Meet
the Team

Laura is originally from Edinburgh, Scotland. She earned her degree in Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status from the University of Northampton and has built over ten years of international teaching experience in schools across Germany, The Netherlands, Jordan, and Hungary.

Laura has dedicated her career to creating supportive and engaging learning environments where students feel challenged, confident, and excited about their progress. She has worked with students across the primary age range and has a particular passion for English language development and literacy. She values the breadth of experience that international education offers and is passionate about fostering a love of learning in every child.

Outside of school, Laura enjoys continuing her own learning journey by studying Hungarian, embracing life in Budapest with her young daughter, and reading as much as possible.

From a young age, Orsi has always known that she would like to work with children in the future, so she studied education and earned a master’s degree from the University of Szeged. In addition to working with children, being in an international environment and experiencing different cultures have become important aspects of Orsi's life, so working at Britannica was a perfect way to combine these two passions. Currently, Orsi is studying to become a special needs educator so that she can support every student she works with to reach their full potential. Outside of school, she enjoys travelling, going on long walks, reading, and spending quality time with her loved ones.

BA in International Hospitality Management and Travel Management, London Metropolitan University

PGCE, University of Greenwich

Vilma holds a BA in International Hospitality Management and Travel Management from London Metropolitan University, as well as a CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from the University of Greenwich. She has worked in education for 11 years, with experience in both England and Hungary.

Vilma is particularly passionate about teaching art and is the Art Coordinator at Britannica International School Budapest.

Outside of school, she enjoys dancing, running and travelling.

Marianna was born and raised in the beautiful city of Athens, Greece. In 2017 she earned her degree in Philology & Education with a specialisation in Linguistics from the University of Athens (Greece), focusing on language teaching and language development. She also holds a diploma in piano performance from the music conservatory of Athens.

In the summer of 2017, she travelled to Finland to start her joint MSc degree in Clinical Linguistics; she continued her studies in the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, and spent the second year of her MSc in Potsdam, Germany. In late August of 2019, she moved to charming Budapest to pursue Doctoral studies. During this time, she developed a music-based intervention programme to support children with dyslexia in developing their reading skills.

In addition to her research work, Marianna has extensive teaching experience across primary, secondary, and tertiary education. She has taught Modern Greek, History, and Greek Literature in three secondary schools in Athens, Greece. She has also worked as a tutor in Latin and Ancient Greek, preparing secondary school students for university entrance examinations, and as a music tutor for primary school students. At university level, Marianna has delivered lectures on topics such as Language Development and Music Psychology and has taught her own courses to BA and MA students in Speech Therapy and Psychology respectively .

In her free time, Marianna enjoys listening to music, reading books, watching fantasy films (she is a big Harry Potter fan!), and attending concerts. As the Teaching Assistant for Year 2 Eagles, she is dedicated to supporting each child’s individual needs and creating a caring, positive environment where all students can feel confident, supported, and part of the school community.

Ryan Tormey is a Year 2 Class Teacher and Primary ICT Curriculum Coordinator at Britannica International School Budapest. Originally from Providence, Rhode Island, Ryan studied Fine Art and Business at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City, later continuing his studies in Early Childhood Education at Boston Community College.

Now entering his tenth year of teaching, Ryan brings nine years of classroom experience, including six years at The Wheeler School in Providence and two years at St. Matthew’s Parish School in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. As he begins his second year at Britannica, he is excited for another wonderful year with the school community. Alongside his classroom teaching, his role as Primary ICT Curriculum Coordinator reflects his particular interest in educational technology and the thoughtful integration of digital tools into teaching and learning.

Having had the rare privilege of being the primary parent at home when his two children were young, Ryan brings to his teaching a unique perspective that bridges both parent and educator roles. Together with his Hungarian wife and their children, Ryan has lived in Paris, Washington, D.C., and now Budapest.

Outside school, Ryan enjoys spending time in nature, travelling, staying active and being creative, especially when all of those passions overlap.

Csilla is a Teaching Assistant in Year 2 Phoenix here at Britannica.

She holds qualifications in both Primary and Kindergarten Education from Apor Vilmos Catholic College and brings over 15 years of experience in education to her role.

