Meet the Rella’s Spielhaus Team!
Barbara Rellstab, Founder/Program Director, Preschool Group Teacher
Barbara was born and raised in Zurich, Switzerland. Growing up in a family of theater professionals, musicians and writers (mother Ursula a journalist for NZZ) her interest for the performing arts was sparked early on. After the Matura B (Latin & English major) she went to the Schauspiel Akademie Zürich (today’s ZHDK.ch) which at the time was under the direction of her late father, Felix Rellstab. After winning several performance grants and graduating as the Valedictorian, Barbara performed 5 years at German and Swiss “Stadttheater”.
Since 1997, when Barbara came to New York, she performed extensively Off-Broadway (ie lead role(s) in “The Donkey Show” Dir. Diane Paulus), founded the International Department at the International Fringe Theater Festival, and taught voice and Gyrotonic/Gyrokinesis. Barbara also spent 8 years as a Manhattan Real Estate Broker and eager to use the 6 languages she speaks, traveled the world as a producer for Bugatti International for 3 years.
When her son Oliver was born in 2009, Barbara sensed the need for a “Mommy and Me” Story Time format in German. In 2011 “Lieder & Geschichten” was created, first as picnic in Central Park, then at the Central Harlem Library and soon in various studios from Brooklyn to White Plains with a total of 16 classes per week. As Barbara got more familiar with the German Language Families of New York, she decided to open the Harlem “Rella’s Spielhaus”, the first German Language Daycare in Manhattan which ran for 8 years. In 2019, the construction for the new Upper West Side Center began.
Barbara completed three semesters at Columbia University’s Teachers College to pursue her MA in Bi-lingual and Bi-cultural Childhood Education and changed to Brooklyn College where she can works towards her Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education online.
Barbara is the recipient of the 2024 German Language School Conference (GLSC) Merit Award and serves as the Chair of the Annual National Reading Contest of the GLSC.
In her free time, Barbara enjoys cooking and baking, and she loves to see friends perform on theater stages and in concerts. She currently serves as an officer on the Board of Managers of the Condominium she lives in with her son.
Together with the invaluable Rella’s Spielhaus Team, Barbara has been as committed as ever to serve the New York German Language Community.
Saima Sarfaraz, Educational Director
Saima Sarfaraz was born in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and moved to New York City over twenty years ago. She earned both her BA and MA in Early Childhood Education and is a New York State – certified educator. Saima has worked in the field of Early Childhood Education for more than ten years, teaching and supporting children from infancy through 2nd grade.
In the past four years, Saima Sarfaraz has taken on leadership roles that focus on strengthening program quality and supporting best practices in early childhood education. She has worked in both private and Department of Education programs in Manhattan and Brooklyn, giving her a broad range of experience in supporting diverse communities of children and families. She is deeply committed to building strong relationships with children and families, ensuring that each child is nurtured, supported, and encouraged to grow in a safe and engaging environment.
She is excited to be part of Rella’s Spielhaus and looks forward to contributing her experience, passion, and leadership to help the program continue to thrive and grow.
Lisa Hammel, Toddler Group Teacher
Lisa Hammel was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, and moved to the United States in 2012.
When Lisa moved to the US, she lived in various states all across the US, including Arizona, Florida, and the Bay Area, before she moved to New York City in December of 2022. Everywhere she lived, she was a childcare provider for private families with, at times, multiple children and also children with special needs. In 2017, she graduated from Daytona State College in Florida with an associate's degree. Lisa’s special interest lies in the earliest stages of child development. To see the infants and toddlers blossom in her care is her true passion.
Lisa has joined the Rella’s Spielhaus Team in April 2023 and is excited to be the Toddler Assistant Teacher. She lives in midtown Manhattan with her husband Brett who runs a financial start-up and her dog Tanuki who enjoys long walks in Central Park.
Mirlinda Gashi, Preschool Assistant Teacher
Mirlinda Gashi was born in Kosovo and raised in Germany, completing her school education up to 9th grade. She then continued her education in Kosovo, which allowed her to further develop her academic and professional skills. After completing her studies, she began a career as a German teacher, that she devoted five years to. During this time, she shared her passion for the German language and culture, helping her students improve their language skills.
