Bahçeşehir’s deep-rooted, English-intensive preschool.
Since 1995, we have been a place where children grow with both everyday English and a deep connection to nature. Since 2008, we have continued that journey in our current building—with the same garden and the same commitment.
From a small garden to a well-rooted school.
In 1995, when Bahçeşehir was still a newly developing neighbourhood, our school was founded by educator Serda Büyükkoyuncu in a small house with a garden. What began with just a handful of children soon grew into one of the area's most trusted and beloved preschools.
Known for many years as EuroSun Preschool, our school has welcomed children in its current campus since 2008.
In 2025, we had the privilege of becoming the next stewards of this remarkable school. We embraced not only the responsibility of leading an educational institution, but also the legacy of nearly three decades of dedication, the trust of generations of families, and a culture shaped with care and love. We see it as our greatest responsibility to honour that legacy, preserve its values, and carry it forward by building upon the strong foundation that came before us.
One belief has remained unchanged throughout our journey: every child deserves a warm, inspiring place where they can grow up with everyday English, connect with nature, explore with curiosity, create with confidence, and learn through meaningful experiences.
Today, we continue that journey with the same commitment, alongside a dedicated team—many of whom have been part of our school family for years. Much has changed over time, but our love for children, our respect for their individuality, and our belief in what a truly exceptional preschool should be have remained exactly the same.
Four things that make us who we are.
English is part of daily life, not a lesson slot
Turkish and English live side by side all day — at play, at mealtimes and in the garden.
Learning with nature
Soil, water, trees and living things; our best classroom is our 280 m² garden.
Deep, lasting relationships
The faces a child sees every morning don’t change; trust begins there.
Every child at their own pace
From caterpillar to butterfly; development is a journey, not a race.
The faces you’ll entrust your child to.
Fulya Koçali
Fulya Koçali graduated from İstek Schools Belde High School in 2001 and earned her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Yeditepe University in 2006. But the idea of creating a preschool began much earlier. As a child, she didn't experience the warm, nurturing school environment she longed for, and quietly promised herself that one day she would create a place where children would feel safe, happy, and truly at home. Over time, that promise became the vision that shaped her path.
After graduating from Yeditepe University, she moved to London, where she lived and worked for sixteen months. Experiencing daily life in a multicultural, multilingual city reinforced her belief in the value of early exposure to English. That perspective continues to shape Sun Preschool today, where English is woven naturally into everyday life. Alongside her years of practical experience, she is currently pursuing a degree in Child Development at Istanbul University, further strengthening her knowledge with academic study.
As Co-Founder of Sun Preschool, Fulya approaches every aspect of the school with a simple question: Would a child truly feel happy here? From the way classrooms are arranged to the experiences in the garden, from supporting teachers to building relationships with families, that question guides every decision. For her, a good preschool is not only a place where children learn, but where they feel they belong.
Mehmet Koçali
Mehmet Koçali graduated from Cağaloğlu Anadolu Lisesi, one of Istanbul's most established high schools, in 1998, and completed his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration at Istanbul University in 2002. His connection to his school community never ended at graduation: he is one of the founding leaders, and currently Member of the Supervisory Board of the Cağaloğlu Anadolu Lisesi Alumni Association (CALMED), where graduates continue to support the school and each other across generations.
Throughout his professional life, education has never been a side interest — it has been a constant. Holding a Master Instructor certificate, Mehmet took on the role of trainer and mentor for the teams he managed across different businesses, turning every workplace into a classroom. His volunteer work with the Ayadee Foundation, where he is also a member of the board, extended this commitment beyond the workplace, contributing to projects aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including a food hackathon and programs educating cohorts of young learners.
This lifelong dedication to empowering students as an educator naturally led Mehmet to become the first partner and technology sponsor of Connect Me. Founded in 2020 to make personalized learning accessible for all, Connect Me is the United States' largest student-run, free online 1-on-1 tutoring service. By pairing K-8 students with trained high school and college tutors, the platform provides vital support to help every learner succeed. Today, the initiative boasts a network of over 1,000 tutors and volunteers who have facilitated more than 60,000 tutoring sessions. For Mehmet, supporting an educational ecosystem whose student founders have gone on to study at institutions like Stanford, Princeton, and Purdue has been especially meaningful.
Today, as Co-Founder of Sun Anaokulu, Mehmet brings together over two decades of management experience and his deep-rooted passion for teaching and learning. He oversees the school's operations, technology, and administration so that teachers can focus on what matters most: the children.
E. Feyza Atabay
Feyza Atabay graduated from Pertevniyal Lisesi, one of Istanbul's most historic high schools, in 1983 — where she was not only a student but also the captain of the school's handball team, an early sign of the leadership and team spirit that would define her career. She went on to complete her degree at the Marmara University Faculty of Education in 1987, beginning a life dedicated to teaching.
Since 2013, she has been part of the Sun Preschool family, guiding the school as Principal with decades of experience in education. Over the years, she has become the steady heart of the school — a familiar, trusted presence for children, parents, and teachers alike.
She believes that a great preschool is built the same way a great team is: with trust, discipline, encouragement, and the certainty that every member — no matter how small — has an important role to play.
Alev Aykent
Alev Aykent graduated from the Istanbul University Department of Psychology in 1986 and went on to complete her master's degree in Applied Psychology at Istanbul Ticaret University. With a career devoted to understanding the human mind, she brings deep clinical insight into the emotional and developmental world of young children.
Since 2016, she has served as Sun Preschool's consultant clinical psychologist, working closely with teachers and families alike. Her role goes far beyond observation: she supports children through their developmental milestones, guides teachers in responding to each child's individual needs, and offers parents a trusted, expert voice during the earliest and most formative years of their child's life.
Her presence at Sun Preschools reflects one of the school's core beliefs — that a child's emotional wellbeing is not separate from their education, but the very foundation of it.
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