OREANDA-NEWS. February 01, 2013. Kristi Klaasmagi was appointed new CEO of the Youth to School Foundation. Kaire Kroos, who had been managing the foundation since 2009, will be on maternity leave, reported the press-centre of Swedbank.

The competition received 37 applications and the selection process was managed by Fontes PMP, a strategic partner of the Youth to School Foundation.

According to Kristi Klaasmagi, she ran for CEO of Youth to School because she wished to contribute to the development of the Estonian educational system. “I think it’s nice that the Youth to School Foundation paves the road to education for such capable and active young people who otherwise would not end up there. Teachers are the ones that most influence the education of children. Our ever-growing Youth to School alumni network helps to carry out positive changes in the long run.”

Kristi Klaasmagi has worked in the US at the Institute of International Education with the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program since 2003. She has a master’s degree in Economics and Public Sector Management from Tallinn University.

According to Priit Perens, CEO of Swedbank Estonia and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Youth to School Foundation: “Almost half of the participants in Youth to School Foundation will stay inside educational system. This result is delightful. I believe that Youth to School Foundation, with new CEO, who has strong international educational organisation backround, will bring more and more talented young people to schools. People, who want to give their share to make difference in Estonian educational system.”

The 5th and 6th groups of teachers are currently teaching under the programme and an information campaign has been launched to find the 7th group of teachers. The deadline for submitting applications is 7 March.

‘Youth to School’ is an educational programme launched with the aim of creating an environment for the development of a new generation of leaders who will bring positive changes to the Estonian education structure, by working in different fields of life. In order to achieve this aim about 30 active young people of different backgrounds are annually selected from a wide range of candidates. These young people are presented with the challenge of being a teacher for two years at a school in Estonia where these ambitious young people could bring about the most positive change. In addition to working at school, the teachers receive regular training both in teaching and leadership skills.

During its six years of operation, the Youth to School programme has sent nearly eighty young teachers to schools. The activities of Youth to School are supported by the following companies and organisations from the private, public and third sectors: Good Deeds Foundation, Swedbank, law firm Sorainen, Parnu Conferences, Ragn-Sells, the Gambling Tax Council, Open Estonia Foundation, Fontes PMP, Ministry of Education and Research, Tallinn University and the Teach for All Network.

An introductory video of Youth to School may be found here: http://bit.ly/11DFFmn.