 Ralitsa Dimitrova Vice Principal, RSM-Newton Education: M.S. in Economics & Minor in Education Ralitsa has many years of experience in company finances and seven years of teaching experience. When not in the classroom, you can find Ralitsa running the RSM-Newton office. Ralitsa has two sons, both attended the school and the oldest is currently working as a tutor himself. Contact Ms. Dimitrova |  Olga Pristin Dean of Students Education: M.S. in Education Ms. Pristin has taught math at elementary and middle school levels since 1996. She started to teach at RSM in 2008, and immediately signed up her own two children int the program. As the Dean of Students at RSM Newton she works tirelessly to ensure all children are placed in the proper classes. Ms. Pristin is also a devoted runner and has participated twice in Boston Marathon – in 2007 and 2008. Contact Ms. Pristin |
 Igor Chernin Principal - RSM Acton Education: M.S. in Computer Science B.S. in Math/ Math Education. Mr. Chernin has 20+ years experience in the Mass High Tech industry as a Software Engineer for a leading networking company. His twins attended the school and he also worked as a private math tutor before joining RSM full time in September 2008. He is now the principal of RSM Acton. Contact Mr. Chernin |  Sona Antonyan Principal - RSM Lexington Education: M.Ed. in Mathematics and Computer Science Education M.Ed. in Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation Sona comes from a teachers family, so it's no surprise that she found her passion in teaching as well. Sona began teaching simultaneously with earning her degree, and excelled enough to become a licensed teacher's trainer. She became involved with experiments to create methods that would enhance students' engagement with mathematics. After immigrating to the United States, she began to study and work at Boston College, supervising future teachers' practicums in public schools. Sona discovered RSM through her colleagues and soon began to teach at the school. When offered the opportunity to lead the soon-to-be-opened RSM Lexington, she "didn't hesitate a minute!" she says. Contact Ms. Antonyan |
Anna Parfenov Principal - RSM Andover Education: M.S. in Mathematics Ms. Parfenov joined RSM in September of 2008. She was impressed by the depth of knowledge of her students at Advanced Math and Science Academy who were also attending RSM classes, and decided to join RSM herself. Ms. Parfenov brought fifteen years of teaching math experience at all levels. After just one month of teaching at RSM she enrolled her own child. She is currently the principal of RSM Andover. Contact Ms. Parfenov | Elina Pirovich Principal - RSM Shrewsbury Education: B.S. in Management of Information Systems Ms. Pirovich has over 15 years experience in Software Engineering and has always relied on the excellent math education she received in Russia. She currently works for Fidelity Investments as a Senior Technical Project Manager. Both of her children have attended RSM for years. In 2007, Ms. Pirovich decided to join RSM as a teacher and is now opening one of our newest branches in Shrewsbury. She enjoys working with children so much that she also became a School Coordinator and Team Manager for Destination Imagination program in her daughter’s high school. Contact Ms. Pirovich |
 Jelena Liholipa Principal - RSM Marblehead Education: M.S. in Mathematics and Physics Ms. Liholipa has fifteen years of math teaching experience. She immigrated to the US from Latvia where she was teaching middle and high school students. She has been an integral part of RSM since 2006. In 2008 she became a Lead Teacher responsible for the training of new teachers. Ms. Liholipa is now the principal of RSM Marblehead, though she also continues to teach at RSM Newton. She just had a baby boy and her life became a bit busier and much more joyful. Contact Ms. Liholipa |  Olga Kozlova Director of Education Education: M.S. in Mathematics When Ms. Kozlova joined the RSM team in 1999, she already had over ten years of teaching experience in a math preparatory school in St.Petersburg. She was attracted to RSM’s approach to education as both a teacher and as a parent. Both of her daughters when through school. Since then, Ms.Kozlova has taught nearly every grade and every level at RSM. She became RSM’s Director of Education in 2007. In 2010 she became a proud grandmother. Contact Ms. Kozlova |
 Galina Rosenblit Education: M.S. in Education Ms. Rosenblit has twenty five years of teaching experience. She recently retired from Brookline High School but she continues to work part time for RSM. After joining RSM in 2001, Ms. Rosenblit was teaching mainly middle school students. In 2006, she became the teacher of her own granddaughter, who was a 1st grader at the time. Ms.Rosenblit is thankful to have been able to spend the time with her granddaughter while also gaining valuable experience in teaching a wider range of middle-school and elementary grades. Contact Ms. Rosenblit |  Annetta Trifonov Education: M.Ed. in Education Ms. Annetta was initially attracted to RSM’s philosophy of early introduction to algebra as it coincides with her own studies of Russian developmental psychologist, L.Vygodsky. She has over ten years of experience in research related to elementary education as well as significant teaching experience. She has been a very creative part of RSM team since 2006. When not teaching, Ms. Annetta loves to entertain her many friends. Contact Ms.Trifonov |
