"In the game, you can get to know a person in an hour better than talking in a year."
(Platos)
Our team consists of four trained nursery teachers, three helpers, a cook and another helper for 3 days a week. We are happy to introduce ourselves here.
Our Team
Mag. Brigitte Edenberger-Traintinger
My name is Brigitte, but everyone calls me "Gitti". I am a qualified kindergarten teacher and psychologist. In the year 2008 I took over the head of the EPC and worked there as a pedagogical leader and kindergarten teacher with the little ones.
In 2012 and 2015 I got a proud mom of a son and a daughter. Since that I´m running the EPC office and I am happy to help out, wherever I´m needed.
For me, the EPC is the perfect place to work and to follow the passion: learning by doing!
Olivia Wimmer de Jersey
Hello everybody! My Name is Olivia and I have been part of the English Play Corner Team since Autumn 2019. I am half Australian and half Austrian and grew up bilingual. For this I am thankful because it gave me the possibility to be fluent in two languages. I am married and am a proud mother of two daughters who are also growing up bilingual. have to ask
I have completed my Bachelors in Pedagogy at the University of Salzburg and I am now in the process of doing my master’s degree.
I am delighted to get to know the wonderful fantasy world of every child in kindergarten and am looking forward to accompanying them in this precious childhood phase.
In my free time I love teaching ballroom dance and travelling to faraway countries
Philna van Veijeren
My name is Philna, and I am super excited to be the Hedgehogs' new teacher! I recently moved to Salzburg from Cape Town, South Africa. I'm an experienced English teacher, and a student of psychology. I believe my skill set is perfect for working at the English Play Corner.
I'm so happy to be working at the EPC. I truly believe in their philosophy of learning through play and sensory engagement. I hope to enrich your children's lives by connecting with them as multifaceted individuals, and luckily EPC allows for each child to receive individual attention.
My hobbies include yoga, reading, cooking, and travel. I hope to do my masters degree in psychology in the not-too-far future, and I am also working on learning German!
Alexander Posch
I was born in 1996 in Amstetten in the beautiful Mostviertel and have been in Salzburg since 2019, studying for a Bachelor's degree in teaching and have also studied English for three years. I have been at the EPC since April 2022, since I graduated from what is now the BAfEP Amstetten in 2015 and completed my training as a kindergarten teacher. After that I worked as a community service worker and as a social pedagogue for four years in a social pedagogical care home with children aged 3 - 18. The EPC is therefore my first job as a kindergarten teacher and today I know why the training as a kindergarten teacher was exactly the right thing for me. I enjoy coming here every day and enjoy working with children to the fullest. I also particularly appreciate the family-like team and the good cooperation with the parents.
In my private life, I like to be in fun company, as I am a communicative and humorous person. An important part of me is sport. Almost everything revolves around football. It has been my great passion since I was in kindergarten and I am still active myself. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Katrin Zachhalmel
My name is Katrin and I was born in 1998.
In 2018 I graduated from the BAfEP Bischofshofen, since then I worked in the field of child education gaining experience as an assistant teacher, head teacher, working in a child club and as an English teacher in Japan.
I'm very excited to start working at the English Play Corner in autumn when I return back to Austria. I look forward to getting to know you and your children and help them grow.
In my spare time I enjoy dancing, spending time in nature and with good company!
Hannah Frances Grünwald
My name is Hannah and I started at the English Play Corner in 2017 Salzburg. I started as a helper in the bumblebee group. 2018 I started the BOE course, to become a group leader. Since December 2019 I am leading the bumblebee group.
Salzburg has been my home since 2010. My family is a mix of East and West: I come from the Philippines and my husband is from Hungary. I am a mother of a 3-year old boy. I enjoy singing and travelling.
Shannon Burtch
My name is Shannon, I was born in 1995 and was raised in Ontario, Canada. I moved to Salzburg in September of 2019 and never looked back!
