Daniela Petre is the founder and director of the accredited private kindergarten Dreamland and the holder of the international educational franchise FasTracKids in Romania, with over 18 years of experience in early childhood education, dedicated to the harmonious development of children through modern programs based on the theory of multiple intelligences, STEAM approaches, and the formation of essential life skills.

C&B: If we were to look at a narrative thread of your career, what were the key moments that defined you?

Daniela Petre: The narrative thread of my career is closely linked to a few essential strategic decisions: establishing Dreamland Kindergarten in 2007, acquiring the international educational franchise FasTracKids in 2010, and expanding by opening the second location in 2011. Each of these stages strengthened my vision of early childhood education and contributed to building a solid and respected educational brand.

C&B: What has been the biggest challenge you have faced throughout your career?

Daniela Petre: The biggest challenge was undoubtedly the pandemic period, which required a rapid and profound adaptation of the entire educational process. A major advantage was that the FasTracKids programs already had technology compatible with the online environment, which allowed us to transition efficiently and in a very short time. This period demonstrated our adaptability, the resilience of our team, and the robustness of the Dreamland educational model.

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you, regardless of obstacles?

Daniela Petre: From the very beginning, my dream was to create a place where children are welcomed with care, respect, and warmth, a space where they are seen, heard, and understood. I wanted Dreamland to provide not only a solid knowledge base but also to develop essential life skills: communication, social interaction, self-confidence, and autonomy.

C&B: How did you look at the beginning of your journey, and how do you feel you have transformed up to now?

Daniela Petre: The beginning, like for any entrepreneur, was full of challenges. In the first year, Dreamland started with only six children, two of whom were my own and four others whose parents trusted us from the very start. These children stayed with us, graduated from Dreamland, and are now adults, which deeply moves and honors me. Our growth has been organic, based on results, recommendations, and the constant consolidation of our reputation.

C&B: If we met with your team or collaborators, what do you think they would say about you?

Daniela Petre: I believe my team and collaborators would say that I am a fair, engaged, and approachable leader, a person who provides support, stability, and leads by example. I highly value authentic relationships and creating an environment where every team member feels appreciated.

C&B: What is the most important decision you have made that changed your trajectory?

Daniela Petre: One of the most important decisions was, in 2018, reorganizing operations by maintaining only one location, the one in Tineretului. This decision proved to be extremely wise, especially in the context of the 2020 pandemic. Another fundamental decision that profoundly influenced the direction of Dreamland was acquiring the FasTracKids franchise in 2010 and integrating these international programs into the kindergarten curriculum.

C&B: How would you define Dreamland’s educational philosophy, and what values are essential in the way you work with children?

Daniela Petre: Dreamland’s educational philosophy is based on a comprehensive and balanced approach to the child. We follow the Ministry of Education and Research curriculum for cognitive development, and through the FasTracKids programs, we complement this journey with the development of communication skills, critical thinking, collaboration, and self-confidence.

C&B: What makes Dreamland different from other kindergartens, both pedagogically and emotionally?

Daniela Petre: Dreamland stands out in the way it combines the rigor of national accreditation with the international educational innovation of FasTracKids. The “educational zig-zag” method, the use of interactive technology, and the constant focus on children’s emotional needs create an engaging and effective learning environment. Our children not only acquire knowledge but also develop real-life skills: communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership.

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you now, and which moments of the day bring you the greatest satisfaction?

Daniela Petre: My day begins in the morning, welcoming the children, which is an extremely important moment for me. I like being close to parents, providing them with real feedback about their child, and giving them the assurance that their child is seen and valued at Dreamland. The rest of the day is divided between administrative activities, visits to classrooms, observing interactions among children, and meetings with the team to ensure the coherence and quality of the entire educational process.

C&B: What values or principles guide you in what you do, and how do you apply them every day?

Daniela Petre: The values that guide me are quality, respect, responsibility, and genuine care for the child. Everything we have built at Dreamland is benchmarked against the standards I wanted for my own children, and this principle is reflected daily in our decisions and actions.

C&B: How was Dreamland Kindergarten born, and what inspired you to start an educational project dedicated to children?

Daniela Petre: Dreamland was born from a personal and profound need: to provide my children with a suitable educational space that I could not find in the existing public or private system at the time. This need transformed into a heartfelt educational project, which grew organically and today is dedicated to all children and families who cross its threshold.

