Marina Zurakhinsky, Founder of ZPlaySchool, Director

Marina Zurakhinsky is a community organizer who has been developing and running interactive educational programs for children since 2002. Throughout her career Marina had the opportunity to supervise, develop, and facilitate numerous programs & initiatives for children, teens, and families. Marina was born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine. She studied Business Management and Finance and also holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Fordham University. She has experience working with children for almost 20 years and is excited to make her dream come true – to create a center with experienced educators and quality programs for local (and her own) children.

Svetlana Orberg, Assistant Director

Svetlana Orberg was born and raised in Saint Petersburg, Russia where she earned her Bachelor's degree. She moved to the United States and started working with toddlers and preschoolers almost 10 years ago in various early childhood centers and privately. Svetlana is also CPR & First Aid certified. In her spare time, Svetlana loves baking and makes delicious desserts. She also loves animals, she trains dogs and specializes in their behavioral correction. Svetlana is an upbeat and caring person who enjoys working with children and is very excited to be a part of the ZPlaySchool team.

Liudmila Kim, Early Childhood Educator

Liudmila Kim has a degree in Education. She is an attentive, creative, and progressive educator that brings to ZPlaySchool over 25 years of experience of being an elementary school teacher. Her knowledge and experience help her in establishing rapport and personal approach with each student based on their unique personality and personal abilities. She says: “Everyone comes to this world with a mission. Mine is to teach children and learn from them.”

Vladyslav Burdeinyi, Founder of Champion Karate Club NYC, Karate Coach

Vladyslav Burdeinyi is a black belt with over 10 years experience of teaching karate as a sport, for self-defense, and for youth fitness. He is a multiple Ukrainian karate champion, former Ukrainian national team member, 2013 World Cup champion, and medalist of international tournaments (USA, Ukraine, Poland, Estonia, Belarus, Czech Republic, Romania). Vladyslav is excited to bring his experience to our ZPlaySchool children.

Olga Stepanova, Russian Language Teacher

Olga Stepanova has a Master’s degree in Russian Language and Literature from Voronezh State Pedagogical University. She has over 12 years of experience teaching Russian to children of all ages and levels of fluency. She is an effective and enthusiastic teacher who is passionate about helping students learn Russian. She brings her passion for life and learning to ZPlaySchool, where she is excited to continue her work of helping students connect with the Russian language.

Natalia Rowe, Certified Speech-Language Pathologist and Feeding Therapist, Founder of the FirstRowe Speech & Feeding Therapy Center

Natalia’s professional journey started more than 15 years ago in Russia where she received a dual degree in speech pathology and special education, as well as extensive training in child psychology and brain anatomy/physiology. Natalia continued her education in the United States and earned her Master of Science degree from Columbia University. Currently, Natalia provides in-service training for therapists and ABA teachers and works privately with infants and young children with speech-language and feeding/swallowing disorders. Her clients range from typically developing children to children with multiple disabilities and congenital/developmental conditions. Natalia takes special interest in dysphagia and motor speech disorders. In feeding therapy, Natalia addresses behavioral, motor and sensory aspects by using behavior modification strategies, motor learning techniques, and the Sequential-Oral-Sensory (SOS) approach. She is a founder of the FirstRowe Speech & Feeding Therapy Center.

Olga Singh, Fashion Designer, “Redesign for Kids” class Instructor

Olga Singhis is a sustainable fashion designer who is now residing and studying in New York City. She graduated from Parsons. Olga is excited to bring her  "Redesign for Kids" project to ZPlaySchool. Her class seeks to educate children on sewing and repurposing vintage clothing. This eco-conscious practice is both fun and education - an awesome addition to our programs.

Dmitri Shevelev, FIDE Master, owner and founder of MyChessFamily School, Chess Instructor

Dmitri Shevelev was born in Ukraine, moved to Israel when he was 13, and is now in New York. Dmitri has taught chess for 20 years and is very nurturing - takes the time to understand each child and how his/her temperament can lead to a meaningful learning experience. He is happy to bring his expertise to ZPlaySchool and help children develop important skills including critical thinking, decision-making, and creativity.  

Diana Dubossarska, Artist, Author, Illustrator, Visual Arts Educator

Diana Dubossarska was born in Ukraine but spent her childhood in Prague. This amazing city left an indelible mark on her which is depicted in her colorful, naïve scenes. She graduated from The Ukrainian University of Culture and Arts and was educated in art across the world (Rome, Kiev, New York). Diana is the author and illustrator of over 15 books for kids.  Her overarching goal is to leave genuine smiles on children’s faces, to show them the joy and freedom of creating art and expressing themselves.

Tatyana Kot, Actress, Dancer, Performing Arts Educator

Tatyana Kot trained and performed with a local ballet company in her native Kazakhstan. She worked as a dancer for about 20 years before transitioning to teaching. Tatyana has taught dance and movement to kids, seniors, professional actors and people with disabilities. She is thrilled to join ZPlaySchool and introduce her students to dance, theater, and movement.

Evgenia Gruznykh, Early Childhood Educator, Russian Language Teacher

Evgenia Gruznykh graduated from Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia with an Early Childhood degree specializing in teaching & development of kids ages 2 to 7 years old. She moved to New York over ten years ago and led private and group lesson for Russian-speaking children in speech development, reading, math, and test preparation. In Saint Petersburg, Evgenia worked in a private day care for nine years as the lead teacher in a classroom. She is excited to join the ZPlaySchool team and bring her experience and passion.

Natalia Reutova, Educator

Natalia Reutova was born in Ukraine and has a Master's Degree in Education from Ternopilskiy National University Gnatyka, Ukraine. She likes to help children, so they can fully discover themselves. Natalia brings more than 15 years of experience to ZPlaySchool, and is really excited to start a new page in her life, bringing her knowledge and expertise. In her free time, Natalia enjoys sewing and cooking.

Roksana Ramazanova, Preschool Teacher

Roksana Ramazanova graduated from the Moscow State Regional University. She is excited to join the ZPlaySchool team and contribute to their growth. Roksana believes that curiosity and interest are the most important things for teaching children. She is also interested in family psychology and loves spending time in nature, discovering new places. Roksana travels with her family and enjoys drawing and dancing.

Alina Malook, Gymnastic coach, Teacher Assistant

Alina Malook was born and raised in the city of Dnipro, Ukraine. She has been drawn to the world of dance and music since her early years. Alina furthered her artistic pursuits by studying acting for both cinema and theater at Kyiv's University of Culture. Today, she shares her passion as a dedicated children's gymnastics coach and imparts her musical expertise by playing the piano and teaching dance. During her free time, Alina enjoys engaging in sports activities and expressing her creativity in the kitchen through her culinary talents.

Tetiana Bokoch, Teacher Assistant

Tetiana Bokoch, originally from Ukraine, pursued her career as a geography teacher through her studies at Kamyanets-Podolsk Pedagogical University. Her approach in the classroom is to cultivate an environment characterized by mutual understanding, collaborative support, and a genuine interest in the growth of every student. Beyond her role in education, Tetiana is a talented photographer. During her leisure time, she can often be found behind the camera lens, capturing captivating moments while exploring new destinations.

Anastasia Sivolap, SMM Specialist, Content Creator 

Anastasia Sivolap holds a degree in Advertising and PR from V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University and expanded her expertise by pursuing additional studies in Marketing and Business at the esteemed French University Rennes 2. With more than five years of experience, she has been dedicated to crafting visual content for both brands and individuals. In addition to her content creation talents, Anastasia is a passionate educator, generously sharing her profound insights and social media skills through the facilitation of educational webinars and masterclasses.