ANDRIJANA DOBRA

FOURTH GRADE TEACHER

Andrijana Dobra was born in Croatia and moved with her family to America when she was 2 years old. Andrijana grew up in Astoria, Queens until her family decided to move to Long Island, where she currently lives. Andrijana fluently speaks Croatian and goes back to visit every summer. From 1st grade to 9th grade, Andrijana attended Croatian School every Friday night. In Croatian school, she further learned to speak the language and learned traditional folklore dances from around the country. After 9th grade, Andrijana was asked to teach both Croatian School and teach folklore dance. This is where she encountered her first teaching experience and where she fell in love with teaching. Every Friday, she had to have a prepared lesson to teach the 5th grade students in her class. Andrijana was very indecisive when she began looking at colleges and thinking about what she would study in college. Her original plan was to go to school to become a Pharmacist.  But in the back of her head, she always knew pharmacy was not something she would be completely happy in. So, senior year of high school, Andrijana changed her mind and decided she was going to study to become a teacher.

Andrijana completed her Undergrad at Hunter College, where she double majored. Her first major was Childhood Education and her second major was History. Once she completed her undergrad, she began working as Teacher’s Assistant on the Upper East Side at PS 77. After the school year ended, she got her first teaching job in Astoria, Queens, as a Full Year Leave Replacement in a 1st classroom. While working there, she began Graduate School at Hunter College. Andrijana got her Masters in Special Education. Since, Andrijana was only a full year leave replacement, at the end of the year, she switched to another school. For 3 years, Andrijana taught 1st and 2nd Grade Gifted and Talented at PS 166 on the Upper West Side. During her time there, she decided to go back to Hunter and get her Gifted and Talented Extension.  She then taught 4th Grade ICT, as the Special Education teacher at PS 11 in Chelsea and last year, she accepted a position at PS 527.

In her free time, Andrijana loves to read, bake, and cook. She has a love for traveling and learning about new cultures.

Andrijana is excited about the upcoming school year and looks forward to meeting her new students.