Our team
School management
Martina Olivová
Founder, Managing Director
Motto: „Don´t wait for someone to guide you. Do it yourself!“
She graduated from the Faculty of Economics of the Technical University of Ostrava, majoring in marketing and business. She was working for more than 10 years in marketing and sociological research and consulting for large multinational companies. In 2004 she founded first a Magic Hill pre-school and in 2006 an elementary school. She has attended numerous personal development seminars and professional courses in pedagogy, psychology, critical thinking academy, leadership and management training. She is involved in charity projects and is a partner in the patient organization for Cystic Fibrosis (Klub nemocných cystickou fibrózou).
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Klára Dočekalová
School principal
Motto: „The next age is defined by the upbringing of its future citizens.“ Jan Amos Komenský
She graduated from the Faculty of Arts of Charles University, majoring in school pedagogy and pedagogy of personal and social development. She has a long time experience as a teacher in elementary school at the 1st and 2nd level, she also worked as a deputy head teacher for 3 years. Moreover, Klára has experience of working outside the direct field of education, having worked as a methodologist and project coordinator in non-profit organizations. She is also a graduate of many seminars in pedagogy and personal development such as Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking, Starting Together (Začít Spolu), Individual Planning, Leadership Academy.
Alena Miklová
Teacher, Deputy director
Motto: „Do not seek to be a person, who is famous, but rather seek to be a person, who has his worth.”Albert Einstein
She is a graduate of the Faculty of Education at Palacký University in Olomouc, majoring in Teaching for primary level of elementary school, as well as a graduate of Akcent College, majoring in Teaching primary level English language. In her many years of experience she has taught at both primary and secondary level of elementary school. She is also involved in special education, and has completed courses in neuro-developmental therapy, music therapy and remediation of specific learning disabilities. Alena is a graduate of many seminars such as Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking, Respect and Be Respected, Professor Hejný’s Mathematics, Developing Literacy or Montessori Pedagogy. She now focuses on innovative learning activities for the 21st century while developing leadership and people management. She is a part of Magic Hill since 2017.
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Jason Helmer
English language teacher, Head of English department
Motto: „It’s important to teach students to see the potential for greatness in themselves.”
Jason graduated from Emporia State University with a degree in Music Education and Journalism and is currently completing his qualifications at the Faculty of Education at Masaryk University. He has many years of experience as an English language teacher, having worked as a teacher’s assistant in a special pre-school in the USA for 3 years, and as a specialist English Literature teacher in an elementary school in the USA. Since 2013, he has been working as a teacher at the Institute of Language Education in Prague, participating in the development of educational concepts, testing methods, leading teams of English language teachers. He has been working at Magic Hill since 2017.
Teacher staff
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Anna Bártová
Teacher
Motto: „Be ready to ask questions.”
In 2015, she graduated from the Faculty of Education of Charles University – Teacher Training for Grade 1. During her studies she was a lecturer of summer camps and also cooperated with the agency Kroužky. She completed her teaching practice at our school. In September 2015 she went to England, where she spent a year and a half as an au pair and further worked as a volunteer teacher at Highfield and Brookham School, Liphook. She has attended seminars on literacy development and literacy support, with an emphasis on modern children’s literature. She is in chargé of our school library and prepares reading lessons. She has worked at Magic Hill since 2017.
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Paul Beacon
English language teacher
Motto: „Education is a journey that lasts a lifetime.”
Paul is a graduate of the University of Portsmouth in England, majoring in Linguistics and English Language Teaching. Since 2006 he has been teaching English as a foreign language in Prague, but also in other countries where he has worked, such as Australia, Italy, Saudi Arabia. He has taught students of all age groups. In 2017, he obtained a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics, since then he has also been professionally involved in developing testing methods for Wall Street English and he has also become a certified Cambridge examiner for all the proficiency levels (A2-C2). He has been a member of the Orbit creative writing group since 2019.
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Jitka Bláhová
Teacher, maths and physics teacher
Motto: „Education is the pride of the ones, who are happy people, and the sanctuary of those, who are unhappy.”Démocritus of Abdera
Jitka is a graduate of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Charles University in Prague, majoring in mathematics and physics focused on education. Jitka has experience in individual mathematics tutoring and preparing students for entrance exams. She has also worked as an organizer and leader at children’s camps. She has been working at Magic Hill since 2020 as a math and physics teacher and also as a form teacher of the 2nd grade.