Throughout her career, Csilla has worked as a primary school teacher in Romania and as a kindergarten teacher in several international kindergartens in Budapest. Having also lived in the United States and Scotland, she has developed a deep appreciation for different cultures and international communities. She is particularly passionate about supporting young children from diverse backgrounds and helping them feel confident, valued, and included in their learning environment.

Outside of school, Csilla enjoys hiking, reading, and spending quality time with her family.

BA Information Management, Thames Valley University

PGCE, South Bank University

Ben is a Lower Key Stage 2 Coordinator and Year 3 Dali teacher here at Britannica.

Ben holds a BA in Information Management, Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and a National Professional Qualification in Senior Leadership (NPQSL). He has worked in education for 24 years, including experience class teaching in every year group from Reception (4 to 5 year olds) to Year 5 (9 to 10 year olds). Ben has coordinated PSHE and Mathematics. He has also been a Year 2 and Year 3 Year Group Leader. He currently trains teachers in a huge variety of areas including using ISAMS, Phonics and Behaviour. He is  particularly passionate about supporting children have positive relationships, great self-esteem and talking about what they create and how they created it.

Outside school, Ben has made his first few paddles paddle boarding on the Danube. He loves walking around cities, particularly enjoying the architecture and always has two books on the go.

Eszter, who usually goes by Mici, is an early childhood educator with a strong background in international education. She graduated from Eötvös Loránd University in Pre-School Teacher Training and further broadened her international experience by spending two semesters in Germany, including an Erasmus+ internship in a play-based early childhood education setting.

Mici spent five years working at an international preschool in Budapest, where she taught and supported children from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. Her experience includes working with children learning English as a second language, as well as providing individualized support for children with different learning and developmental needs. She has also completed additional training focused on supporting neurodivergent children in the classroom.

Outside of her professional life, Mici enjoys spending quality time with her loved ones, exploring new recipes and cooking, photography, and listening to music. She particularly values opportunities to be creative and spend meaningful time with the people closest to her.

Henryis a Year 3 Class Teacher here at Britannica.

Henry holds a BA in French and Drama from Bristol University, a PGCE from St Mary’s University Twickenham and an MA in Translation. He has worked in education fora number of years, as a teacher at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, a teacher of secondary MFL in various London schools, and as a facilitator for a theatre company leading English language workshops in schools across Europe. He is particularly passionate about language-learning and creativity in the curriculum.

Outside school, Henry enjoys going to the theatre, hiking and learning new languages – he is currently working on his Hungarian!

Hanga is a Year 3 Kolodko Teaching Assistant here at Britannica.

Hanga holds a BA degree in Communication and Media Studies from Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, and a Teaching Assistant qualification from UK Open College. She has worked in education for five years, including experience in a primary school in Manchester before joining Britannica International School Budapest. She is particularly passionate about supporting children’s learning and development and is committed to continuing her professional journey in education.

Outside school, Hanga enjoys swimming, reading, and spending time with her loved ones.

BA(Hons) Geography, Queen Mary University of London, UK

Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), UCL Institute of Education, UK

Originally from London, UK, Hannah spent much of her childhood overseas, growing up in Dubai and Belgium from the age of six. These experiences sparked her love of travel and developed her appreciation for different cultures and international communities.

After returning to London to complete her university studies, Hannah remained there for eight years before moving to China. She spent five years teaching at an international school in Beijing, gaining a wealth of experience across different areas of education, before joining Britannica in 2023.

Throughout her career, Hannah has held a variety of roles, including Class Teacher, Safeguarding Lead, Year Group Lead and Maths Coordinator. She has also enjoyed supporting the next generation of teachers as a mentor to student teachers.

Outside of school, Hannah enjoys spending time with her cat, Ellie, whom she adopted while living in China. Ellie is a well-travelled companion, having journeyed from China to France, England and the Netherlands before finally arriving in Hungary! Hannah also enjoys going to the gym, cross-stitching and playing tennis. She is a keen runner when the weather is cooler and has completed a number of half-marathons and marathons.

Blanka is a Year 4 Teaching Assistant here at Britannica.

Blanka holds a Law degree from ELTE University and worked as a human rights lawyer (with a special focus on children's rights) for 2.5 years, providing legal aid to refugees. Alongside her legal career, she gained extensive experience working with children through volunteering in children’s hospitals and marginalised communities, supporting children through play-based activities and schoolwork. Having been at Britannica for almost two years, she is particularly passionate about child development, inclusive education and creating positive, engaging learning environments.