Mirlinda then transitioned into management, where she spent another five years. During this time, she expanded her leadership and organizational skills, gaining valuable experience in team coordination and development.
Mirlinda moved to Manhattan in 2023 with her 3 children to join her husband who moved here to further his career.
Linda, as we call her at Rella’s, is excited to join the Rella’s Spielhaus family, where she can return to her German language roots and her passion for teaching. With her professional care, versatility, and love for children, she is eager to make a meaningful contribution to the children in her care and the Rella’s Team.
Laura Schulz-Kroliczak, Assistant Toddler Teacher
Laura was born in Kiel, Germany, and moved to New York with her husband in 2024. She has spent much of her life surrounded by children. Whether caring for children in kids’ clubs at hotels in Italy and Austria, working as an au pair in Australia, babysitting in New York, or being the “cool aunt” back home in Germany, she has always enjoyed being part of children’s everyday lives and watching them learn, grow, and discover the world around them.
When working with children, Laura believes in creating a warm and trusting environment where every child feels safe, seen, and encouraged to be themselves. She enjoys supporting their natural curiosity and giving them the space and confidence to become more independent at their own pace.
In her free time, Laura enjoys Yoga and Pilates, spending time outdoors, and discovering new places. She loves cooking, trying out new cafés, and relaxing with a good book in the park.
Laura is excited to join Rella’s Spielhaus as the assistant toddler teacher. She especially enjoys working with this age group, as it is a time filled with curiosity, new experiences, and exciting developmental milestones. Supporting children as they become more independent and watching their individual personalities unfold is something she finds incredibly rewarding.
Elke Nominikat, Saturday School Lead Teacher; Online German Teacher; Marketing Manager
Born and raised in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, surrounded by mountains, music, and stories — a mix that sparked Elke’s lifelong love for language and human connection. She went on to study German Linguistics and Psycholinguistics at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, earning her master’s degree before stepping into the emerging world of online communities. Long before “social media” became a global force, Elke was already shaping digital spaces as an Online Community Manager.
Since 2001, Elke has lived and worked in New York City, building a multifaceted career at the intersection of language, creativity, and culture. After more than a decade managing online communities, she co-founded glamglare, an indie-music platform, and expanded her work into managing indie rock bands — a path that rooted her deeply within the city’s creative and cultural landscape.
Elke first joined the Rella’s Spielhaus family in the summer of 2023 for its Summer Camp, returned in 2024, and in 2025 took on the role of Co-Director, supporting the program with her signature blend of organizational talent, creativity, and warmth. During the year, she teaches the “Mommy & Me (& Dads, too!)” class, the Saturday School, and leads private online lessons — always bringing her caring, playful, and energetic spirit to the classroom.
Elke is the author of more than a dozen books on computer and travel topics. Outside of teaching, she nurtures her creativity through drawing, painting, photography, and cooking healthy meals. She also finds joy in caring for her urban patio garden filled with flowers and herbs.
Astrid Otte, After-School Lead Teacher; Substitute Teacher
Astrid was born in Bremen, Germany, where she grew up surrounded by the city’s rich musical and cultural traditions. After completing her schooling with her Abitur, her love for languages, history, and the arts led her to Göttingen, where she started her studies in Historical Musicology, Systematic Musicology, and Italian. After completing her undergraduate studies, she moved to Hamburg where she continued her studies, receiving a Master of Arts in the same disciplines. She also participated in the Erasmus Programme, studying abroad for a semester in Pisa, Italy.
After her studies, Astrid worked as an editor, and a managing editor for various leading television production companies in Hamburg and Köln. Then she moved to Bangkok, Thailand, with her husband. Here she continued working and welcomed her first son. Soon after afterwards she moved with her family to New York, where her second son was born. Here, Astrid worked as a freelance author for a German publishing house, writing a wide variety of family books.
In 2021, Astrid started teaching German to young learners at various German language schools, specializing in preparing children for official language exams. She joined the team at Rella’s Spielhaus in February 2025 as a teacher in the afterschool program and in the German Summer Camp. Astrid enjoys watching children grow in their language skills, strengthen their connection to German culture, and flourish in a warm and supportive environment. When she is not in the classroom, she enjoys running through Central Park and immersing herself in the many cultural experiences that New York has to offer.