Igel
Hedgehogs
Johanna Petosa
Teacher
I grew up in Kärnten (Carinthia), Austria where I studied for five years at a high school for economics and gastronomy. I finished my education in Klagenfurt at a private academy for languages and business. Since I wanted to gain some work experience abroad, I came to San Diego in October 1999 on a student visa and started my practical training in the beautiful Westgate Hotel in Downtown San Diego.
I met my husband Mike here, and in December 2000 we got married in San Diego. Soon after I gave birth to our daughter, Sophia. When my second child, Michael, was born in November 2002, we were already part of a German playgroup. Eight months later, my friend Heike Paulsen and I decided to form a German cooperative preschool and named it “Die Rasselbande” – yes, Die Rasselbande was born in late summer of 2003! We had six children enrolled in no time and rented a room at a recreation center in Pacific Beach three mornings per week. The group kept on growing and we soon realized that we were on to something and needed professionals on board. We hired a German preschool teacher to guide us, and I started to take courses at the community college in Child Development to become a qualified teacher. Over a few years I acquired more than 30 units and am continuing to work towards the bachelor’s degree.
My family grew even bigger in February 2009 when my son Cornelius was born. I enjoy working with children and I am thrilled to be teaching in German, my mother tongue! I am also happy to be able to practice and pass on the traditions I grew up with. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband and children, hiking, swimming, dancing, and playing soccer or board games
Johanna Petosa
Teacher
I grew up in Kärnten (Carinthia), Austria where I studied for five years at a high school for economics and gastronomy. I finished my education in Klagenfurt at a private academy for languages and business. Since I wanted to gain some work experience abroad, I came to San Diego in October 1999 on a student visa and started my practical training in the beautiful Westgate Hotel in Downtown San Diego.
I met my husband Mike here, and in December 2000 we got married in San Diego. Soon after I gave birth to our daughter, Sophia. When my second child, Michael, was born in November 2002, we were already part of a German playgroup. Eight months later, my friend Heike Paulsen and I decided to form a German cooperative preschool and named it “Die Rasselbande” – yes, Die Rasselbande was born in late summer of 2003! We had six children enrolled in no time and rented a room at a recreation center in Pacific Beach three mornings per week. The group kept on growing and we soon realized that we were on to something and needed professionals on board. We hired a German preschool teacher to guide us, and I started to take courses at the community college in Child Development to become a qualified teacher. Over a few years I acquired more than 30 units and am continuing to work towards the bachelor’s degree.
My family grew even bigger in February 2009 when my son Cornelius was born. I enjoy working with children and I am thrilled to be teaching in German, my mother tongue! I am also happy to be able to practice and pass on the traditions I grew up with. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband and children, hiking, swimming, dancing, and playing soccer or board games.
Julia Malyn Heyer
Teacher
I was born and raised in Bremerhaven (Bremen), where I worked at the local primary school for a year after my High School Graduation, leading cooking, crafts, outdoor activity groups for pupils of different ages. Afterwards I went abroad to New Zealand, Australia and the Philippines for over 3 years. Throughout my travels I used to work with different families as a Nanny / Au-pair, which was a very fulfilling thing to do. While feeling at home in the world, I lived in many different places within Germany and abroad. The German island “Amrum” (North Sea) became a second home for around 3 years, where I was involved in working at a “Waldkindergarten” (forest kindergarten) and a German Red Cross childcare facility. During that time I also started and finished my apprenticeship in Tibetan Energy Work: an ancient healing technique from Tibet that has strengthened my intuition, skills in mindfulness and enabled me to work with children, who had different psychological and physical issues. Working in this field of healing, as well as teaching Yoga to kids has been another special experience. Overall, the work with children always brings me much joy and a sense of purpose. I feel as though children teach us adults valuable lessons and remind us daily to live more in the present moment, with ease, joy & curiosity.
As of late I worked as an online german tutor with children, teenagers and adults. After three years of self-employment I felt like starting a new chapter and found “Die Rasselbande” with great excitement. I am thrilled to be part of a multicultural, bilingual community and to be finally working with children again - in real life and off screen: sharing the love, loving attention & care with them.