Patrycja Balabuch
I am an educator. For many years I worked as a caregiver and volunteer in an orphanage, as well as a teacher in several American preschools. I am the mother of two children: Ignacy and Zosia. Being a parent enriched my professional life and gave me a new perspective toward the raising of children. My interests are psychology, education, theater, and cinema, as well as anything that gives me inspiration to live each day joyfully and creatively.
When I was a young girl I wrote a letter to myself: “Patrycja, when you are an adult remember how you should treat children.” This sentence written by my young hand is the motto of my work. I always try to see a child and his problem from the perspective of what he feels and needs in that moment. I am passionate about exploring the world of children, their interests, feelings, and experiences. I enjoy accompanying children in their development and on their path to their future.
Beata Grabowski
I have been working for Saint Dominick Daycare since July 2009. I teach children in the 2.5 year age group. When seeing their progress in exploring reality and in establishing relationships with their peers, I feel joy and satisfaction. I try to encourage children to take action, even if they are not always successful. I aim to make sure that every child comes to and stays at our daycare with willingness and enthusiasm.
Zofia Podobińska
I studied early childhood education in Tarnow and received my master’s degree in education from the Akademia Świętokrzyska in Kielce. Although many years of work in the school system both in Poland and the USA are behind me, I have great humility toward knowledge; I continue to learn more about this beautiful profession from my students, their parents, as well as from other educators. I value creative forms of additional vocational training. Thanks to my work at Saint Dominick Daycare and the Juliusz Slowacki Polish School, I have the opportunity to meet good and interesting people on a daily basis. My greatest accomplishment is having raised two wonderful sons, my favorite color- green in all of its shades, I like honesty, a good book, the taste of Polish strawberries, and the smell of Lilies of the Valley. Literature, art, and history are my interests. My wish is that our children will develop in a well-rounded manner – surrounded by the feeling of love and safety.
Agnieszka Romanowska
My name is Agnieszka Romanowska. I am 41 years old, and I am a teacher. Exactly, I am a teacher, to whom teaching is not just a job but also a calling, which fills my entire life and gives it purpose and meaning. I have been working with children for 19 years. It would seem that this is a long period of work in education. To me it seems like just a moment, which I have spent among children giving them happiness, knowledge, and a feeling of safety. I love my job, and I would not be able to have any other career. I finished college at the Wyższa Szkola Pedagogiczna in Olsztyn with a degree in early childhood education as well as a degree in oligophrenopedagogy from the Special Education Academy in Warsaw. I worked in a preschool with children ages 5 and 3. I devoted a large portion of my career to children with learning disabilities- children with special needs. In my lessons, I aim for my students to have their time filled with play and interesting activities that develop all of their spheres. Above that, I make sure that my students, in the broad sense of the word, pursue independence in a positive discovery of the world that surrounds us.
Sylwia Baran
My adventure with childcare began four years ago. When I was 16, I began to work as a nanny and care for two boys ages 3 and 4. I took care of them only during the weekends because during the week I was attending Maine East High School. When I finished high school, I decided to begin the realization of my dreams, which encompassed my love for children. Thus, I was lucky to begin working at Saint Dominick Daycare. Thanks to this job, I can gain more experience in childcare. I also have the opportunity to work with a larger group of children. My current work is motivating me to become a preschool teacher in the future. Presently, I am a first year student at Oakton Community College, and soon I will begin my degree in early childhood education. I see this career in my future because I love children, and I adore seeing how they absorb the information we provide them with every day.
Maria Fiedor
I finished my master’s degree at the Uniwersytet Ekonomii in Krakow. When beginning a new chapter of my life in the United States, I earned a paraprofessional certificate, and I began working with children ages 2-3 as a teacher’s assistant. Working with children gives me joy and satisfaction. I think it is important that every child feels loved, appreciated, and safe. Every day I help our preschoolers get through their daily struggles, and in return I receive kindness, trust, and honest smiles.
Elżbieta Kowalski
My work with children began in Poland, when teaching religious education in preschool classes at the local parish became my daily activity. Working with the little ones gives me much joy and satisfaction. Every day I try to assist children in creating a positive self-image, thus helping them gain self respect and respect for others. Every child’s success whether big or small, is a personal success for me, and it solidifies my belief that children are our treasure and our future. I would like to assure you that I do everything in my power to guarantee that your treasure, which you leave in my care, always receives plenty of warmth, happiness, and smiles.
Barbara Szeszko
Everyone is writing a few
words about themselves,
so I think I will as well.
I think you can guess my name,
although first let’s play a game.
Profession- teacher
with a college degree,
but what I do here
you can guess easily.
I love all children,
treat them as my own.
Please don’t be jealous,
when hearing my name in your home.
I try to please all,
this they deserve,
and I ensure
that they like what I serve.
I meet every culinary need,
and sometimes I feed.
Independence I cannot teach,
but I love when they squeal,
how delicious the meal!
I think the mystery is solved,
GRANDMA BASIA,
by the children I am called.
Renata Wolsza
I finished college in Poland at the Catholic University in Lublin. I taught children both individually and in groups. For two years I taught Polish to a child in an English-speaking family. While working for Multilingual Kids A Division of Multilingual Chicago, I led Polish lessons in the Field Museum in Chicago. Privately, I am the mother of three school-aged children. Both my husband and I promote the Polish language in our home by reading quality literature with our children and cultivating Polish traditions. I am eager to utilize my knowledge and experience in my work with your children at Saint Dominick Daycare, so that your children will gain the tools they need in their future education and life.
