Igel
Hedgehog
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


Justyna Feldman
Teacher
I was born in Poland and grew up in Stuttgart, Germany. I started babysitting when I was 15 and through that I discovered my passion for working with young children. After completing my degree in Early Childhood Education in Tübingen, I decided to travel and improve my English. I knew I also wanted to work with children so I spent the next 2 years as an Au Pair on the east coast. I was living with families in Philadelphia and Baltimore and cared for their children. After meeting my husband, I continued working with children while getting my Bachelor‘s degree in Psychology.
With that diploma I worked for 3 years at The Center for Autism in Philadelphia, providing therapy to preschool age children on the autism spectrum. In the summer of 2019 it was time for a change and my husband I moved to sunny San Diego. I have been the Löwen teacher since that fall and I feel very fortunate to have found die Rasselbande where I can continue doing what I love!
In my spare time I enjoy traveling and exploring new cultures and trying new foods!