 Liya Alekseev Education: M.S. in Education Ms. Liya was RSM ‘s first employee, joining the school in September of 1998. Both of her children attended RSM as well. Ms. Liya is a highly skilled elementary school teacher with over twenty five years of experience. She helped to pilot RSM’s challenging elementary school curriculum and loves RSM more than her husband would like her to! Contact Ms. Alekseev |  Sveta Larionov Education: M.S. in Education Ms. Sveta has over twelve years of teaching experience. She joined RSM in 2004. Her son joined RSM the following year. Since then, the success of her son and his classmates has made Ms. Sveta an enthusiastic believer in RSM’s approach to education. Ms. Sveta believes in hard work, but she also is very passionate about children having enough time for friends, play, and fun in their lives. Contact Ms. Larionov |
 Luba Alperovich Education: M.S. in Mathematics Ms.Alperovich has worked as a software engineer for almost 30 years. She joined RSM as a part-time teacher in 2003, after her daughter attended RSM for 7 years. "I always admired my daughter's mathematical and social development under the influence of RSM teachers and culture. After she graduated, I decided to join RSM to be a part of this rewarding process". Contact Ms. Alperovich |  Irene Kamenetsky Education: M.S. in Education Ms. K is a very experienced elementary school teacher who has been working in education for more than twenty years, sixteen of which have been in Brookline Public Schools. Irene has been a part of RSM team for nine years. Her older daughter attended RSM for over nine years and her younger daughter is a current RSM student. Contact Ms. Kamenetsky |
Laura Wheel Education: B.S. in Mathematics Education Mrs. Wheel has experience teaching math at both the high school and college level. In addition, she has numerous years of experience in developing, writing, and editing content for high school and college level curriculums. Her teaching and publishing experience has shaped her perspective and has given her a strong background in math education. In searching for a school that shared her ideals, Mrs. Wheel found RSM. She firmly believes in the approach and methodologies employed by RSM, and is delighted to be an RSM teacher. We are delighted to have her on our team! Contact Laura Wheel |  Milena Nesterenko Education: M.S. in Computer Science Ms. Nesterenko has 15 years of experience in Boston area high tech. She started to teach at RSM in 2005. Her daughter, who was an RSM student for ten years, is currently a full scholarship WPI student and also working part-time as a math teacher. "I have 1 daughter, 1 husband, 1 cat, 1 dog, 2 aquariums and teach classes at RSM. Therefore my weekend is down to 1 day.” Contact Ms. Nesterenko |
Natalia Petkova-Perez Education: M.S. in Applied Mathematics Ms. Petkova-Perez is a highly experienced middle and high school math teacher. She joined RSM in 2007. Natalia has two children – her son has been an RSM student for three years. Her love for mathematics inspires her to drive from NH and back to teach and let her son study here every Sunday. “RSM reinforces everything I am trying to teach my kids at home – the value of hard work and a drive to succeed.” Contact Ms. Petkova-Perez |  Irena Burmistrovich Education: B.A. in Liberal Arts Ms. Burmistrovich first discovered RSM as a perfect after school math program for her then 6th grade daughter. Impressed by RSM’s commitment to learning, she applied for a teaching position in 2006. Since then, Ms. Burmistrovish has become a full time employee, dividing her time between teaching elementary school students and managing the office. Contact Ms. Burmistrovich |
 Anatoly Altshul Education: M.S. in Structural Engineering Mr. Altshul joined RSM as a parent of a very talented 7th grader. As a graduate of a prestigious math prep school in St Petersburg, Mr. Altshul has always valued a solid math education. After his daughter graduated, he joined our staff as a part time teacher in 2007. Along with teaching at RSM, Mr. Altshul works as Senior Structural Engineer for B.S.C Group in Boston. Contact Mr. Altshul
|  Kate Bulba Tutoring Coordinator Education: M.S. in Electrical Engineering Ten years ago Ms. Kate transitioned from a professional engineer to an educator. This change led her to find her life’s real passion was in the classroom and eventually also brought her to America. Ms. Kate has been teaching at RSM full time since 2006 and thoroughly enjoys her new school, new country, and new culture. Contact Ms. Bulba |
