Not just a school. A community.
Indianapolis Russian School
Our Teachers and Administarators
While living in Russia, Katya graduated from St.Petersburg College of Music as a school/kindergarten Music Teacher and worked as Kindergarten Music Instructor and later as a children's choir conductor in one of St.Petersburg's district music school for children.
Katya first joined Russian School in a Music teacher capacity in 1995; took a school's principal role in 2008.Music class (5 and older): children sing, listen and discuss different forms of music (opera, ballet, symphonic music), learn about orchestral instruments and the basics of solfège.
Music class (3-4 y.o.): for the most children this the first close encounter with music lessons and the teacher's goal is to make this experience fun through the use of musical instruments, role play, listening to various musical pieces and singing our favorite russian songs, so it could be a great start for a life-long love for music.
Natalia Rekhter
- Creative Director
- English as Second Language (advanced level)
Katya Klauz
- School Principal
- Music
Natalia graduated with a Bachelor degree in Education from State University of Ivanovo (Russia) and later received her Master of Health Services Administration from University of Michigan. She joined the school in 2006.
Театр: целью занятий является развитие творческих способностей детей через театральное искусство. В ходе занятий дети учатся творчески мыслить, понимать эмоциональное состояние другого человека, а также развивать дикцию на материале скороговорок и стихов, пополнять словарный запас и обогащать русскую речь.
Alexander (Sandro) Akhvlediani
- Art
Sandro graduated from the Art Academy of Fine Art (Republic of Georgia, Tbilisi) with a Master's Degree in both Architecture and Art. He is a Member of "Georgian Artist's Union" and "Georgian International Federation of Arts" (GIFA).
Besides 20 years of a successful career in Architecture, Sandro has established himself as a painter of urban landscapes, musical genre, flowers and portraits creating his own impressionistic style.
While living in Georgia, he shared his passion of Art with students of all ages by teaching them drawing, painting and "cloisonne", a 12th century technique of molding glass into featured art.
Sandro enjoys teaching children to understand and appreciate the beauty of art and to express their pure and generous world of fantasy through pallete.
You can find Sandro's art work at sandro-akhvlediani
Era Yakovlevna Solyar
- Russian Intermidiate and Advanced (for native speakers)
Era Yakovlevna received a degree in Education/Psychology from Kiev Pedagogical Institute and worked for many years as Education Science Instructor in one of Kiev's colleges.
Era Yakovlevna joined Russian school on the day the school was formed and has been teaching Russian language ever since.
In her class children learn Russian grammar, reading and writing; learning to speak properly by memorizing poems and discussing little stories.
Felix Bluvshtein
- Math
Felix received his Bachelor degree from St.Petersburg Institute of Optical Technology.
He joined the school in 1997 teaching Math class for kids from 4 to 14.
Eugene Mukhin
- Math
Eugene graduated from Moscow State University and University of North Carolina with PhD in Mathematics; currently, he is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at IUPUI.
Eugene joined the school in 2009 teaching Math class to 4-6 year olds.
Gregory Klauz
- Chess
Gregory came to the US in 1993 from Moscow, where he received a degree in Telecommunications Engineering and for more then a decade was managing Moscow's Telecommunication Company (SSKTB).
Chess has always been his favorite hobby. During his student years, Gregory was a part of his Institute's Chess Team. In Indianapolis, he has been instructing a chess class at the Hebrew Academy for the past several years. This is his second year of teaching at Russian School and his group of "chess masters" is growing day by day.
Maria Azriel
- Russian as Second Language (Beginners and Intermidiate)
- Theater
Теоретическая часть занятий включает в себя беседы об истории театра, профессии актера, различных театральных жанрах и просмотренных постановках; проходит в форме диалога, на доступном для детей языке и направлена на развитие интереса к театральному искусству.
