Larisa Ortunio

"The greatest miracle in our lives is children. It brings me such joy to watch these little ones as they start learning their letters, then recite poems on stage, take part in school plays, and finally sit for the Prototype Russian Language Exam in preparation for college. For 'learning' and 'loving to learn' to go hand in hand, many things have to come together: strong curricula, knowledgeable and enthusiastic teachers, engaged parents and children, and a well-organized school routine. I believe it's essential — at the start of a Saturday, when kids would much rather sleep in or play than come to Russian class — to greet every one of them at the school door with a smile, answer parents' questions, and take care of whatever they need.

The organizational work never ends: ringing the bell, helping print materials, keeping an eye on the children during breaks, walking them to their classrooms, organizing lunch in the cafeteria, calling parents when a child is sick, collecting tuition payments, and countless other tasks. I love this work because I see the results — and the result is children who start at our school at age three and stay until they're 15 or 16; parents who are happy; and a large school family of people who share the same values."