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Carla Botsis
English language teacher, Lecturer of afternoon club
Motto: „Through love and laughter, we learn.”
She graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 2003, with a degree in Sociology and completed an exchange program at the University of Limerick in Ireland. In her professional experience, she has worked as an English language teacher at an international school in Korea and as a teacher for students with special educational needs aged 12-17 in LA, USA. Moreover, Carla has volunteer experience, as she has worked in autism centers, children’s homes, and organized sporting events for AIDS patients. She has been working at Magic Hill since 2017.
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Laura Botsis
English language teacher, lecturer of afternoon club
Motto: „Inspiring lifelong learners to achieve their personal, social, emotional and academic best in a global community.”
She graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 2007 with a degree in Psychology and Pedagogy. Since 2009, she has worked as a teacher in elementary schools, such as Worcester Public Schools, where she taught English as a second language (ESL), especially to immigrant and refugee students. Laura holds a Master’s degree in Primary Education from American International College and a graduate degree in Science Education through Worcester State University. She is a part of our team since 2016.
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James Carlson
English language teacher, music teacher
Motto: „When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.”Rumi
James graduated in music composition at Duke University. He has been teaching for over 20 years. Between 2003 and 2017 he was a professor of music at the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, USA. For five years he taught English language and music education at a private school in Prague. In addition to teaching students, he is a professional musician, composing dance and film music, composing for orchestras and choirs, and performing professionally himself, playing accordion and violin.
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Zuzana Červená
Teacher
Motto: „Having the constant fear of making a mistake, is the biggest mistake in life itself.”
Zuzana is a graduate of the Faculty of Education at Charles University in Prague, with a degree in primary level of elementary school education with a specialization in music education. She worked for 4 years as a teacher in a elementary school with extended language teaching, where she worked as a teacher in a school afternoon clubs, during her studies. At the same time she led a flute club and participated in the production of teaching aids for disabled children. She is a skiing instructor and has attended many seminars such as Critical Thinking, Hejny’s Method of Teaching Mathematics, Working with Error in Czech language Classes or Starting Together (Začít Spolu). She is a part of our team since 2019.
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Kristýna Dědková
Art and craft teacher
Motto: „Rather than saying it can´t be done, say that you haven´t learn that yet.“”
Kristýna graduated from Jan Amos Comenius University with a Bachelor´s degree in Social and Media Communication and Oakland´s College English for foreigners. She is currently studying at the Faculty of Education at the J. E. Purkyně University in the field of Teaching for primary level of elementary schools and Special Education. She has worked mostly in commercial companies and has experience in leisure and scouting programs for children, whom she also tutored. Krystýna is a part of our team at Magic Hill since 2022.
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Justin Dippenaar
English language teacher, lecturer of afternoon club
Motto: „“No one is ever satisfied where he is.””Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Justin comes from South Africa, where he graduated from the South African Institute of Welding in 2006. He then successfully devoted himself to technical engineering for eight years. In 2014, he fundamentally changed his professional direction, when he decided to pursue a career as an English teacher, completed his education, obtained a TEFL certificate and has been teaching English as a second language for the last 5 years. Justin also specialises in preparing students for Cambridge exams and focuses on developing his students’ soft skills in language teaching.
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Jana Dočkalová
Teacher
Motto: „Imperfect something is better, than a perfect nothing.”
Jana graduated from the Faculty of Education at Charles University, majoring in primary level of elementary school teaching with a focus on music education. She has attended a number of courses, such as Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking, Professor Hejný’s Summer School of Mathematics, Mentoring in Science Education – teaching oriented on research. She has taught primary level school grades at several elementary schools, and worked for 2 years as a lecturer of educational programs at the Říčany Museum. Furthermore, she runs children’s camps and leads the preparation of a choir at school. She has been at Magic Hill since 2021.
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Daniela Dušková
Teacher, music teacher
Motto: „Music uplifts people of each character to an ideal beauty.”
She holds a Master’s degree in German Language – Music Education for Second Grade Primary School at the University of South Bohemia. Subsequently, she extended her qualifications by completing a degree in Teaching for primary level school grades at the Faculty of Education in České Budějovice. She then taught at the T. G. Masaryk Primary School in Jihlava. For four years she lived in the United States, where she taught piano. In Magic Hill she worked first as a pre-school teacher for 2 years and since 2012 she has been working as an elementary school teacher.
