Yelena Hardcopf

Director

About Yelena (Viktorovna) Borisova Hardcopf

What I love about Nasha Shkola…

… I especially value our professional and caring teachers and staff.  Their hard work and dedication make Nasha a great place for students and families.  They convey passion and enthusiasm for the subjects they teach, create welcoming environment, and encourage high academic performance.

I love the cultural aspect of our school.  It allows us to bring the rich and amazing world of Russian culture to our students and build cross-cultural awareness and understanding.  Here, our bilingual students have a unique opportunity to preserve their language and heritage.

I also appreciate the size of our school that allows us to support and nurture our students on individual level from their first days in kindergarten to the 8th grade.  I take pride in the progress of all our students – from our high achievers to those who worked hard and achieved beyond their expectations.  I marvel at their artistic performance during school concerts and events.

I feel deep gratitude to our most dedicated parents for their continuing support and engagement.

And I do believe in the future for Nasha Shkola.  By working together we will reach our full potential.

For me, fun is…

… reading, traveling, taking pictures, spending time with my family and friends, and … creating and sewing traditional Slavic and Russian costumes for our school shows and events.

Education:

University of Minnesota | Curriculum & Instruction: Teaching 2nd Languages & Cultures, MEd
University of Minnesota | Curriculum & Instruction: English as a Second Language
Far Eastern State University, Vladivostok Russia | Philology, Russian Language and Literature

Professional Training:

Leadership & Implementation Science
Using Data for Continuous School Improvement
Response to Intervention
MN Reading Corps Institute: Internal Coach
Wilson Language Training: Fundations
Responsive Classroom
Immersion Education
2nd Language Learning: Styles- and Strategies-Based Instruction
2nd Language Curriculum Design & Development

Dear Parents and Students of Nasha Shkola!

Thank you for another wonderful school year, albeit one that was uniquely challenging due to COVID-19. Our community of students, parents, and staff is simply amazing. We began the year with our third “Beat the Odds” nomination by the Minnesota Star Tribune. The nomination is given to schools that are performing at a significantly higher level than their peers in math and reading. The results speak to the high work of our students, and to the commitment and dedication of our exceptional staff. We also continued the many traditions which make Nasha Shkola unique and special, such as the Curiosity Fair, New Year Program, Science Fair, and Talent Show.

Our community is navigating some unprecedented challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to rapidly transition from a traditional in-person teaching model to a distance learning model. As a faculty, we have attempted to create a learning environment which maximizes academic, social, and emotional growth, within the constraints of state guidelines. This could not occur without the endless energy, skill and devotion of Nasha Shkola’s staff, in partnership with the dedication and patience of our families and students. Thank you all!

A special word of thanks to our parents. I am beyond grateful to you for helping your children stay engaged in learning and achieve the academic success to which they are capable. This year more than ever we had to rely on your support as we worked through these challenging times together.

To our wonderful students, without you Nasha Shkola would not exist. You are dedicated and hard-working, and bring a tremendous sense of happiness to school each day. Your energy keeps me young. While it is unfortunate that some of our favorite events were cancelled, our students were able to show off their skills in virtual Kangaroo Math Competition, middle school virtual Olympiada of Spoken Russian, and we celebrated our culture during Heritage Week.

Finally, best wishes to our graduating eight graders. As you continue your academic pursuits elsewhere, you carry with you our hopes and dreams, and well as our tremendous pride in the wonderful young adults you have become.

Have a great summer, and we look forward to working with you and your children in the upcoming year!

Sincerely,
Yelena Hardcopf

    About Nasha Shkola

    Nasha Shkola — Russian for Our School — is an academically rigorous K-8 charter school, providing a highly-structured learning environment for students interested in Russian language and culture.

    Contact Us

      School Info

      Nasha Shkola
      6717 85th Ave North
      Brooklyn Park, MN 55445

      Phone: 763-496-5550
      Fax: 763-424-8520

      School Hours
      Monday – Friday:
      8:30 am – 4:30 pm

      Office Hours
      Monday – Friday:
      8 am – 4 pm