Our instructors

Anna Asadov-Ossowska is a native speaker of Russian and Polish with over a decade of experience teaching Russian language and culture at all proficiency levels. She holds an M.A. in International Relations with an emphasis in Russian from Wroclaw University of Economics and Business and a dual B.A. in International Business and Russian Language from San Diego State University, where she currently teaches at the Language Acquisition Resource Center (LARC). Anna has taught in federally funded programs such as STARTALK and Project Global Officer (Project GO), and she has designed curriculum and led immersive instruction for high school and college students. Her teaching is grounded in a communicative, proficiency-based approach. Several of her students have passed the OPI exam at the Advanced level and received prestigious scholarships to study abroad. As part of her ongoing professional development, Anna has completed the Middlebury STARTALK Institute for Teachers of Russian, a rigorous program focused on effective pedagogy and curriculum design. She is also a fellow of the AATSEEL K–12 Teacher Excellence Program and has earned certificates from Stanford STARTALK, the AATSEEL Certificate Program in Inclusive Pedagogies, the California World Language Project (CWLP), and the Flagship Teachers Training Workshop at Indiana University. Anna integrates creativity and culture into her classroom, often drawing from her interests in film, history, and cuisine to create immersive and engaging experiences for her students.

Ekaterina, known as Katya, is a highly experienced Russian language instructor and Program Director, bringing over 25 years of expertise in teaching and curriculum development. She graduated from the Philological Faculty of St. Petersburg State Pedagogical University, where she built a strong foundation in Russian linguistics, grammar, and etymology. Since 1998, Katya has been teaching Russian in private language schools and consulates, helping students master the language with precision and confidence. As a content creator for various tests and programs, she designs highly effective instructional materials that ensure her students achieve exceptional results—with many earning A+ grades and scoring 100% on proficiency exams at levels C1 and C2. ( advanced and proficient levels). Katya’s passion for Russian grammar and word origins shines through in her teaching, making even the most complex concepts accessible and engaging. Her leadership in curriculum development, exam preparation, and innovative teaching methodologies continues to shape successful language learners. Whether you’re preparing for advanced proficiency tests, aiming for academic excellence, or seeking structured language instruction, Katya provides expert guidance tailored to your learning needs.

Natalia is a seasoned language education specialist with extensive experience in curriculum development, teacher training, and instructional innovation. As the Education Director at Bistro Languages, Inc. since 2018, she has successfully designed and enhanced online programs for a diverse range of LOTE (Languages Other Than English) courses, including Russian, Portuguese, German, French, Georgian, and more. Under her leadership, the school achieved WASC accreditation, UC approvals, and recognition from multiple school districts. Since 2013, Natalia has also served as Program Director at San Diego Russian School, where she founded and directed the Russian as a Second Language (RSL) department. She has spearheaded individual and group online courses for both adults and children, making Russian language learning accessible and engaging. Previously, Natalia worked as Lead Language Instructor at Extra-Class Language Centre in St. Petersburg, Russia (2006–2013), teaching Russian and English as second languages while pioneering adaptive curriculum development and technology-integrated instruction to maximize student success. With a deep passion for language education, Natalia continues to shape modern language learning, helping students worldwide achieve fluency and confidence in their chosen languages.

Maria is a dedicated Russian language instructor who balances her medical studies at the University of Mechnikov in St. Petersburg with her passion for teaching. Though new to formal instruction, she demonstrates a remarkable talent for making complex language concepts accessible and engaging. Her students appreciate her innovative approach to Russian grammar and pronunciation, as well as her ability to integrate cultural contexts that bring the language to life. Maria’s natural teaching ability compensates for her limited classroom experience, making her lessons both effective and inspiring. Passionate about both medicine and languages, Maria remains committed to education while pursuing her medical degree, seeing her dual interests as complementary paths in helping others.

With over 30 years of experience teaching Russian and English as foreign languages, Anatoli has helped learners of all backgrounds achieve fluency and confidence. His students range from high school learners reconnecting with their Russian heritage to business executives mastering languages for professional success. Anatoli holds an MBA from the University of Washington and possesses in-depth expertise in linguistics and translation, making him uniquely qualified to provide structured, effective instruction tailored to individual needs. Whether you’re looking to refine your business language skills, strengthen your heritage connection, or achieve advanced fluency, Anatoli delivers personalized, results-driven lessons designed to help you succeed.