C&B: What is the most common positive feedback you receive from parents, and how does it influence your way of working?

Daniela Petre: The most frequent feedback we receive from parents, especially those whose children have already graduated, is that Dreamland was the most beautiful period in their child’s life and that nowhere else was it the same. These words confirm that we are on the right path and are my main motivation to continue and constantly evolve.

Parents who seek a stable, modern educational environment that is deeply child-centered are invited to discover Dreamland and experience the difference between an ordinary kindergarten and one that truly develops character and life skills.

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Andreia Mitrea has 20 years of experience in educational leadership and learning entrepreneurship.

She co-founded Avenor College and Colina Learning Center, an innovative school that integrates the development of both children and adults.

She has also worked in the NGO sector, where she led leadership and transformation programs for public schools, contributing to the development of educational leaders and to changing organizational culture in education.

She is a mentor and consultant for founders of private schools and kindergartens in Romania and other countries, providing strategic support in defining educational, cultural, and leadership models.

She is a graduate of the Master’s in Educational Leadership at the Institute of Education, University College London (IOE, UCL) — one of the most prestigious educational leadership programs in the world.

Today, she leads OSCA (One School for Children and Adults), an initiative dedicated to building learning cultures for a better life and a better world.

C&B: Looking back, what were the key moments in your career?

Andreia: I have three turning points: when I understood that I could build an innovative school from scratch—and actually did it, at Colina Learning Center, which was the first school in the world designed to integrate learning for children and adults; when I realized the real impact of school culture, not just infrastructure; and when I discovered that adult development is the foundation of good education for children. As I often say: “Let’s be serious, adults are the real curriculum.”

C&B: What were the biggest challenges in launching OSCA?

Andreia: The main challenge was clearly conveying that children’s learning depends on adults’ learning. And showing that a learning culture can be built at home. That you can take ownership of your own development through a practical methodology with real results, not just through discourse or theory. When people take responsibility for their own growth and we provide the method, unexpected transformations happen.

C&B: Is there a constant ambition that has guided you?

Andreia: Yes. I deeply believe that learning done together can change lives. I am an active learner. That is my identity.

C&B: What were you like at the beginning, and how have you changed today?

Andreia: At the beginning, I was convinced that the solution lay in methods and curriculum. Now I know that the solution lies in people who keep learning continuously. I moved from “building schools” to “building learning cultures.” And that’s because I myself have undergone a radical transformation—physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. And I believe this transformation is accessible to everyone.

C&B: What do you think your team would say about you?

Andreia: That I have high standards, I always ask “What did we learn?”, and I care deeply about people’s real growth. And that I’m funny and laugh a lot when the work is good.

C&B: Is there a decision that changed your trajectory?

Andreia: Putting adult development at the center of education. And stopping the search for ready-made models, choosing instead to create them, grounded in serious research and practical results.

C&B: What would be a defining moment for OSCA?

Andreia: The first Expedition where I saw real changes in people’s everyday lives. When they said, “This is transformation.” It was the confirmation that the model works.

C&B: What differentiates OSCA from the rest of the market?

Andreia: At OSCA, learning is shared. Adults and children learn within the same process and use the same method—the Shared Learning Expedition. We don’t offer just inspiration or theory. We offer a method that can be applied every 6–8 weeks, with clear results.

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you?

Andreia: In the morning, I start with movement—Body First. It’s the foundation. Sometimes meditation and walking the dog as well. The day is about working with people and OSCA products. The evening is about relationships and community. I enjoy walking meetings, out in nature.

C&B: How do you see the evolution of education in Romania?

Andreia: Education is moving from institutions toward community and family. And the ability to learn together will become essential.

C&B: How did the idea for OSCA come about?

Andreia: I noticed that a child cannot surpass the level of the adult around them. Children learn by imitating real life. So we need to learn together. Simple and profound.

C&B: Future plans regarding OSCA?

Andreia: We currently work with adults (ages 24–99). Starting in 2026, we will expand to young people (18–24) and children (over 9). And we are building programs for private and public schools across the country.

Andreia Mitrea’s story is not about schools in the traditional sense, but about people who choose to learn intentionally, together. OSCA offers a paradigm shift: education begins with the adult and is built through culture, not just structure.

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