Outside school, Blanka enjoys running, hiking, Pilates and Tennis, as well as baking, travelling and spending time with friends and family.

Alicia is a Year 4 class teacher here at Britannica.

Alicia holds a BSC Honors in Hospitality Management and an IPGCE in Teaching Practice. She has worked in education for9 years and counting, including experience in South Africa and The UAE, teaching primary and English Additional Language. She is particularly passionate about preparing students to become life-long learners and explorers.

Outside school, Alicia enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and reading.

Csilla was born and raised in Budapest, graduated at University of Szeged, Hungary.

Csilla is a Year 4 Teaching Assistant here at Britannica, where she has been part of our school community since September 2023. She holds a degree in Mathematics and Music Education.

For 17 years she lived abroad, in Dubai and Johannesburg, teaching in international schools and had the opportunity to work with children from many different cultural backgrounds. After returning home three and a half years ago for family reasons, Csilla was delighted to continue her career in an international school environment by joining Britannica.

Csilla is passionate about working with children and supporting their individual needs, helping them to feel confident, valued and encouraged in their learning. She especially enjoys being part of their everyday progress and seeing them develop both academically and personally.

Outside of school, Csilla enjoys singing in a choir, hiking and handcrafting. These activities give her a chance to be creative, spend time in nature and enjoy the things she loves most.

BA (Hons) Advertising | Solent University | Southampton UK

TESOL | Ban Phe | Thailand

PGCE | University of Roehampton | SCITT East London | UK

NPQSL: National Professional Qualification Senior Leadership

Ryan is a Year 5 Primary Teacher and Assistant Head of Primary here at Britannica.

Ryan holds a BA (Hons) in Advertising, a PGCE, TESOL qualification and the NPQSL (National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership). He has worked in education for over 15 years, with experience in Thailand, the United Kingdom, Mongolia, Malaysia and Hungary. Ryan has held leadership roles including PE Coordinator, Art Coordinator, Literacy Coordinator and Teaching & Learning Lead. He is particularly passionate about teacher professional development, literacy, collaborative learning and international education.

Outside school, Ryan enjoys travelling, rugby, history, art and poetry.

Sophie grew up in a small village in the South-East of England, and ever since she was young, she has always known she wanted to be a teacher. Sophie went to Roehampton University and had a lot of classroom experience within the diverse and bustling London. During this time, she experienced many different cultures, languages and people. Sophie first started teaching back in her hometown, where she taught at a school where thinking skills were at the forefront of their education. In 2022, Sophie got the opportunity to start her international teaching adventure, where she worked a year in the beautiful country of Albania. She enjoys travelling and her favourite city in the world happened to be Budapest! Sophie has enjoyed her time teaching the wonderful children at Britannica and excited to continue this on.

Aggie was born in the north of Africa, in Tunis but when she was 5 her family moved to the United States, where she lived for 6 years before moving to Hungary.

Aggie studied at ELTE and later completed her masters in Debrecen. She has been teaching for nearly 26 years in a variety of institutions. She also spent 10 summers in different parts of the UK teaching in summer schools.

She started working in Britannica in 2014, after spending time away for her maternity leave, she has been leading the Teaching Assistant team and working with UKS2 as their Teaching Assistant.

Michelle comes from the north of England. She graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree, specialising in Maths, and had a great start to her teaching career in Essex, England. After 8 years, she caught the international bug in 2004 after moving to a British school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; a city that is still close to her heart. Since then, she has worked in international schools in Thailand, Germany, Dubai and most recently in China. During this time, Michelle has been lucky enough to have worked with a wide range of children, parents and teachers across the whole primary age range, as well as leading year groups, Key Stages and a variety of subjects.

The opportunity to experience different cultures and learning new languages is what motivates Michelle, and she is enjoying working in the beautiful city of Budapest to continue her experience.

Michelle is pleased to be working in Year 6 and leading the UKS2 team, where she enjoys being able to support the students as they transition into the secondary school. She loves getting to know Hungary and exploring the wonderful opportunities it has to offer.