More about The SPEAKERS

PLENARY SESSION

day 1 | 10.11.2022

Alexander Angelov

Chief Executive Officer, Center for Creative Training

Alexander is mostly dedicated to innovation and developing new partnerships and projects. He is a Google certified innovator and a member of the Commission for innovative schools at the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science.

Prof. Carmel Cefai

Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Malta

Prof. Carmel Cefai is the Director of the Centre for Resilience and Socio-Emotional Health and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Malta. He was a visiting lecturer at the The School of Education at the University of Leicester in the UK, an honorary visiting scholar at Flinders University, Australia and a Fulbright Scholar at the Prevention Research Center at the Pennsylvania State University in the USA.

Luigi Pessina

Director, Central and Eastern Europe, Public Sector & Education Sales, Intel Corporation

Luigi Pessina oversees the Public Sector and Education Sales in Central and Eastern Europe. In his role, he is focused on engaging a cross functional team to drive ICT technology adoption into Education and Governments. As well as fostering key partnerships across governments, industry, OEMs and organizations to develop national technology programs. Luigi has 20+ years’ experience in executing Go-to-Market programs, Content Marketing, and Event Management.

Nataliya Miteva

Manager Education Programs, Google

Natalia Miteva is Manager Educational Programs at Google. She is the representative of the Finnish organization for educational innovations HundrEd for Bulgaria and a Board Member of the Bulgarian Association of Software Companies (BASSCOM), where she is responsible for the "Education" Department. For nearly 10 years before that, she was the Program Director "Good Education and Work Skills" at the America for Bulgaria Foundation. Nataliya is a member of the international investment community of social impact investors at the University of Oxford.

Elena Stoilova

Director of the mathematical high-school "Prof. Emanuil Ivanov", Kyustendil

For many years, Elena Stoilova has been a mathematics teacher at the mathematical high-school "Prof. Emanuil Ivanov" in the city of Kyustendil, and since 2019 she has been its director. She has a master's degree from the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics at the Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" - major in mathematics and postgraduate specialization in informatics.

Kevin Sherman

Cloud Education Solutions

Kevin Sherman holds a BA in History and Psychology and an MA in Education from Stanford University (USA). He is a certified Library Media Specialist in Washington State. In 2009, he started working as an ICT Education Specialist in the University of Cape Town’s Schools Development Unit. Currently Kevin is Director of Professional Development at CloudEDU. His areas of expertise include both developing the organization's team of trainers and helping schools across the country create professional development programs that promote innovative teaching and learning strategies. He is a Certified Google Education Trainer and a Google Certified Innovator.

Antoaneta Hineva

Еxpert in the "Education" Directorate at the Municipality of Varna

Antoineta Hineva has extensive experience in working with educational institutions in the field of digitalization, STEM and innovation. She was a natural sciences ейзеиш and head of the Regional Department of Education-Varna. She has a rich professional career as a chemistry teacher in "Dr. Petar Beron" Secondary School - Varna. She actively participates in educational forums and conferences for sharing experience about innovative practices. She is interested in educational management.

Assoc. Prof. Marina Chibisova

Moscow State Pedagogical University

Marina Chibisova is Associate professor at Moscow State Pedagogical University. She has published more than 50 academic articles and materials for educators and school counselors. Marina is a member of the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology. Till December 2019 she has been Editor in chief of the “School counselor” magazine issued by the Publishing house “September the 1st”. She has private practice as a therapist and parent counselor since 2003.

ASSENKA HRISTOVA

Institute for Research in Education

Assenka is Founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Research in Education. As an education expert, she is part of various expert teams of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the World Bank and the European Commission working in the field of education and skills development. She is a permanent member of the Working Group for Vocational Education and Training and the Green Transition of the European Commission. Assenka is a member of the Resource Group at the Vocational Education and Training Directorate in the Ministry of Education and Science - Secretariat of the Advisory Council for Vocational Education and Training.

Svetoslav Dragiev

Head of Operations, Foundation "Lead by example"

Svetoslav has over 20 years of business and management experience both in large international companies and in fast-growing companies from the Bulgarian industry. His main experience is in marketing and sales. At the foundation, he will manage the construction, development and planning of its strategic processes. The foundation's main priorities will be improving the quality of life and education in Bulgaria, as well as increasing sports activity in our society.

Vyara Dukova

Director of Vocational High School of Computer Modeling and Computer Systems, Varna

For Vyara teaching is not only a profession, but a vocation. She is a teacher of informatics and information technology by education, director by title and a dreamer.

Dr. Katerina Vasileva

Principal of "Exarch Antim I" Primary School, Plovdiv

Doctor in the field of theory and management of education with 17 years of experience in the management of an educational institution. Honorary lecturer at Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv in the Master's program "Educational Management". Trainer of pedagogical specialists. Member of the Management Board of the Union of Employers (Managers) in the Public Education System in Bulgaria.


