from. I was born in a country that doesn’t exist any more, Yugoslavia, lived in Canada, Austria, Kuwait and Albania. I am moving back to my roots but I’ve never lived in Slovenia since it became independent in 1991. I have dual citizenship, Slovene and Canadian. I love traveling but feel very excited about spending time at home.
I’m married to Andrej, who is an entrepreneur in Ljubljana. We have three wonderful children, son Amadej who lives in Canada with his wife and daughter, and two daughters, Valentina who lives in Maribor and Barbara who lives in Canada.
I’ve been teaching internationally since 2004, four years in Kuwait and two in Tirana, Albania. 2010 / 2011 will be my third year with QSI. Before that I taught in Canada and Slovenia. My professional career consists of some non-teaching assignments of which working for the United Nations is the most interesting one.
I hold a Master’s Degree and Certification in elementary education from The College of New Jersey.

Nina Golob - Slovenian and German Teacher

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Nina is from Ljubljana, Slovenia. She graduated from the University of Ljubljana Faculty of Arts in German philology and literature. During her studies, she lived as an exchange student in Berlin, Germany, where she attended the Freie Universität Berlin. She has been working as a teacher and translator since 2003. Her hobbies are traveling, photography, learning foreign languages, and fingerfood.

Tyler's picture will be available soon...

Tyler Horn - Secondary-level Mathematics and Science Teacher

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My name is Tyler Horn and I am an American. I was born and raised in Kansas where I also attended the University of Kansas to earn my bachelor's degree in Economics. I studied abroad in Czech Republic during college and loved the international experience. I come from a family of teachers so I have education in my genes and I love my job. I believe all students can excel in math and science and my goal is to build confidence in my students and have fun with the subjects. I like my students to laugh in class and work together as much as possible. I grew up playing baseball and football and still love sports and believe in taking care of myself by living a healthy and active life style.

Marjeta Jelovsek - Music Teacher and Slovene Life Coordinator

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Marjeta simply loves music and everything that goes with it: playing the instruments - especially the piano, singing and dancing, which is her greatest hobby. She holds a BA and a MA in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Ljubljana where she specialized in Anthropology of Music. She received her teaching certification in 2005 and has been involved in teaching ever since. She worked as a music teacher in two Slovene primary schools where she was teaching students aged 4 to 15. She also occasionally tutors English to Slovene children. Her hobbies are travelling, salsa and ballroom dancing, and sports.

Laurie Loftin - 3 and 4 Year Old Classroom Teacher
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My name is Laurie Loftin and my husband Jay, son Taylor and daughter Anna, came to QSI Ljubljana from our sister QSI school in Russia . I am a native Texan, but our family calls the state of Mississippi home, and where I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. I have 14 years school experience with 3, 4, 5 and 6 year olds in the U.S., Finland, and Russia. I also have experience teaching Intensive English to non-native English speakers, 3 year old through adult. I am really excited to have the opportunity to teach children in this beautiful country of Slovenia. My family enjoys the outdoors, biking, hiking and picnicking and this is a wonderful place for that!

Ksenija Majcen - School Business Manager

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Shaped by 4 countries on 2 continents, Ksenija was born in Maribor, Slovenia, as a child lived for 5 years in then East-Berlin, and moved to Chicago when she was 16. She received her M.S. in Computer Science (and also her B.S. in Computer Science with minors in English and Psychology) from Loyola University of Chicago. From 1986 until 2008, Ksenija worked in Information Technology as a software development project manager, both in the US and in Slovenia. Wishing to do something entirely different, where she could speak different languages and work in an international setting, Ksenija is thrilled to be at QSI International School of Ljubljana. After over 20 years in the business world, she enjoys speaking/translating English/Slovenian/German, managing the school’s business, and being surrounded by children. What is important in life? Family, friends, nature, and the arts (come see her sing and dance with FOLK Etc). She is currently writing a children‘s story – a true story of two girls running away in East Berlin.

Lara Majcen – Technology, Elementary-level Mathematics Teacher and MAP Testing Coordinator

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Lara considered a law career before deciding that she should make good use of her technical side, and went for Applied Mathematics instead. She studied at the University of Ljubljana, and has received additional training for AP Calculus and AP Computer Science courses. Lara is Slovenian, but is also fluent in English (has CPE), German and Spanish (has Diploma Básico), and can hold her own in Italian and French. As a scout leader and mentor, she has been working with children and teenagers since she was 14, which proved to be a great help in teaching. In her spare time, Lara devours every book she can get her hands on, plays the piano, and finds comfort in hot tea and good movies.

