{"id":1240,"date":"2025-09-09T12:23:17","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T09:23:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finnamkindergarten.sivustamo.dev\/meista\/"},"modified":"2025-10-17T13:38:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T10:38:24","slug":"meista","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/finnamkindergarten.com\/fi\/meista\/","title":{"rendered":"Meist\u00e4"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Meist\u00e4<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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At the Finnish-American Kindergarten, we believe every child deserves a safe, caring, and inspiring environment in which to grow. Our four kindergartens in Helsinki are welcoming communities where children, families, and teachers learn, connect, and thrive together.<\/span><\/p>

Our team is proudly multicultural, bringing diverse ideas and experiences from around the world. This diversity enables us to understand and support each child as an individual, creating an environment where everyone feels seen, valued, and included. Most of our staff members have been part of the Finnish-American community for many years, building strong, lasting relationships with children and families and nurturing a deep sense of belonging.<\/span><\/p>

Community is at the heart of everything we do. We work closely with families and believe learning is strongest when home and kindergarten support each other. Through play, exploration, and meaningful shared experiences, we help children develop confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning \u2014 all while growing into active, caring members of a supportive community.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Tiimi<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Mariona Coll<\/h3>

Head Teacher
Finnish American Kindergarten, Kamppi<\/b>\n

I\u2019m Mariona Coll, and I\u2019m happy to introduce myself as the Preschool teacher of our Kamppi location. I\u2019m a qualified preschool teacher with a background in Early Childhood Education and a Master\u2019s degree in Teacher Education from Tampere University. Since moving to Finland in 2017, I\u2019ve worked with children in many roles, including Teacher, Head Teacher, and Pedagogical Coordinator. \n

What I love most about my work is seeing children grow and thrive. I\u2019m especially passionate about helping them build social and emotional skills, encouraging a growth mindset, and learning through active learning, projects, and play. Some of my favorite activities to share with children are creative arts, science experiments, group discussions, mathematical thinking, and storytelling. \n

Most importantly, I believe it is essential to build a team that fosters a safe, fun, and supportive environment where every child feels valued and can thrive to the fullest.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Ashley Dahlbom<\/h3>

Preschool Teacher, Director of Education
\nFinnish American Kindergarten, Ruoholahti<\/b>\n

\nHi! I'm Ashley, the head teacher and Preschool teacher at our Ruoholahti location, as well as FinnAm's Director of Education. I moved to Finland from the USA in 2008 and I started at FinnAm Kindergarten back in August 2011 when we opened our Ruoholahti branch. I hold a Bachelor of Foreign Language Education from Illinois State University in the USA with a specialization in Spanish, and a Bachelor of Early Childhood and Preprimary Education and Care from Tampere University here in Finland, with a minor concentration in Global Sustainability. The main goal in Preschool every year is to give the kids the chance to practice the skills they will need for school. That includes pre-academic skills, of course. But even more so: social skills, effective communication, how to set boundaries and demand respect from others, and how to listen with an open mind and facilitate conflict resolution. Life is full of challenges, so we support children in thinking of solutions to their challenges, testing those, and reflecting on outcomes in order to learn and grow. The methods for achieving these overarching goals vary from child to child, group to group, and year to year. That's why we value cooperation with parents and children so highly. The family brings the expertise on the child and their ways of learning, so we are eager to collaborate with the whole family to give every child the best possible introduction to their lifelong learning journey.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Dora Stefanidou<\/h3>

Head Teacher
\nFinnish American Kindergarten T\u00f6\u00f6l\u00f6 Branches\n<\/b>\n

\nOriginally from Athens, Greece, I hold a bachelors degree in Pre-Primary Education and am currently completing a masters degree in Educational Leadership. I first moved to Helsinki in 2016 for a short six month Erasmus traineeship program and began helping as a substitute teacher for all four locations in 2017, leading 3 and 5yo groups and later started teaching preschool in 2019. \n

\nEventually, I stepped into the role of Head Teacher of T\u00f6\u00f6l\u00f6 2 in late 2020. Starting this academic year, I am proudly leading both of our T\u00f6\u00f6l\u00f6 daycare locations.\n

\nI wholeheartedly believe in learning from the children, which is why our team always plans themes and activities inspired by our students\u2019 interests, ideas, and natural curiosity. I see every child as a capable and unique individual with their own voice, and to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and heard. Furthermore, I love growing alongside my students, discovering the world through their perspectives, and encouraging them to take ownership of their learning journey.\n

