Director, School Partnerships
Primary Function
Builds Rustic Pathways’ school partnerships across Europe and Asia. Designs custom group travel with educators, from the first conversation to the final itinerary.
Professional Summary
Matija Paunovski joined Rustic Pathways in 2012 as a manager trainee. Her first years were spent running programs in the field rather than planning them from an office.
In Fiji and Thailand she managed community service programs. She went on to advise families on programs in South Africa, Canada and across Asia.
Since moving into school partnerships she has worked with educators across Europe and Asia. Schools come to her with dates and learning goals, and leave with a route built around them.
Core Responsibilities
School Partnerships
- Develops custom group travel programs for European and Asian schools
- Partners with educators from initial concept through final itinerary
- Shapes each route around a school’s own dates, curriculum and learning goals
Program Design
- Turns a school’s learning objectives into a day-by-day itinerary
- Builds proposals covering route, pricing, staffing and timing
- Coordinates with in-country teams on what a route can deliver
Field Experience
- Managed community service programs in Fiji and Thailand
- Advised families on programs in South Africa, Canada and across Asia
- Began as a manager trainee across Rustic Pathways projects worldwide
Countries She Covers
- Europe: Italy, Austria, Belgium, the Balkans, Albania, Andorra
- Asia: Mongolia, Nepal
- With Rustic Pathways since 2012
Direct Contact For
- School group travel in Europe and Asia
- Custom program design for schools
- Proposals, routes and pricing for a school’s own dates
- Curriculum-led itinerary planning