Matt Maples - High School Class Teacher and Physical Education Teacher

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Matt's picture and bio will be available soon...

Marcia Pottruff - 7 through 9 year old Class Teacher

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My name is Marcia Pottruff and I am a Canadian from London, Ontario, Canada. I am very pleased to be teaching this year at QSI of Ljubljana. I bring with me a background of 26 years teaching in primary junior education, as well as 12 years in working with children in hospital settings. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education, a Special Education Specialist, and primary music qualifications from the University of Western Ontario, Canada. My son Andrew is currently studying Music and International Relations at the University of Canada. He has a wonderful perspective on life and supports me in this unique path I’ve undertaken. I look forward to a rewarding year with my students and immersing myself in the rich culture of Slovenia.

Sally Ramachandran - Pre-school Paraprofessional

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Sally is from New Delhi, India and worked at Sana’a International School, Yemen before moving to Slovenia in 2003. Sally works with pre-school children and absolutely loves her job. Her hobbies are reading and cooking delicious food.

Jana Skrjanec - 5 and 6 Year Old Teacher Assistant and After-school Clubs Coordinator

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My name is Jana Skrjanec and I come from Grosuplje, Slovenia.
I've been with QSI for 5 years with a little break in between.
I study tourism at the Faculty of Tourism Studies Portorose, University of Primorska.
My biggest hobby and a way of life is SCOUTING. Well, I've been a scout since birth because my dad is a scout. I'm a chief scout of the local scout unit in my home town. I'm also a leader of a scout group of girls age 13 to 15.
Scouting gave me a lot and much more - friends from all over the world, a chance to travel a lot, an opportunity to work with kids and help them grow through life. And that's why I like teaching at QSI because it gives the same opportunities. I also work with the best teacher and I learn a lot from the kids. Besides assisting in lower elementary, I prepare Slovene kids for exams at the end of the school year at Slovene schools.
In my free time I like to go out with my friends, watch movies, or just be bored :)

Kerry Trobec

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Kerry's bio will be available soon...

Kathleen Wills – 10 through 13 Year Old Classroom Teacher and Visual Arts Teacher

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Kathleen Wills comes to QSI from Missoula, Montana where she lived in the fourth largest state in the USA. She has extensive experience teaching students in every grade level. She taught most of those years in Montana and spent a year in Kuwait at Fawzia Sultan International School. The desire to explore other cultures was the factor that led her to choose the QSI International School of Ljubljana and the rich experience in another international school. Kathleen received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Carroll College and her Masters in Integrating Computers into the Curriculum from Lesley University. Her passion is children of all ages and she spends her free time hiking, long distance bicycle touring, and exploring all aspects of foreign cultures.

Monika Znidarsic – currently on maternity leave yet continues to coordinate the SAT testing

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Monika graduated from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio with a BA in Political Science. She continued her studies and received her teaching certificate from the University of Missouri- St. Louis in the field of Mild/Moderate Cross-Categorical Special Education for grades K-12. Monika moved to Slovenia in 2004 and began her teaching career at QSI International School of Ljubljana. She has enjoyed teaching all subjects at middle school and elementary levels. Monika loves sharing her enthusiasm for learning with her students and welcomes the achievements and surprises that every new school day brings. Her classroom is based on mutual respect, open communication, curiosity, creativity, and humor. As Plutarch said, "The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be ignited." and Monika tries to find new ways to ignite the fire of learning. She also realises that teachers teach by example and so she focuses on practicing a healthy lifestyle. She spends her free time outdoors, in the garden and among good friends and family.

Peter Znidarsic – School Facilities Manager

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Peter is involved in all aspects of school life. As the children arrive to school, he's there to greet them and strike up a conversation with parents as well. Peter is the person to go to when you have a question about anything. His years of experience in different fields is what gives him the know how to help keep the school running smoothly. He has many jobs from making sure that the school is clean and safe to organizing our music programs, lunch programs and taking care of the needs of the students and staff. He is a kind man who greatly cares about the students, staff and school community.