Marina Lysenkova

Toddler Classroom Teacher

Marina was born in Russia. She graduated from St. Petersburg State University with a degree in Linguistics, focusing on Serbian and Croatian languages, and a second degree in Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language.  During her final year at the University, she began working as an English teacher at a private preschool/elementary school.  There, she discovered her passion for working with young children.  After that, she has never wanted to do anything else. 

Marina moved to the U.S. in 2007, lived in Birmingham, Alabama, for 7 years, and then moved to Chapel Hill. Over the past decade, Marina created and oversaw a Russian immersion preschool.  This work was rewarding because it allowed her to support Russian-speaking families in preserving their language and East Slavic culture.  She continues to organize and volunteer at many Russian-speaking events.

In recent years, Marina has become fascinated by the Reggio approach.  She feels that Wildflower is the right place for her to learn more and develop her practice.  She looks forward to incorporating music and poetry into her classroom experiences.  Marina adores nature, and she is enthusiastic about identifying and studying local plants, flowers, and birds with the children. 

In her free time, Marina takes dance classes, tends her garden, reads, camps, occasionally plays the guitar, and savors time with her family. 

Fun Facts;

• Marina is fluent in three languages (Russian, English, Serbian), and is continuing to learn five more! 
• She loves cats.  Her cat’s name is Мышка, which means “mouse” in Russian.