Born and raised in Warsaw, Poland, Teacher Monika earned her master's degrees in Political Science and Social Work from the University of Warsaw. Her passion for education began during college, where she first worked with children, and continued through a variety of roles as a preschool and elementary teacher, enrichment instructor, 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. During that time, she also rediscovered her love of painting by dusting off her canvases and picking up her brushes once again.

Art has always been an important part of Teacher Monika's personal and educational journey. She has taken numerous art classes, including training in art therapy, and continues to share her creativity with students through hands-on, engaging, and inspiring lessons.

Monika lives in Davis with her daughter and their orange tabby cat, Pomarancho, whose name is inspired by the Polish word for "orange" (pomarańczowy).