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Klára Chamula Gajdová
Teacher of the preparatory 0 grade class
Motto: „That what is right can be seen only through our heart. That what is important, cannot be seen by our eyes.”Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
She graduated from secondary school of education with a specialization in live languages. She graduated from the University of Ostrava with a degree in pre-school teaching. She taught in a pre-school for four years and then spent several years in the Netherlands as an au pair. She has worked at Magic Hill since 2015, with a two-year break for maternity leave, during which she also did private English language lessons for young children. During her teaching experience, she has attended a number of training seminars focused on targeted development of preschool children and non-violent communication. She runs a flute club at Magic Hill.
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Adriana Kutíková
Teacher
Motto: „Those who want, search for the ways, while those who do not want, search for the reasons.” Jan Werich
Adriana studied applied ecology at the Czech University of Agriculture in Prague. During her studies she participated in the Erasmus exchange programme in Madrid. Subsequently, she broadened her qualifications by studying preschool pedagogy in Beroun. She worked for 4 years as a 1st grade teacher at the state school in Stříbrná Skalice. Adriana also attended a number of seminars such as SFUMATO (fused reading), Peer support in the area of mentoring and science literacy, Digital competence for teachers, Innovative methods of teaching foreign languages in elementary schools, Learning outdoors, etc.. She is a summer camp lecturer and a professional ski instructor. In her free Adriana time enjoys dancing, reading, cycling and skiing.
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Svatopluk Mareš
Teacher, mentor
Motto: „The world is a beautiful book, but it is not worth for someone, who cannot read in it.”
He has many years of experience as an elementary school teacher. He has also worked with children with specific learning disabilities. Gradually, he profiled himself in the field of personal and social education, drama education and art education. He attended a seminar in Children’s Theatre Dramaturgy and led a school drama group. Svatopluk is the editor and co-author of several publications aimed at the development of literacy and personal development of pupils and co-author of the Kuliferda series of workbooks. Furthermore, he has completed a wide range of follow-up educational courses with an emphasis on developing pupils’ critical thinking and communication skills, and is a lecturer in the Live Teacher (Učitel na živo) programe. He has worked at Magic Hill since 2015.
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Šárka Matoušková
Teacher
Motto: „A good teacher is the one, who is able to create an environment in which everyone has their own equal voice – both the small and the big.“
Šárka has many years of experience in both state and private schools. She graduated from the secondary pedagogical school, where she mainly focused on preschool children, preparatory classes and organizing after-school activities. She has completed a number of accredited courses focused primarily on elementary-school pedagogy, such as Speech Therapy Prevention, Critical Thinking, Hejny’s Mathematics Method, Genetic Methods of Reading and Comenia Script. Šárka has applied her experience as a teaching assistant in a preparatory classroom, as well as in the position of form and tandem teacher with a focus on first and second grade students. She also worked for a time as a principal of a private preschool.
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Lucie Nováková
Teacher, Czech language teacher
Motto: „It is incredible, what kids are capable of, if you give them a chance.”
Lucie graduated from the Faculty of Education of the University of South Bohemia, majoring in Czech language and Civics education. She has more than 7 years of experience teaching in elementary schools as a primary level teacher. During her teaching practice she taught in high schools, as wll as in a children’s hospital. Furthermore, she was also a lecturer of the Healthy Five project focused on healthy eating in schools. She has attended a number of seminars in the field of communication, self-assessment of pupils or use of games in teaching. She is an active member of the Scouts, where she is a leader of a Scout club. Lucie has been at Magic Hill since 2020, and is in charge of the ECO School Project and a Head of the school’s ECO team.
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Iurii Pakhtusov
School psychologist
Motto: „Be the change, you strive to see in the world.“ Mahátma Gándhí
Iurii graduated from the Faculty of Education of Charles University in Psychology, specializing in child and school psychology. During his studies he had the opportunity to complete several professional courses in Germany, where he was introduced to the international perspective on psychology in education. After graduation, Iurii gained long-term experience as a school psychologist at private primary school in Prague, where he was actively involved in supporting and development of children with special needs. Iurii completed a number of internships at elementary schools, in educational-psychological counseling centers and psychiatry clinics. In addition, he is a supporter of the concept of Mindfulness and its application in the context of education. He uses it in his work with children and young people to help them develop attention, emotional intelligence and self-awareness.
