Marina Zurakhinsky, Founder of ZPlaySchool, Director

Marina Zurakhinsky is an educator, community organizer, and founder of ZplaySchool. Born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine, she has been developing and running interactive educational programs for children since 2002. Throughout her career, Marina has supervised, developed, and facilitated numerous initiatives, always guided by a passion for creating inclusive, nurturing environments where children, teens, and families can thrive. She studied Business Management and Finance, holds a master’s degree in Education from Fordham University, and is currently pursuing her second master’s degree, in Social Work at NYU, to deepen her impact on children and families. With over 20 years of experience designing and leading innovative programs that foster the social, emotional, and academic growth of children and families, Marina is now making her lifelong dream a reality—establishing a center led by experienced educators and offering high-quality programs for local children, including her own.

Svetlana Orberg, Assistant Director

Svetlana Orberg was born and raised in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where she earned her Bachelor's degree. She moved to the United States and has been working with toddlers and preschoolers for almost 10 years in various early childhood centers as well as privately. Svetlana is also CPR and First Aid certified. In her spare time, she loves baking and makes delicious desserts. She is also passionate about animals, training dogs and specializing in behavioral correction. Svetlana is an upbeat and caring person who enjoys working with children and is very excited to be part of the ZPlaySchool team.

Evgenia Gruznykh, Early Childhood Educator, Russian Language Teacher

Evgenia Gruznykh graduated from Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia with a degree in Early Childhood Education, specializing in teaching and development for children ages 2 to 7. She moved to New York over fifteen years ago and has led private and group lessons for Russian-speaking children in speech development, reading, math, and test preparation. In Saint Petersburg, Evgenia worked as the lead teacher in a private daycare classroom for nine years. She is excited to join the ZPlaySchool team and bring her experience and passion.

Vladyslav Burdeinyi, Founder of Champion Karate Club NYC, Karate/Martial Arts Coach

Vladyslav Burdeinyi is a black belt with over 10 years of experience teaching karate as a sport, for self-defense, and for youth fitness. He is a multiple-time Ukrainian karate champion, a former member of the Ukrainian national team, the 2013 World Cup champion, and a medalist in international tournaments across the USA, Ukraine, Poland, Estonia, Belarus, the Czech Republic, and Romania. Vladyslav is excited to bring his expertise to the children at ZPlaySchool.

Liudmila Kim, Early Childhood Educator

Liudmila Kim holds a degree in Education and brings over 25 years of experience as an elementary school teacher to ZPlaySchool. She is an attentive, creative, and progressive educator whose knowledge and experience enable her to build rapport and take a personalized approach with each student, based on their unique personality and abilities. Liudmila says, “Everyone comes to this world with a mission. Mine is to teach children and learn from them.”

Olga Singh, Fashion Designer, “Upcycling Sewing” class Instructor

Olga Singh is a sustainable fashion designer who is now residing and studying in New York City. She graduated from Parsons. Olga is excited to bring her "Upcycling Sewing" project to ZPlaySchool. Her class seeks to educate children on sewing and repurposing vintage clothing. This eco-conscious practice is both fun and education - an awesome addition to our programs.

Dmitri Shevelev, FIDE Master, owner and founder of MyChessFamily School, Chess Coach

Dmitri Shevelev was born in Ukraine, moved to Israel when he was 13, and is now in New York. Dmitri has taught chess for 20 years and is very nurturing - takes the time to understand each child and how his/her temperament can lead to a meaningful learning experience. He is happy to bring his expertise to ZPlaySchool and help children develop important skills including critical thinking, decision-making, and creativity.  

Natalia Rowe, Certified Speech-Language Pathologist and Feeding Therapist, Founder of the FirstRowe Speech & Feeding Therapy Center

Natalia’s professional journey started more than 20 years ago in Russia where she received a dual degree in speech pathology and special education, as well as extensive training in child psychology and brain anatomy/physiology. Natalia continued her education in the United States and earned her Master of Science degree from Columbia University. Currently, Natalia provides in-service training for therapists and ABA teachers and works privately with infants and young children with speech-language and feeding/swallowing disorders. Her clients range from typically developing children to children with multiple disabilities and congenital/developmental conditions. Natalia takes special interest in dysphagia and motor speech disorders. In feeding therapy, Natalia addresses behavioral, motor and sensory aspects by using behavior modification strategies, motor learning techniques, and the Sequential-Oral-Sensory (SOS) approach. She is a founder of the FirstRowe Speech & Feeding Therapy Center.

Katya Kryuchkova, Educator, Events Coordinator

Katya Kryuchkova holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology. She is also a producer of advertising and cultural events, as well as a mom. Katya is passionate about advocating for self-directed learning, believing that kids and people in general can learn effectively through diverse methods, and she's eager to bring this approach to ZPlaySchool.

Roksana Ramazanova, Preschool Teacher

Roksana Ramazanova graduated from the Moscow State Regional University. She is excited to join the ZPlaySchool team and contribute to their growth. Roksana believes that curiosity and interest are the most important things for teaching children. She is also interested in family psychology and loves spending time in nature, discovering new places. Roksana travels with her family and enjoys drawing and dancing.

Diana Dubossarska, Artist, Author, Illustrator, Visual Arts Educator

Diana Dubossarska was born in Ukraine but spent her childhood in Prague. This amazing city left an indelible mark on her which is depicted in her colorful, naïve scenes. She graduated from The Ukrainian University of Culture and Arts and was educated in art across the world (Rome, Kiev, New York). Diana is the author and illustrator of over 15 books for kids.  Her overarching goal is to leave genuine smiles on children’s faces, to show them the joy and freedom of creating art and expressing themselves.

Tatyana Kot, Actress, Dancer, Performing Arts Educator

Tatyana Kot trained and performed with a local ballet company in her native Kazakhstan. She worked as a dancer for about 20 years before transitioning to teaching. Tatyana has taught dance and movement to kids, seniors, professional actors and people with disabilities. She is thrilled to join ZPlaySchool and introduce her students to dance, theater, and movement.

Tetiana Bokoch, Teacher Assistant

Tetiana Bokoch, originally from Ukraine, pursued her career as a geography teacher through her studies at Kamyanets-Podolsk Pedagogical University. Her approach in the classroom is to cultivate an environment characterized by mutual understanding, collaborative support, and a genuine interest in the growth of every student. Beyond her role in education, Tetiana is a talented photographer. During her leisure time, she can often be found behind the camera lens, capturing captivating moments while exploring new destinations.

Anastasia Sivolap, SMM Specialist, Content Creator 

Anastasia Sivolap holds a degree in Advertising and PR from V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University and expanded her expertise by pursuing additional studies in Marketing and Business at the esteemed French University Rennes 2. With more than five years of experience, she has been dedicated to crafting visual content for both brands and individuals. In addition to her content creation talents, Anastasia is a passionate educator, generously sharing her profound insights and social media skills through the facilitation of educational webinars and masterclasses.