Gregory Kalyuzhny graduated from Novosibirsk State University, Russia with a Master’s Degree in Chemistry and then obtained a PhD in Chemistry at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. After moving to America, Dr. Kalyuzhny has been working as a chemistry professor and an analytical chemist.

Contribution to SDRS: Gregory Kalyuzhny teaches History and Geography at high-school and middle school levels. It emphasizes the strong connection between geography and history and teaches students to extract information from different types of maps. By the end of the course, students have a strong grasp of history and geography concepts and terms in both Russian and English.

Maria Ezhevskaya is an accomplished teacher whose engaging style inspires students to speak, think, and connect with confidence in Russian language and literature. Her ability to foster conversation, combined with warmth, openness, and professionalism, makes her lessons both enjoyable and effective for learners of all ages.

Educated in the classical tradition, Maria holds a Master’s Degree in Art History from St. Petersburg University. She has guided audiences through the collections of the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg and Hillwood Museum in Washington, D.C., and now shares her passion for Russian culture and art as a docent at the Timken Museum of Art in San Diego.

Maria’s unique combination of pedagogical skill, cultural depth, and artistic insight ensures that her students not only master the Russian language and literature but also experience the richness of the cultural heritage they represents.

Olga Sukhanova is a bilingual speaker of Russian and English and a professional linguist with a Master’s degree in Linguistics. With over a decade of teaching experience, she has successfully guided students of all ages and levels in mastering both languages. Her classes are known for being creative, dynamic, and engaging, with a strong emphasis on incorporating current culture and real-life communication. She uses innovative teaching methods that blend traditional instruction with interactive activities, making language learning both effective and fun. Her goal is to inspire students to not only gain fluency but also to enjoy the journey of exploring new languages and cultures.

Tamara Shashkina is a dedicated and experienced educator specializing in Russian language and literature. With a strong academic background and over two decades of teaching experience in Russia, Canada, and the United States, she brings a deep passion for language, culture, and student-centered learning to every classroom.

Tamara holds a degree in Education from Smolensk State University, where she studied at the Faculty of History and Philology, qualifying as a teacher. She later completed advanced training in the methodology of teaching Russian as a foreign language (RFL), along with specialized programs for teaching Russian to bilingual children abroad.

Her teaching approach combines traditional academic rigor with modern, interactive methodologies, including:

  • The communicative approach
  • Project-based learning, group and pair activities
  • Digital tools and multimedia for engaging online and in-person lessons

Tamara is an active member of the international Russian teaching community and regularly participates in professional development programs, webinars, and seminars, including those hosted by ACTR (American Council of Teachers of Russian). She stays up to date with the latest trends in language education and is deeply committed to helping students build strong linguistic foundations, communication skills, and cultural literacy.

“My main goal is to help children preserve and grow their Russian language — a vital part of their family, culture, and identity. Over the years, I’ve seen that native language is more than just a subject; it’s a living link to thought, culture, and self.”

History and Course Offerings

Since 1998, the San Diego Russian School has welcomed kids from all over San Diego County for Sunday classes. Thanks to the continuing support of the UCSD Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (REEES) Program the School has been able to offer a variety of classes for children with different levels of fluency in Russian. Our students participated and won awards in several nationwide contests. During the school year, students had an opportunity to meet with the UCSD REEES students and faculty who came to school and talked about their research and studies. We are very happy about the growth of SDRS in the past year and look forward to another productive year. This year the school will offer the following classes:

For freshmen and sophomores: Russian Language, Russian Literature, Russian History and Russian Language Development. There will also be classes of Natural History, Art History and Russian Cinematography & Animations.

For juniors and seniors: Russian Language and Professional Translating, Russian History, Russian Literature, Russian Language Development and Geography. Once a month there will also be classes of History of Russian Cinematography and Introduction to Careers.

Russian as a Foreign Language class for both adults and youth: This class is for students who have just begun their journey in Russian education.

Our Mission

San Diego Russian School promotes cross-cultural connections by providing a broad education system which covers Russian language, history, and literature in a bilingual environment. The school was originally founded in 1998 to retain heritage language, history, and culture among Russian children and teenagers living in San Diego. Since then the school has developed into an immersion program offering a broad array of subjects for both fluent speakers and beginners.

College Scholarships For Seniors

Community Commons administers a College Scholarship Program that provides SDRS graduating seniors with a one-time financial assistance for future studying in college. The scholarship program is intended to reward academic excellence and participation in school activities and other Community Commons projects. Acholarships in the amount of $100-$500 are awarded to high school students who have completed a minimum of 6 years in San Diego Russian School, including the school’s senior year.