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Vlasta Petrovič
Teacher of biology, geography and chemistry
Motto: „Imagination is more important than knowledge.”Albert Einstein
Vlasta is a graduate of the Faculty of Science of Comenius University in Bratislava, majoring in Geology and Biology. She graduated from the secondary vocational school in Stara Pazova, Serbia, with a focus on biology and chemistry and has completed numerous professional courses in fieldwork, e.g. at Nature Conservation Schellerhau in Germany. She gained her teaching experience as an elementary school teacher in Prague and has been a part of Magic Hill since 2020. In addition to teaching science subjects, she is responsible for the school’s cooperation in ERASMUS programs.
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Kateřina Prachařová
Czech and German language teacher
Motto: „A person shouldn´t strive to be be better than others, but to be better than himself on the previous day.”
Kateřina studied Czech language and Literature at the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Education of Charles University, majoring in Teaching for high schools. She has worked in the media – as a proofreader and editor, most recently in the Czech Radio (Český rozhlas) web newsroom, and as a librarian at the Municipal Library in Prague. At CERMAT, she participated in the creation of test tasks for the common section of the maturita exams in Czech language and also taught Czech language to foreigners. Kateřina is a graduate of the Critical Thinking course and has been at Magic Hill since 2021.
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Tereza Richterová
Teacher
Motto: „It is not what I possess, but what i know, that makes me rich.” Thomas Carlyle
Tereza graduated from the Faculty of Education at Charles University in Prague, where she studied primary level of elementary school teaching with a focus on English language. During her studies she participated in the Erasmus exchange program in Joensuu, Finland. After graduation, she completed a C1 English language course at the Wimbledon School of English in London. Tereza also taught English in a language school, working with children from the age of two up to adults. For the last 11 years she has worked for Prague British International School. She has been a part of Magic Hill since 2022.
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Kristýna Řeháková
Physical education teacher, school methodologist of prevention
Motto: „The most precious materiál on earth isn´t oil, metals, clear air, capital, work or technology. It is our ability to listn to each other, learn from each other and to seek the truth, rather than just having it.”
She is a graduate of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports of Charles University, majoring in Coaching and Teaching, and has worked for many years as a youth sports coach and a coach of the Czech national bobsleigh team. Kristýna also has extensive experience in organizing teambuilding programs, sports competitions and is a graduate of the Life Dynamic training in counselling and therapeutic skills. In addition to teaching physical education, she is involved in prevention programs, the personal development of students and well-being projects. She has been at Magic Hill since 2018.
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Bethany Scharnowske
English language teacher
Motto: „My goal is to make students as excited to learn English as I am to teach it.”
Bethany is a graduate of Indiana University with a degree in psychology and holds a TESOL certificate. She worked in the social work field for 4 years as a crisis worker in schools and families, she taught children, and worked in prevention programs for child protection. Since 2008 she has been working in Prague as an English language teacher in language schools and as a private teacher. She has experience with students from younger school age up to adulthood, including guiding students in preparation for international English language exams. Bethany has been a part of our team since 2021.
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Kamila Šimková-Broulová
Spanish language teacher
Motto: „An average teacher repeats. A good teacher explains. A great teacher shows. The best teacher inspires.”
She is a graduate of the Faculty of Science of Charles University, majoring in Professional geography – physical geography and Geoecology and follow up studies in pedagogy at the UJEP in Ústí nad Labem. She has been a teacher for more than ten years and has taught at state and private schools. At the same time, she is a professor of geography and Spanish language at an eight-year high school and has regular lectures at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University. In addition to her teaching experience, she has worked as a travel journalist and documentary filmmaker for a great part of her professional career. Along with numerous reports, she has co-authored scripts for documentary films on Czech Television and several books. Kamila is a part of our team since 2014.
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Tatiana Tupá Bírešová
History teacher, social sciences teacher
Motto: “Educating your mind without educating your heart as well, is no education.” Aristoteles
Tatiana is a graduate of the Faculty of Arts of Charles University in history and pedagogy, and has been working in the field of education since 2015. She has worked as a history teacher, lecturer of experiential pedagogy, a teaching methodologist for history teachers, and has participated in the creation of study materials for the second level of elementary school in the subject of history and civics. Tatiana has conducted workshops for teachers at the Institute of Czech History of the Faculty of Arts of Charles University and at the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes and has been a part of our team at Magic Hill since 2022.
