Jiří Zelenda is the CEO of Maple Bear Czechia. Prior to bringing Canada's largest education network to the Czech Republic, he held the position of CEO at Scio.

Jiří has a long-standing commitment to innovation in education, as an experienced education manager he has already been at the birth of a successful new network of schools, and advocates a student-centred educational approach that supports the holistic development of the child - intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically.

The same attitude is the basis of the educational methodology in Maple Bear Czechia schools. In his personal life, Jiří is a proud father of two children, whom he raises with his wife Adela. In his spare time, he is interested in history, especially of Southeast Asia, which he has also studied.

Kristýna graduated from the Václav Hollar School of Art and subsequently from the Faculty of Education at Charles University. After graduating, she started teaching in a kindergarten, where she discovered the great impact adults can have on the upbringing and education of children.

She taught both in kindergartens and for a while in primary school English and art education. In 2017, she became the director of an international bilingual kindergarten where she successfully built a bilingual education system for preschool children from scratch. The kindergarten became a success in the neighborhood and Christine ensured continuity of quality after her departure in 2021. At that time, she began her position as Key Collaboration Manager at Teacher Alive, a non-profit organization that trains teachers and principals.

In 2022, as manager, she began leading a pilot project for a new qualification for headteachers at the National Institute of Education in Prague, which is now running successfully at the institute. In 2024 and 2025 she worked on a new project in systemic support for headteachers in the country.

Kristýna has been involved in the Eduzměna working group, the 2030+ Partnership, and is a member of the Early Childhood Education Association, among others. She has written a children's book and is a proud mum. Kristýna loves nature, hiking in the mountains and hills, playing sports, practicing yoga and reading a huge number of books.

And what is Christine's mission at Maple Bear?

I have spent the last four years devoted to an intensive study of everything a school principal needs to know to provide a quality and safe environment for children, teachers and parents. My goal is to create a school where every child is the center of attention, where they learn to their fullest potential and are excited to come to school every day.

Iveta Navas oversees the development and establishment of Maple Bear schools in the Czech Republic. Her role involves finding ideal locations and creating inspiring environments that meet the high standards of Maple Bear.

With her expertise in real estate development, Iveta contributes to the expansion of our network, ensuring that Maple Bear schools provide safe and modern facilities for both students and teachers.

At Maple Bear, I’m responsible for welcoming new families, daily communication with parents, and building the school’s community life. I guide parents through the entire enrollment and school selection process to ensure they feel welcomed and supported.

In the past, I have also provided individual consultations for families choosing preschools and primary schools, as well as mentoring for preschool educators. I have over 15 years of professional experience in the field of education, particularly supporting children and young people with disabilities. I have worked as a preschool teacher with a focus on the inclusion of children with special educational needs and multilingual backgrounds. In the non-profit sector, I have been involved in advocacy work for inclusive education.

I come from Italy, and multilingualism has always been a central theme in both my personal and professional life. I approach it from an interdisciplinary perspective—through linguistics, intercultural communication, and sociology. I’m also raising a bilingual son and strongly believe that linguistic and cultural diversity enriches not only children but society as a whole.

In my free time, I enjoy singing and escaping into the forest or near water. Some of my favorite moments are sitting for long meals with the people I love.

Renata graduated with a degree in teaching Psychology and Physical Education from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport at Charles University. After completing her Master’s degree, she spent two years in New Zealand, where she studied English and worked in preschools.

Since 2011, she has taught English at a primary school in Prague and also worked at a private grammar school as a teacher of Social Studies and Physical Education.

In 2017, together with her husband, a New Zealand native, she founded a language school, where they developed their own curriculum designed to motivate children to learn English in a fun and playful way. They use the principles of the CLIL method, project-based learning, and language immersion.

Renata is raising two bilingual daughters and has long been dedicated to pedagogy that places the child at the centre of the learning process. She is now eager to apply her international experience in the Maple Bear environment.

In her free time, Renata loves traveling, the sea, sunshine, sports, music, cooking, and spending time with her family.