Natasha Zotov Education: M.S. in Education For the last 10 years, Ms. Zotov has been involved in educational research. Topics of interest include the best strategies / programming for teaching math to gifted students and preschool education. Ms. Zotov has five years of teaching experience at RSM. Her daughter has been an RSM student for six years. Contact Ms. Zotov | Milena Stamenova Education: M.A. in Education Ms. Milena has more than a decade of experience as a middle and high school teacher in her country of origin – Bulgaria, as well as two years in the Bulgarian School in Boston. She discovered RSM when she became concerned that public schools would not be enough to prepare her children for college. In RSM, she discovered a program she respected and found extremely effective. In Ms. Stamenova, we found a great teacher. |
Irina Kheyfets Math Team/Math Circle coach. Education: M.S. in Applied Math and Computer Science from Moscow Technical University Ms. Irina has more than 30 years of experience in software development, about 15 years in the Boston area high tech. She has recently joined RSM as a tutor and a Math Team/Math Circle coach. She strongly believes that participation in math Olympiads (such as AMC and MOEMS) can introduce students to a new world of fun and intellectual challenge. Ms. Irina's son Greg, a former RSM student now studying Applied Math and Engineering Mechanics in John Hopkins University is a winner of many Math Olympiads and three times USA Math Olympiad(USAMO) qualifier. Greg also tutored in RSM and taught Math Team/Math Circle classes last summer. Conact Ms. Kheyfets | Emily Hess Education: M.S. in Civil Engineering and B.A. in Economics. Ms. Hess has experience in assisting elementary school students learn math concepts as well as conducting training seminars for adults. Emily enjoyed helping her own children with RSM homework over the years and she truly believes in the RSM approach and way of teaching, which is why she decided to join our school. Contact Ms. Hess |
Charuta Apte Education: MS in Computer Science Charuta has worked for almost 10 years in the software industry. After her daughter was born, she developed a keen interest in teaching. Having an avid interest in Mathematics all her life, she naturally gravitated towards teaching it. She is impressed with the dedication of RSM teachers towards their students and towards learning mathematics. She also teaches the Youth Empowerment Seminar as a way to help teens learn to reduce their stress and improve their focus and concentration in a fun yet challenging way. Contact Ms. Apte | Diana Pell Education: B.S in Pure Mathematics Diana Pell is currently working on her M. A. in Mathematics at Boston College. She has taught and tutored students in math for the past 5 years. She is very passionate about teaching and learning. Contact Diana Pell |
Jennifer Kozlik Education: B.S. in Architecture Ms. Kozlik is currently working on her ALM in Math for Teaching from Harvard University. She has two years of experience teaching middle school mathematics and computer basics. She is inspired by Vygotsky’s work and implements scaffolding techniques to enable her students to excel in mathematics. She is inspired to teach at the Russian School of Mathematics because the curriculum builds strong mathematical reasoning from a young age. She believes that learning is a lifelong process and looks forward to sharing her love of learning with the Russian School community. | Ronnie Gu Marchev Education: M.S. In Computer Science, M.S. in Computer Systems Engineering Mrs. Marchev is a seasoned software engineer with more than 15 years of application development experience in high tech companies in the Boston area. Her computer science training was a natural continuation of her deep interest in mathematics. She loves teaching math, solving mathematical problems and finds teaching math gave her a peace of mind. Ronnie is a passionate runner and just completed a half marathon race in Boston. |
Natalie Bagdonas Education: B.S. and M.S. in Applied Mathematics Ms. Natalie has built a successful career in Information Technologies over the past 30+ years. Her dream always was to pass on her love for math to young people, to ignite their interest in solving math problems and overcome challenges. Ms. Natalie raised 3 children, received MA educator's license for High School Math in April 2011 and for the past 2.5 years has been tutoring in Newton public schools. She joined RSM in March 2011. | Marek Janota Bzowski Education: BS in Architecture Born in London, England, gained an honors degree in Architecture from University College, and read Math Education for postgraduate studies at Kings College, both in London. Marek have been an external examiner and moderator, teaching mathematics to all middle and high school levels and to adults, for over twenty-five years, across ability ranges and in diverse communities that include inner-city, multi-cultural, at-risk, remedial, and high-achieving individuals. Marek loves this work and brings an infectious enthusiasm to the classroom where several of his students have won math competitions while others have been inspired to go on to become math majors at university. |