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Marie Šubrtová
Teacher
Motto: „The best way for kids to learn, is by imitating that, what they perceive in others and by their own experience. We should také on the role of their idols and give them the opportunity to receive new experience.”
Marie is a graduate of the Faculty of Education at Charles University, majoring in Primary level of elementary school teaching with a specialization in drama education. She worked as a form teacher in an elementary school in Prague and for three years as a teaching assistant in an elementary school in the UK. She has completed many courses such as Critical Thinking, MBTI Typology, Reading Workshop or Dramatic Education in School. Furthermore, Marie also has experience of organizing leisure programs for children, as well as organizing sports and golf camps. She has been with us at Magic Hill since 2021.
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Otakar Václavík
Teacher, maths and physics teacher
Motto: „I am not a teacher, but rather a direction sign. I have led the way of myself, as well as the way of others.”
Otakar graduated from the Faculty of Education at Charles University, majoring in Vocational subjects teaching. At the moment he is also studying mathematics at Masaryk University. He has experience in teaching mathematics and physics at the secondary level of elementary school, where he has been teaching these subjects since 2006. Otakar has also worked at primary level of elementary school and as a teacher of drama education and personality education. He cooperated with the ecological organization of KONIKLEC as a coordinator of environ
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Iveta Vojtěchová
Teacher, Special education teacher
Motto: „Our teachers must not solely be a motionless direction sign that does not move itself in the way it leads us.”Jan Amos Komenský
Iveta has a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from Jan Amos Comenius University. She has many years of experience in private and state schools as a teaching assistant and a head of after-school activities. She is professionally involved in individual work with pupils with special educational needs along with organizing children’s camps and various experiential educational events. She has attended a number of educational courses, such as Teaching Czech to Foreigners, Art Therapy, Principles of Non-Harmful Communication and the Let’s Not Be Afraid to Teach Math course. She has been a part of Magic Hill since 2021.
Teaching assistants
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Zuzana Farnsworth Martis
Lecturer of afternoon club, teacher assistant
Motto: „Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning”
Zuzana has a Masters Degree (MSc) in Education, specialised in Mathematics & Chemistry, obtained from the Faculty for Natural Sciences of Comenius University, Bratislava. After completing her studies, she moved to Great Britain, where she worked as a teacher at several primary and secondary schools in London since 2011. She then traveled to Australia, where she also taught at various elementary schools. Since 2015, she has worked as a full-time teacher at an international English kindergarten and elementary school in Prague. In the course of her teaching experience, she completed a series of extension courses for teachers.
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Barbora Markvartová
Lecturer of afternoon club, Teacher assistant
Motto: „The most important skill of our teachers, is the ability to spark the joy of the students to create and learn”Albert Einstein
Barbora graduated from the Technical University of Liberec with a Bachelor´s degree in Business Economics. She is also a graduate of an accredited training program for teaching assistants and has worked as a teaching assistant at an elementary school for two years. She is currently completing her qualification as a teacher of pre-school and out-of-school pedagogy. In her spare time she works as a gymnastics coach, and has led several sports courses, as well as gaining experience in organizing gymnastics camps and suburban camps for children.
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Nikola Pecharová
Lecturer of afternoon club, Teacher assistant
Motto: “Who has never made a mistake has never tried something new.” Albert Einstein
Nikola completed her bachelor’s degree at Jan Amos Comenius University in the field of special pedagogy and then continued her master’s degree in leisure time pedagogy at the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice. She completed her internship in primary and nursery schools and led, for example, a gymnastics club. Her hobbies include graphic design, photography and painting, as well as sports activities, culture and literature.
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Leona Schneiderová
Head of družina, Teacher assistant
Motto: „Never say never…”
Leona first graduated from a high school of economics, then she devoted herself to raising her 4 children. Afterwards she worked as an au pair of pre-school children for 5 years, and has been working as a teaching assistant in our school since 2015. Leona completed her qualification with an accredited study as a teaching assistant and completed a number of personal trainings focused on working with youth and dealing with crisis situations in school. In addition to assisting pupils, she also runs our afternoon club.
Other members of our team
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Hana Jirků
Office manager
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Bc. Simona Valešová
Financial department
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Karel Löwy
Janitor
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Veronika Břicháčová
Head of school cafeteria
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Petra Tichá
School cafeteria
