“I never say one thing and do the other” – Director Polyakova tells us what principles guide her work
6 October 2025 09:15
EXCLUSIVE
Vitaliia Polyakova, principal of Kyiv Gymnasium #109, shared the main principles that guide her daily work. She emphasized that she is honest and principled.
“Honesty. I am always frank with children and my colleagues. They appreciate it. I never say one thing and do another,” the director said in an interview with the "Komersant Ukrainian" YouTube channel.
She also emphasized that she always tries to be attentive and not indifferent.
“For example, the phrase ‘I love you’ can be said in different ways: “Put on your hat”, “I’ll wash the dishes”, “I’ll wipe the table”, “I’ll help you”. It’s all about love.
And we have to understand that, for example, the phrase “put on a hat” is not a remark, but a manifestation of love and care.
The problem of society today is that the virus of indifference is coming to the fore. The doctor does not care what the patient will do there. A teacher doesn’t care if a student has solved an example. It shouldn’t be like this,” she believes.
Vitaliia Poliakova is the director of Taras Shevchenko Lyceum #109 in Kyiv, located in the Pechersk district of the capital. She is also a PhD in Psychology (2018), a senior researcher at the Laboratory of Psychodiagnostics and Scientific and Psychological Information at the H.S. Kostiuk Institute of Psychology of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine.
on September 2, 2025, Polyakova found herself at the center of a public outcry when she did not allow students to attend class because they were wearing shorts. This incident became a topic of discussion in the media and among the parent community.
Commenting on the incident, Vitalia Polyakova explained that it was not about “fashion” or “dress code” but about the basic safety of schoolchildren. In the context of war and constant air raids, students should be dressed in such a way that in case of danger they would be comfortable and safe in shelters, she explained.
