Academics – Page 3 – American School of Kosova

Fexhrije Sela

Ms. Fexhrije Sela’s journey in education began over 30 years ago in the United States. After completing her studies in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Psychology at Kingsborough Community College & Brooklyn College, she embarked on her professional career. She started at Chick Peas Preschool School in Brooklyn, New York, and later taught at the YMCA Early Childhood Center. Throughout her career, she participated in specialized training programs at The University of the State of New York, focusing on areas such as “School Violence Prevention and Intervention” and “Identification and Reporting of Child Abuse and Maltreatment.” Following her tenure at various Brooklyn public schools, Ms. Sela returned to her hometown, Pristina, where she joined the American School of Kosovo (ASK) family in 2009. She initially served as a Kindergarten Teacher before being promoted to Early Childhood Education Principal in September 2022. Ms. Sela’s passion lies in laying the foundation of education in the early years, believing it serves individuals throughout their lives.

Her favorite learning quote is, “All I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten.”

Denita Dreshaj

Denita Dreshaj has been with ASK for a year now. She started working here as a Substitute Math teacher and now she teaches AP Calculus AB and High School Mathematics. She is studying at the University of Pristina, the department of General Mathematics. She loves teaching math, and has taught math voluntarily in the early beginnings. She has been in different trainings in the past years and also has a certificate in SAT teaching. Her favorite learning quote is, “That is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you’ve understood all your life, but in a new way.”

Fjolla Kadiu

Fjolla Kadiu joined ASK in October, 2020.
She teaches Music through all levels, starting from 3rd graders.
She has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Pedagogy of General Music.
Her passion is reading and painting.
She has been in lots of training in the past 10 years and has various certificates including, “Child and adolescent mental health and behavioral disorders”, “Kosovo Curriculum” etc.
Her favorite learning quote is, “Anyone who stops learning is old. Whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning is young.”

Esma Salihu

Esma Salihu joined the American School of Kosova as a Chemistry and General Science teacher in 2019. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and a Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences from the Faculty of Natural and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Prishtina. She is currently in the process of being licensed as a Clinical Chemistry Technologist. She is passionate about herbs and about ways of using them in formulating different soap recipes. Her favorite learning quote is, “Learning is experience. Everything else is just information.”

Sihana Salihu Bektashi

Sihana Salihu Bektashi has been a High School English/ESL Teacher at the American School of Kosova, since March 2018. Prior to joining ASK, she worked as an English Teacher at different English Language Schools, such as the English Language Center and The Cambridge School. She also served as an English/Albanian interpreter for various missions in Kosovo, the EULEX Mission in Kosovo, OSCE, and USAID. She feels comfortable working in both fields but she says that what challenges her more is working with students because of the dynamics in the teaching area and the fulfillment a teacher reaches after each accomplishment. She has attended various trainings for teachers held by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Kosovo, and she has also attended a year of language studies at the American University in Bulgaria. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Language and Literature and is currently pursuing her Master’s studies in Linguistics at AAB University.

Shpresa Perteshani Ibrahimi

Shpresa Ibrahimi has been a teacher at ASK for two years now. She teaches High School Italian. She has a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Psychology and she has always been passionate about Psychology and Italian. Throughout her 22 years of work, she has always intertwined successfully these two fields. She has also attended many training and has been certified in different programs.
Her favorite quote is, “L’Italiano è amore a prima vista”!

Shkendije Thaqi Kadrija

Shkendije Thaqi Kadrija joined ASK as a Grade 2 Teacher back in 2018. Prior to ASK, she worked as an English Teacher at a Language School in Prishtine. Mrs. Thaqi Kadrija has worked with different age groups and different language levels (A1-C1). She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Prishtina, Faculty of Philology, and an MA degree in English Language Teaching and Methodology from the South East European University, Faculty of Languages, Cultures and Communication, Macedonia. Her favorite learning quote is, “Learning never exhausts the mind”- Leonardo Da Vinci.

Ionela Hysenaj

Ionela Hysenaj has been teaching at ASK for 12 years. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Geography and a Master’s degree in Population Studies. Ionela teaches Geography, Global Perspectives, AP World History, and AP Comparative Government and Politics in high school. She is a passionate reader and has published an article about writing recommendation letters for students in Kosovo Education publication. She has been in multiple trainings over the years and has certificates from Kosovo Education Center, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, ASK PD Trainings, Kosovo Learning Summit, and French Ministry of Education.

Her favorite learning quote is, “Don’t just teach your children to read…Teach them to question what they read. Teach them to question everything.”

Flaka Jonuzi

Flaka is an accomplished teaching professional with 6 years of work experience in teaching English as a second language. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Prishtina and she has been awarded with a scholarship in a world class university – University of Sheffield, in Thessaloniki – where she continued her Master’s studies in Applied Linguistics on Teaching English as a Second Language. By studying in a university with a global reputation for excellence, she had strengthened skills to support and teach children of all ages, with very engaging, dynamic, and well-organized classes.
She believes that learning through role plays and games is an excellent approach for active learning and will help children use language in real situations. Moreover, in her classes, the teacher-student boundaries fall a little bit, which creates a much more positive learning environment where laughter is all you can hear. Her drama classes are often built around games or acting scenarios, which is an active and fun way to learn about ourselves and explore complex issues.

Fjolla Gashi

Fjolla Gashi has been with ASK for two years as a Teaching Assistant. She has studied English Language and Literature at the University of Prishtina. Fjolla is currently finishing her Master’s studies in Linguistics at the Faculty of Philology. She is an avid reader and aspires to be a writer someday. Fjolla has also trained to be a Pediatric Nurse Assistant. Before coming to ASK she has worked as an English Teacher at schools of languages. Her favorite learning quote is, “Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.” – Socrates.