Jana Shishkovska
Elementary and Middle School Psychologist/
CDL Coordinator
My name is Jana Shishkovska, and I have been working as the Elementary and Middle School Psychologist and Coordinator of the Center for Differentiated Learning here at NOVA for 8 years. I was born in Macedonia and I am a former NOVA graduate, however I have lived and was also educated in the United Kingdom for nearly half of my life. NOVA has always felt like home to me, and has given me the opportunity to develop academically, socially, emotionally and professionally. I am very dedicated and excited about my involvement in the process of supporting all NOVA students have similar positive experiences and opportunities in the path of reaching their full academic and personal potential.
Danica Gjurevski
Learning Specialist
I am Danica Gjurevski and I provide differentiated reading support. I worked as a homeroom teacher at NOVA for five years, teaching R/LA, math and science, from first to fourth grade. This is my fourth year as a Learning Specialist/Reading Intervention teacher and my second year as an Academic Language Therapist-in-Training, trained and acknowledged by the Fundamental Learning Center in Kansas. As a teacher, I view myself primarily as a facilitator of learning, rather than as an expert who simply delivers information to students. When planning a curriculum or interacting with students, I am always conscious of their different learning styles, what they have already learned and what they will need to learn in the future. Feedback from students has been vital to the process of growth I have undergone since I began teaching. My experience as a teacher is greatly enriched by communicating with the students and parents.
Mary Platz
ES/MS Counselor
My name is Mary Platz. I am excited to be serving as the counselor in our ES/MS Student Services department starting this year. I am from Minnesota, USA, where I worked in the field of child and family services. I came to Macedonia in 2005 as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the youth development program. NOVA has been my community for the past 6 years in which I was a homeroom teacher for both 5th and 7th grade. I am passionate about whole child education, international-mindedness, supporting social and emotional growth of students, supporting students with learning differences, and strategizing with educators and parents to foster the learning of every child.