\nMy goal is to nurture not only their academic growth but also their creativity, confidence, and emotional well-being. By providing a safe, joyful, and stimulating space in T\u00f6\u00f6l\u00f6, I hope to inspire children to express themselves freely, explore new possibilities, and develop a lifelong love for learning.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Our T\u00f6\u00f6l\u00f6 1 Team\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sirkka (Bottom left) Despoina (Bottom right) Sahba (top)<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sirkka<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Hi! I am the \u201cveteran\u201d teacher of T\u00f6\u00f6l\u00f6 1, having started here as a parent when my daughter attended, and after that working as a teacher since 2010. I have a Master\u2019s Degree in Greek & Latin classical studies, and met my American husband while studying in Athens, Greece. We lived in the USA for ten years and moved to Finland when our children began school, so the Finnish-American connection is a big part of my life!<\/p>

Although I started teaching later in life, I have always had a passion for communicating with children and sharing their joys in the world, and teaching at Finn Am has been a true calling for me. I primarily teach the 5 year olds at the school, but I am happy to make long lasting friendships with all of the children!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Despoina<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Hello, I am Despoina and the teacher of 3s & 4s in the T\u00f6\u00f6l\u00f6 1 team. I moved to Finland in 2021 as an intern teacher in T\u00f6\u00f6l\u00f6 1, where I stayed permanently after that. I am from Greece, where I completed my Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education. Currently I’m doing a Masters Degree focusing on Educational research, educational leadership, adult education and children’s social development. I love working with children in English, Finnish and Greek, through art, cooking, sensory and messy play!<\/p>

Working in the T\u00f6\u00f6l\u00f6 1 team has been a great experience, where one idea is born and grows bigger with Sirkka\u2019s and Sahba’s additions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sahba<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Hello there! My name is Sahba, Preschool teacher and deputy manager at our lovely T\u00f6\u00f6l\u00f6 1 location. Originally from Cameroon, West Africa, Finland has been home since 2008. After many years in Tampere, our family settled in Helsinki in 2021, and since then I\u2019ve been part of the Finnish American Kindergarten community. Life at daycare continues even after work hours, thanks to two wonderful children who keep the circus going on at home too \ud83d\ude42<\/p>

Studies in Early Childhood Education at the University of Tampere, and a Master\u2019s in Educational Leadership from the University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4, have shaped my professional journey. Learning through music and movement are personal passions that often find their way into the classroom as joyful tools for learning and expression. Another area of interest is supporting children in developing the capacity to plan and participate in their own educational experiences, helping them build independence and agency. Being part of the T\u00f6\u00f6l\u00f6 1 team alongside Sirkka and Despoina is a true privilege, and each day brings new joy and inspiration.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Zoi Vasileiou, <\/h3>

(Maternity leave) Head Teacher
\nFinnish American Kindergarten, Kamppi<\/b>\n

\nWith over 16 years of experience in education, I am dedicated to shaping the future of learning and creating meaningful experiences for children. I hold a BA in Early Years Education and a Master\u2019s in Changing Education from the University of Helsinki, which have given me valuable insights into how children learn and thrive.\n

\nI draw on research in neuroscience to support positive learning and spark curiosity. I believe education should connect to children\u2019s everyday lives and help them develop essential skills such as problem-solving, communication, teamwork, creativity, and kindness. For me, learning is not only about acquiring knowledge but also about guiding children to become confident, curious, and caring individuals.\n

\nColleagues often describe me as positive and energetic. I see challenges as opportunities to grow, and I carry this belief into my daily work with children, families, and fellow teachers. Building strong relationships is at the heart of my approach \u2014 trust, care, and genuine connections are the foundation of everything we do at Finnam Kindergarten in Kamppi.\n\n\nAs Head Teacher, I am committed to creating a supportive and inspiring environment where every child feels a sense of belonging and is encouraged to explore, imagine, and reach their full potential.\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Meist\u00e4 At the Finnish-American Kindergarten, we believe every child deserves a safe, caring, and inspiring environment in which to grow. Our four kindergartens in Helsinki are welcoming communities where children, families, and teachers learn, connect, and thrive together. Our team is proudly multicultural, bringing diverse ideas and experiences from around the world. This diversity enables […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1240","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/finnamkindergarten.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/finnamkindergarten.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/finnamkindergarten.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finnamkindergarten.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finnamkindergarten.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1240"}],"version-history":[{"count":48,"href":"https:\/\/finnamkindergarten.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1240\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1476,"href":"https:\/\/finnamkindergarten.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1240\/revisions\/1476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/finnamkindergarten.com\/fi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}