Nehir Özcan
Founder, ARCTICA
Nehir Özcan connects experience in Finland and Türkiye with pedagogical leadership, teacher development and institutional consultancy. Drawing on Finnish early childhood education practice, IB/PYP training and consultancy experience, she guides the development of bilingual, multicultural and inquiry-based learning environments. She is the founder of ARCTICA.
Expertise
Pedagogical leadership and quality assurance
Teacher mentoring, coaching and professional development
Curriculum design and evaluation
Inclusive and child-centred early childhood education
Child development, observation and assessment
IB PYP and inquiry-based learning
Bilingual and multicultural education
Family and stakeholder engagement
Organisational development and change management
Continuous improvement and reflective practice
Education and professional learning
Boğaziçi University: Master’s degree in Primary Education.
Nişantaşı University: Master’s degree in Psychology.
Ondokuz Mayıs University: Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education.
NorthWest University: Bachelor’s degree in Psychology.
Finland: Early Childhood Education Teacher Qualification.
IB: PYP training.
University of Oxford: Art and Psychoanalysis.
NGH: Certified Hypnotherapist.
Nova Academy: Trauma Therapy and CBT.
Other certifications: Play therapy, story therapy and NLP coaching.
Professional experience
Y.E.S Päiväkodit – City of Vantaa, Finland: Development Teacher / Pedagogical Developer.
INTO School, Finland: Deputy Manager and Head Teacher.
Sunshine Early Learning Center, Finland: Early Childhood Educator.
Ministry of National Education, Türkiye: Early Childhood Educator.
Public schools, Türkiye: School Pedagogue / Psychologist and Family Therapist roles.
Teacher training and education consultancy: IB/PYP, inquiry-based learning, inclusion and child-centred pedagogy.
Academic contribution
Her research and publications address views of children’s nature, emotional climates in learning environments, teachers’ attitudes across sociocultural contexts and family involvement.