I have a lot of experience working with children in both English and German. In Canada, I worked as a Child and Youth Leader at the YMCA, where I not only planned but also lead the children in fun games and activities. I also spent some time in Germany working as an Aupair with a wonderful family, where one of my duties was to help the children learn English through everyday activities.
I grew up playing a variety of sports and I also love anything to do with music. I love travelling and experiencing other countries, cultures and languages (that's partly how I ended up in Austria)! I also like to think of myself as a kid at heart, which is why being able to work with kids everyday is such a special thing to me.
Elisa Oja
Hello, my name is Elisa. I was born in 2003 in Hallein, so I am currently 20 years old.
In June 2023 I have finished my education as a pedagogical assistant at Bafep Bischofshofen and now I am going to be a part of the EPC family, which makes me very happy. Although I was born and raised in Austria, I am not Austrian I am Finnish, as both of my parents are from Finland. Therefore, I am not only fluent in German and English but also in Finnish.
In my leisure time I like to travel to see new countries and cultures. I also like to go out in nature, read a good book or do some arts.
I feel very honored to be a part of the EPC and I am looking forward to create fun memories with the children.
Evelyn Rachel Nowotny
My name ist Evelyn Rachel, I am 33 years old and live in Hallein.
I speak english and german thanks to my bilingual upbringing.
I am a licensed Body Vital Trainer, a Doula, a former member of the Crisis Intervention in Salzburg and I have my Bachelor of Arts in social sciences. Since 2022 I lead the group of the 1-3 year old children.
I have always loved watching children grow, learn and develop. And being their support & helper along the first few years of their life's journey is a real honor to me.
Lorena Corzo Mimbrera
My name is Lorena and I come Barcelona, Spain. There I studies a gedree in Translation in English, Catalan and French. After my studies I moved to UK and lived there for 4 years.
In 2014 I moved to Salzburg, where I have learned German and found a job that I adore at the English Play Corner. In September 2015, I became part of the EPC family working as a Teacher Assistant for the smallest kids of teh house. I also studied 1 year Montessori Guide for 0-6 year old.
I find working with children a very exciting and fulfuilling job. I love watching them grow emotionally, intellectually and physically. One of my biggest passions is supporting them developing healthy emtional and social skills, this is why I invested in further education such as Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher for children (and adults), Emotional Intelligent Coach and Parent Educator. Since 2019 I have my own business as Parenting Coach & Family Wellbeing called KALMA, so I can be an advocate for children and help them to understand and manage their emotions. At the same time that I offer support and guidance for parents through the beauty and challenges of this journey, so that they can raise confident, resilient, empathetic and happy future adults.
www.kalmaspace.com
Christiane Sarah Nowotny
My name is Christiane and I am working at the English Play Corner since 2016. I am half Amercian half Austrian. I am blessed with speaking English and German fluently which makes working here with children and parents perfect. I´ve got the best of both. I´m in charge of the EPC and I get to be the teacher of the “bumblebees” who I adore working with.
Aside from working I´ve made sports and dance to my passion. It´s the perfect balance. I love to travel the world to see different places and cultures, to meet people and to see what this world has to offer. And still there is no place like home where I find myself with family and friends.
Susi Embacher
My name is Susi and I am the children´s chef cook at the English Play Corner since 2008. I encourage, challenge and help children to develop a taste for food. Healthy food is one of my secrets to keep up the energy level we need.
In my spare time my passion is sports outdoors and indoors. I am married and I have 3 grown up children who I love to spend time with.
Izzy Davis
My name is Izzy, and I am from the USA. I have a BS in Biology and Fine Art.
I have worked as a chef and artisan bread baker in the United States, New Zealand, the UK, and Uganda. I love to cook food that is heathy and fresh.
In my spare time I like to Ski, Kayak, and spend time with my husband and dog. I am also a potter and enjoy time in my ceramic studio.
I am really looking forward to working at English Play Corner and getting to share my passion for food with others!