Monika began her adventure with Peregrine School in 2018 as a substitute teacher and quickly became a long-term member of the Peregrine nest. She has taught art in the Primaria program and led the English program in the Chinese immersion Dragon’s Kindergarten classroom.

Born and raised in Warsaw, Poland, Monika earned her master’s degree in Political Science and Social Work from Warsaw University before moving to the U.S. Her passion for education began during college, where she first worked with children, and continued through various roles as a preschool teacher, kindergarten enrichment teacher, behavioral therapist, and ESL teacher. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she also stepped into the medical field, serving as a Polish interpreter to support her community.

Art was always a big part of Teacher Monika’s educational and personal adventure. She has taken multiple art classes, including training in art therapy and more, and continues to share her creativity with students through hands-on and inspiring lessons.

Monika lives in South Davis with her daughter and their orange tabby, Pomarancho (named after the Polish word for “orange,” pomarańczowy). She enjoys exploring California’s outdoors through hiking, camping, and skiing, and thanks to Peregrine’s outdoor education program, she has also discovered a love for gardening.