About Exploratores
Exploratores was founded in 2023, inspired by the enthusiasm we witnessed from students while volunteering at a local elementary school’s STEM club. The students’ curiosity and excitement inspired us to create more opportunities for school-aged children to explore the wonders of STEM fields.
With this mission in mind, we developed a curriculum that combines a solid foundation in STEM concepts with fun, hands-on activities.
Our Mission
At Exploratores, we are dedicated to creating an encouraging and fun learning environment that fosters a love for science, engineering, and tinkering. Our goal is to enrich each child’s educational journey and spark a lifelong passion for exploring and learning.
Our Staff
Iskra Smiljanic, Ph.D.
Founder and Instructor
Iskra, a licensed clinical psychologist in NJ and NY, has a passion for nurturing curiosity and fostering a love for learning in individuals. With her background in psychology, she creates a warm and engaging environment that sparks students’ curiosity, encourages inquisitiveness, and helps them experience joy and a sense of accomplishment in the learning process.
Boris Iyutin, Ph.D.
Program Developer and Instructor
Boris, who holds a Ph.D. in Particle Physics from MIT, has always been passionate about science. His journey began in school, where he both participated in and organized physics Olympiads. Now, he is dedicated to creating similar enriching learning opportunities for kids. With his expertise and love for science, Boris has developed our curriculum to provide a strong foundation in STEM, inspiring the next generation of curious minds.
Sofia Handzy, M.S.
Instructor
Sofia holds a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Robotics from Northeastern University. She is deeply passionate about design engineering and enjoys inspiring kids to explore, tinker, and learn in a safe and supportive environment. During her time at Hasbro, Sofia worked as a Toy Engineer, where she combined creativity and technical skill to bring ideas to life. She’s excited to share her hands-on experience and love for STEM with the next generation of engineers and innovators!