Andrea Záhumenská: Stay curious

On the occasion of our Teachers’ Day 2025, we asked Andrea Záhumenská, one of the speakers, a few questions. Read her answers below.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and your expertise?

I’m responsible for the professional development of teachers at The Bridge and ensuring the quality of teaching. I’m a qualified teacher and an EMCC Coaching Practitioner.

What are you going to talk about at the conference? How do you think the audience will benefit from your insights?

I’ll be discussing the benefits of school-based mentoring—how it supports teachers, enhances student learning, and ultimately strengthens schools. I’ll also share insights from our mentoring program and its impact.

Do you recall any particular experience or aha-moment that you have had recently in terms of teaching or learning?

It wasn’t necessarily an “aha” moment, but I felt incredibly proud of our mentors during our last discussion on self-reflection. They showed great humility, remained open to learning, and truly committed to finding ways to “unlock” their mentees’ potential. Most importantly, they see themselves as equal partners with their mentees, developing a relationship built on mutual respect and trust.

What are you working on/learning at the moment?

I’m currently learning Italian to keep my memory active and to better empathize with my learners by experiencing the challenges of language acquisition firsthand.

If you were supposed to give only a single piece of advice to fresh graduates who start their teaching path, what would it be?

Teaching is an incredibly rewarding profession where you can make a profound impact on others. Keep learning, stay curious, and remember to see things from your students’ perspectives.

Thank you.

You can meet Andrea Záhumenská at our Teachers’ Day 2025.