Born in Chicago and raised in Zurich, Lydia grew up in a bilingual home filled with music, dance and art. After graduating from a specialized music high school, Lydia moved to Vermont to study dance and voice at Bennington College. Lydia moved to NYC in 2012 and has been teaching music and movement in public and private schools grades PreK – 4th grade through Third Street Music School and Turtle Bay Music School. Lydia is excited to broaden the curriculum to include German songs.

Nicola (Nici) grew up in Germany and moved to NYC four years ago. She has always been passionate about working with children and gained most of her experience from teaching dance to children of all ages (3 y/o – 12 y/o) for the past 10 years.

Nici’s academic career has supported her teaching skills during this decade as Nici graduated from a technical high school with emphasis on psychology and pedagogy and from a vocational school for performing arts and dance pedagogy, both in Germany. Nici is currently attending an online Bachelor’s Program, studying Social Work at the IUBH – Internationale Hochschule.

Besides teaching dance, Nici worked at a German Pre – School in Brooklyn, teaching a class of 12 children (ages 2 – 5), which inspired her to emphasize her studies to Early Childhood Education. Having a positive impact on young children is very important to her as well as creating a nurturing environment in which children love to learn and play.

Nici will be teaching Dance at GSM. Dance and movement not only brings a lot of joy, it also teaches us coordination, rhythm, group dynamics and improves our fine and gross motor skills and even our memory, when we learn choreography.

Martina is originally from Graz, Austria, where she studied at the University of Graz and earned her degree in German and History. Following her studies she taught fundamental and advanced German, history, social studies and political education at a Gymnasium (Middle and High School) in Graz. Furthermore, she was responsible for the German placement tests in DaF and DaZ, and was an active member in the school’s bullying prevention team.

Julie received her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Kent State University and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Hunter College. Originally from Pennsylvania, Julie moved to NYC in 2018 and has been teaching in the city since. Having undergraduate experience teaching English in The Netherlands and receiving her International Baccalaureate certificate, Julie values inquiry-based learning, children’s natural curiosities, and bilingual education. Julie is extremely excited to teach at GSM where a child-centered and bilingual curriculum helps shape future global citizens.

Aurelia Ott was born and raised in Switzerland and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Primary Education. Early in her career she was a Lower School teacher in a small Swiss village for 9 years where she also shared her joy of teaching by training future teachers.

Later, she was a teacher at the German International School in White Plains, NY and a substitute teacher at over 25 schools in Zurich.

She is excited to help build the young and thriving German School Manhattan with her professional knowledge and to work closely with the staff and families.

Aurelia feels that successful learning happens through personal connection and individual coaching for each and every child. Her classroom is cheerful and playful, with the right amount of structure and rules to ensure a safe and homey atmosphere for everyone.

Ina has been the director of the Deutsche Sprachschule since 2016, a German Saturday school that teaches kids as young as 3 all the way to adults. Ina is an experienced German teacher, you might have met her during camp Wunderbar (she’s run the summer camp at GSM for the past two years). Ina lives in Queens and is the mother of two teenagers.

Dana is a visual artist and preschool teacher. She has most recently worked at Pusteblume. She has a daughter and lives with her family in Brooklyn.

Having moved to NYC only in 2019, Lara is a “freshly-baked New Yorker.” She holds a B.A. and a Masters of Education from Cologne University (German and English literary studies and Special Education) and she has taught at elementary and secondary schools in Germany and also at the German School Nairobi. Her teaching experience includes teaching social and behavioral skills to underprivileged children, children of refugees and students with learning difficulties. Lara trusts that every child is a capable learner. She strives to foster individual and independent learning to empower and enable students to make socially responsible and conscious decisions.