Educational Leadership Program Class of 2008
Anabella Castillo, Panama
Anabella has been working as a teacher with multi-impaired children, ranging from birth to 20 years old, at the Panama Institute for Special Education. Anabella has diplomas in special education and English. While at Perkins, she acquired skills,knowledge and experience in the area of multiple disabilities and deafblind education. After graduation, she will return to Panama and provide training and services to teachers, parents and children with multiple disabilities in urban and rural settings.
Lesya Khomyak, Ukraine
Lesya has worked as a teacher for children who are deafblind at the Education and Rehabilitation Center “Lewenia”. She has a degree in preschool education and studied special education at the Dragomanov University. While at Perkins, Lesya studied the education of children who are deafblind with focus on curriculum development. After graduation, she will resume her position as a teacher and take a lead role in improving the curriculum and services for children who are deafblind.
Ivana Macokatic, Croatia
Ivana has been working as a teacher for children who are deafblind at the Mala Kuca Center for Multi-Disabled Visually Impaired Children. She has a Masters degree in special education from University of Zagreb. While at Perkins, Ivana concentrated on the education of children who are deafblind and program development for multi-impaired children. After graduation, she will return to Mala Kuca and oversee the deafblind program.
Lyneth Motlhabane, South Africa
Lyneth has been working as a teacher for children with multiple disabilities at the Bartimea School. She has a degree in early childhood education and a diploma in education from Northwest University. At Perkins, Lyneth concentrated on the education of children who are blind with additional disabilities with an emphasis on curriculum development. After graduation, Lyneth will return to Bartimea where she will coordinate services for children who have multiple disabilities.
Anna Paykova, Russia
Anna has been working as a psychologist and early intervention specialist for multi-impaired children, from birth to seven years old, at the Center of Early Intervention “Lekoteka”. Anna has a psychology and teaching degree from the Moscow Psycho-Pedagogical University. At Perkins, Anna focused on early intervention with special emphasis on working with families, communication and assessment. After graduation, Anna will resume her position and hopes to work with university students studying special education.
Jacqueline Riveros Lopez, Colombia
Jacqui has been working as an occupational therapist with children who are multiimpaired at the Fundacion Ideas. She has an occupational therapy degree from the National University of Colombia. At Perkins, Jacqui studied deafblind education and focused on occupational therapy. After graduation, she will oversee the unit for children with multiple disabilities where she hopes to combine the delivery of occupational therapy and educational services.
Lina Sabbagh, Lebanon
Lina came to Perkins from the Lebanese School for the Blind and Deaf, where she has been working as a classroom teacher and art instructor. She has a teaching certificate for secondary education. Over the last year as an ELP participant, she concentrated on all aspects of the education of children who are deafblind and multi-impaired. After graduation, Lina will return to her school and take a lead role in the establishment and running of a program for children who are deafblind.
Carolyn Sanchez, Chile
Carolyn has been working as the coordinating teacher with multi-impaired and deafblind children at Center Cidevi, associated with the Metropolitan University in Santiago. She has a Masters degree in multiple disabilities from the Metropolitan University. At Perkins, she focused on the education of children who are deafblind and multiply disabled. After graduation, Carolyn will resume her position and share her knowledge by conducting training programs.
Rina Wigati, Indonesia
Rina came to Perkins from Helen Keller Indonesia where she worked with children who are deafblind. Rina has a university degree in English. At Perkins, she studied the education of children who are deafblind or visually impaired with multiple disabilities; she concentrated on daily living skills, communication, orientation and mobility, and vocational skills. After graduation, Rina will work as a teacher and oversee teacher training programs for children who are deafblind or multiply disabled.
Valentina Yordanova, Bulgaria
Valia has been working at a school for children who are blind with additional disabilities. She has Masters degrees in the education of the visually impaired and preschool education. At Perkins, Valia concentrated on the education of school age children with multiple disabilities, with an emphasis on curriculum and program development. She completed the program in 2008 and resumed her former position.
Zhou Lili, China
Lili has been working at the Nanjing School for the Blind as a preschool teacher. Prior to this position, Lili worked as a kindergarten teacher in a public school setting. She has a teaching certificate in preschool education from Jiangsu Education Institute. At Perkins, she concentrated on preschool services including early intervention for infants. After graduation, Lili will return to Nanjing where she will be responsible for preschool services, staff training and working with families.