Практическая часть занятия проводится в форме занимательных игр, способствующих развитию воображения, раскрепощению на сцене, развитию индивидуальности и актерских способностей ребенка. В ходе занятий предлагаются упражнения на пластику, тренировку голоса и улучшение дикции, ролевые игры, упражнения на концентрацию внимания и образное мышление.
Также проводятся подготовка к выступлению на сцене и репетиции театрализованных представлений.
Svetlana Davidovich
- Chess
Nellie Vitkin
- Russian
Nellie joined the school in 2009. Before immigrating to United States in 1989 she received her Bachelor degree in education and speech therapy from St. Petersburg Herzen State Pedagogical University.
Nellie enjoys working with children of all language skills levels and gained well deserved popularity among kids. Presently, Nellie teaches groups for Russian heritage speakers children.
Рекомендуются для детей растущих в русскоязычных семьях или с русскоязычным членом семьи. Элементарное понимание разговорного языка обязательно.
Цели: Развитие и обогащение присутствующего уровня русского языка у детей.
Привитие интереса к культуре России и русским национальным традициям.
Ознакомление с классической детской литературой на русском языке. Обучение элементарному чтению и письму. Улучшение грамматического употребления слов и выражений в разговорной речи.
Anna Phillips
- Russian (Beginners 1 and 2)
Originally from Russia, Anna graduated from St.Petersburg Herzen Pedagogical University. First year of her teaching career she mostly worked with adult and high school students. But later, when she became a mom, she focused on younger audience. "Working with 3-5 year-old might be challenging, but it gives you an unforgettable experience", says Anna.
In her classes children get acquainted with basic social skills, learn to interact with each other and a teacher, using right words and appropriate ways of behavior. Through games, songs and fun activities they get to know colors, letters, seasons, poems and more.They start reading.
Warm and friendly atmosphere helps to develop interest in Russian culture and traditions.
Designed by Michael Klauz for © Indianapolis Russian School Inc., 1993-2012
Vladimir Stadnik
- Theater (Beginners, Advanced)
- Folk Dance
Vladimir Stadnik was born in St. Petersburg, Russia and received his ballet training from the age of ten at the Vaganova State Ballet Academy. As a professional dancer he has toured the Soviet Union, Western Europe, and the US. He has also completed extensive studies in teaching and choreography earning a Bachelor's degree in Choreography and Dance Education from the University of Culture in Saint-Petersburg, Russia and then a degree in Choreography and Dance from Saint-Petersburg State Conservatory n.a. Rimsky-Korsakov. While studying in Russia, Vladimir directed and choreographed for the Children’s Musical Theatre «Вокруг Рояля» and the Musical Theatre «Kinderjorn». Afterwards, he worked as ballet master mainly in Switzerland but also guest taught in Finland, France and Italy. Prior to moving to Indiana in 2011 assuming Assistant Professor of Dance position with Ball State University in Muncie, Vladimir worked as Associate Residency Director at the National Dance Institute, Principal of the school of the Tulsa Ballet and also the Director of its Junior Ballet Company.ladimir Stadnik was born in St. Petersburg, Russia and received his ballet training from the age of ten at the Vaganova State Ballet Academy. As a professional dancer he has toured the Soviet Union, Western Europe, and the US. He has also completed extensive studies in teaching and choreography earning a Bachelor's degree in Choreography and Dance Education from the University of Culture in Saint-Petersburg, Russia and then a degree in Choreography and Dance from Saint-Petersburg State Conservatory n.a. Rimsky-Korsakov. While studying in Russia, Vladimir directed and choreographed for the Children’s Musical Theatre «Вокруг Рояля» and the Musical Theatre «Kinderjorn». Afterwards, he worked as ballet master mainly in Switzerland but also guest taught in Finland, France and Italy. Prior to moving to Indiana in 2011 assuming Assistant Professor of Dance position with Ball State University in Muncie, Vladimir worked as Associate Residency Director at the National Dance Institute, Principal of the school of the Tulsa Ballet and also the Director of its Junior Ballet Company.
