BUILDING A TEAM: OUR TEAM GROWS.

Christina Schmitz
Kindergarten Manager

I am looking forward to making children’s hearts beat faster in an active cooperation with you as a family and to accompany your children on their way individually, curiously and in the best possible way through their lives. I moved to Cologne when I was studying to be a teacher, worked there as a student for a few broadcasters and finally for a large international production company, and can look back on a total of 17 years in the media. Finally, I completed additional external training as a state-certified educator and worked for several years as a group and practical instructor, but also as a child protection specialist and parent companion in the daycare sector. I have dedicated myself to the area of multiculturalism and preschool education. My life motto: The most important piece of luggage is and remains a happy heart! Always believe in your dreams and never stop asking. Take everything with a pinch of humor and above all be grateful, mindful and appreciative!

Bonny Sitah-Noveski
Pedagogical staff

In 2017, I graduated from Fliedner University of Applied Sciences with a degree in Childhood Education. After graduation, I took a chance and worked as a Professional Au Pair in Boston, MA for 2 years. I am very grateful for this experience. And now I am happy to practice my profession at Villa Luna and to accompany the children on their life journey, among other things. My motto: “When the wind blows stronger, some build walls, others build sailing ships.”

Nele Tjong Ayong
Pedagogical staff

Before my training as an educator, which I have completed at Villa Luna from 2019 to 2022, I already studied English. After graduating from high school, I was an au pair in Ireland. There I looked after two children aged two and three. I did a seven-month preparatory internship for my training at the day care centre of the University Hospital in Cologne. The experience there showed me once again that I really enjoy working with children. I am very happy to be able to work in a bilingual day care centre.

Wilma Schmitz
English-speaking staff

I am an American, born and raised in El Paso, Texas. My mother was Mexican and my father was German. Our home was multilingual and I grew up speaking English and Spanish. I have been in Germany for 31 years now. In those years, I had the opportunity to begin working with children. I started tutoring, then moved on to teaching kindergarten children English in a playful manner. In 2008 I was offered a job at Fröbel Clemenskids in Porz-Langel as a native English speaker. I greatly enjoy working with children. Their purity and raw sincerity is something I truly value. To me, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing a child achieve tasks that he/she once thought too difficult or seeing the sparkle in their eyes when, despite our language differences, they understand exactly what was asked of them.
I’m looking forward to my work here at Villa Luna and hope to be able to work hand in hand with you preparing your children for primary school.

Gudrun Puzich
Everyday helper

Ramona Gellen
Pedagogical staff

Alice Pollmeier
English-speaking staff

Shirin Moloudi
Pedagogical staff

I come from Iran and live in Germany since 20001. I studied education in my home country and worked as a teacher with 7 to 13 year old children. Working with children gives me great pleasure, so I decided to train as a child care worker. I am very happy to be able to work at Villa Luna and look forward to supporting the children in their development.

Dominik Dohmen
Trainee

I am a native of Cologne and have successfully completed my training as a state-approved social assistant. I am looking forward with great anticipation to my training as a state-certified educator, to working with the children and the team at Villa Luna, and to the experiences and challenges that come with it. The pedagogical approaches and the diverse offer of Villa Luna convinced me immediately and awakened in me the desire to become a part of the Villa Luna team. I want to work with children because it gives me great pleasure to accompany them in their development and to contribute to it as part of an educational team.

Bailey Murray
Social assistant and integration worker

Until this summer, I worked at the other location of Villa Luna in Cologne. In the last four years, I was able to gain valuable experience in childcare in daycare centres, as well as specifically in working with children with disabilities. I have learned to respond sensitively to the individual needs of the children and to accompany them on their way. Because of this, I am able to support children with disabilities in their everyday lives and encourage their development. Open and respectful communication is essential for me, both in dealing with the children and with the parents. Through good teamwork, we can together create a loving and supportive environment in which the children can develop and flourish optimally. My vision for the day care centre is to create a place where every child can strengthen their social skills and promote their cognitive development. I want to encourage them to act independently and take responsibility in order to develop their independence.

Fabio Huuk
English-speaking staff

I am happy to be part of the Villa Luna team! I’ve been living in Cologne since 2022, following a 5-year residency in Tokyo, where I worked as an English instructor. After I finished my Master’s degree in History and Sociology, my passion for music and literature led me to a brief life in Japan. During my teaching position I learned to love working with children and I am excited to be part of a bilingual environment again. I hope to teach the children at Villa Luna early on that reading opens many doors in their future lifes!

Lilli Roggendorf
Pedagogical staff in training

I am currently doing my training as a child carer at Villa Luna in a practice-integrated form. I spend three days a week at the centre and two at the vocational school. I previously worked at Villa Luna on Bonner Wall. There I was able to gain valuable and enjoyable experience in everyday life with the children, but also in contact with the parents. I am now looking forward to being with you and being able to learn and support you here too.

Christina Manook
Music and instrumental teacher

As a qualified music and instrumental teacher, I can look back on around 25 years of teaching experience. In 2008, I founded the Saltarello Music School, a music school specialising in early music education, which has been able to awaken a passion for music in many hundreds of children in recent years. My pedagogical heart beats for “elementary music education” for children up to pre-school age. I am mainly active in our daycare cooperation in the mornings and am very happy to now also make music with the Villa Luna children.

Vera Sternkicker
Graduate chemist, partner for natural science

I am a graduate chemist (studied at RWTH-Aachen), married and have two daughters. Villa Luna children have been discovering inanimate nature in my courses for more than eight years. I am very much looking forward to being able to introduce children to everyday phenomena in simple experiments in Cologne Raderthal as well!

Uwe Weber
Cook

I have been a cook with heart and soul for 35 years. I really enjoy cooking for the children here and experiencing the daily togetherness. I have held positions in canteens (also as a manager), party service and also 4 years of self-employment in my years, and now I am happy to have found a nice and quite challenging job here.

Nelli Niederhaus (currently absent)
Pedagogical staff

I completed my training as a state-certified educator in 2022 and then worked in Deutz, in a company day care centre, as a full-time employee in a U3 group. It gives me great pleasure to support and accompany children in their development. I became aware of Villa Luna through the bilingual pedagogical concept and the positive nature of everyone convinced me when I first met them. My motto in life is “Everything is energy”.