PARALLEL SESSIONS

day 1 | 10.11.2022

Magdalena Maleeva

WIND of change

By 2005, Magdalena Maleeva was one of the highest ranked professional tennis players, reaching number 4 in the world. Since her retirement from elite sport, she has dedicated her career to the things she feels like a mission. Maleeva co-founded Wind Of Change, a company supporting the decarbonization efforts of various organizations, Gorichka, a nonprofit organization raising awareness of climate and environmental solutions, and Harmonica, a b-corp certified organic food company. Magdalena has not stopped her connection with tennis and is co-owner of the "Maleeva" tennis club and the "Maleeva" tennis academy.

Stela Kovacheva

School psychologist, "Vasil Levski" Primary school, Razgrad

Stela Kovacheva is a school psychologist at "Vasil Levski" Primary school, Razgrad. She is a member of the leadership team at the school, which develops strategies and projects for the modernization of the educational process. Stela is the author of an internal school system for measuring the progress of innovative practices and maintaining their monitoring. She is trained as an educational coach in the program of the America Foundation for Bulgaria. She supports teachers in implementing new practices and building an inclusive school environment.

Gergana Berova

Project Manager, WIND of change

Gergana is a Project Manager at WIND of change and a facilitator of Climate Fresco. WIND of change aims to support various organizations to reduce their carbon footprint. Climate Fresco is a gamified approach to explaining climate change in an accessible and fun way.

Marina Tomova

Deputy director, "Hristo Botev" Primary school, Aheloy

In addition to the role of deputy асиеъшди at the school, Marina Tomova teaches computer modeling and information technology, as well as English language. She is a certified Google trainer and training expert at the Center for Creative Learning.

Kalliopi Mathioudaki

2nd Secondary School Glyka Nera, Athens, Greece

Kalliopi Mathioudaki teaches Greek language and history. She has MSc in Rhetoric (Rhetoric: Theory and practice) from NKUA and is a Ph.D. candidate in Classical Studies. She is a mentor in Rhetoric, an educator in Freinet’s Pedagogical Principles and a school life advisor. She has been educated in crisis management, school bullying, group empowerment, educational theatrical techniques and democratic education. She speaks three languages.

Iglika Angelova

KITE

Iglika is a pedagogical expert with extensive national and international experience. As a school teacher and teacher trainer, she shares practices applicable to a wide range of pedagogical cases - from bilingualism to children refugees. She is a leader in the development and practical application in school of teaching materials, interactive lessons and high-quality teaching aids for teacher qualification courses. She develops innovative didactic materials and ICT-based products. Iglika is also an educational consultant for companies developing teaching materials.

Juliana Atanasova

Director, OU "Hristo Botev", Aheloy

Director of "Hristo Botev" Primary School, Aheloy for 14 years. She graduated with a major in elementary school pedagogy at Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv.

Veneta Ivanova

Head teacher, Chernorizets Hrabar Secondary School, Plovdiv

She has been teaching English in junior high school and high school level at "Chernorizets Hrabar" University since 2003.

In 2019, she joined the training programs for working with Google tools for education and is a certified Google trainer level 2. From 2019, she coordinates the team for introducing a 1:1 training model in the educational process, and from 2021, also for the preparation of the Google Referral School application.

Mariela Tumbova

Senior teacher, Chernorizets Hrabar Secondary School, Plovdiv

She has been teaching geography and economics in junior high school and high school at the "Chernorizets Hrabar" University since 2007.

In 2019, she is included in the training programs for working with Google tools for education and is a certified Google trainer level 2. Part of the team that teaches in a 1:1 training model in the educational process.

Tsvetelina Patseva-Koleva

Teacher, Chernorizets Hrabar Secondary School, Plovdiv

Born in Plovdiv. She has a master's degree from the University of Veliko Tarnovo, majoring in "The Balkans in international relations of the 19th and 20th centuries". Postgraduate qualification at Sofia University, specialty "Teacher of Geography". From 2022 - Google certified trainer.

PLENARY SESSION

day 2 | 11.11.2022

Tatyana Ivanova

Space Camp Turkey Alumni

Tatyana follows her dream of becoming the first Bulgarian Woman in Space. She is a trainee of Project PoSSUM and a future student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, as well as the Space Ambassador of the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. In 2018, Tatyana graduated from Space Camp Turkey and won the individual award “Outstanding camper”, a year after that she attended the Advanced Space Academy in Huntsville, Alabama, USA. She plays the drums and she published a poetry book when she was 14.

Dimitrios SIskos

Senior Manager, EduAct, Greece

Dimitris Siskos is a founding member of Eduact with over 10 years of experience in STEM & educational robotics and a LEGO® Education Academy Teacher Trainer. During these years he designed and implemented educational programs for over 10,000 students. Additionally, as an educational consultant, he has trained and mentored more than 5,000 of coaches/teachers to participate in the FIRST LEGO League programs. His advice to teachers and parents played a key role on the development of educational innovative processes in Greece.

Mihail Nenov

Director of the "Alexander Georgiev Kodjakafaliyata" Primary School, Burgas

Mihail Nenov is the director of the "Alexander Georgiev Kodjakafaliyata" Primary School in Burgas - the first newly opened municipal school in the 21st century. For its remarkably short history, the school has already established itself as an educational benchmark synonymous with innovative education. Mihail's previous professional roles include Bulgarian language and literature teacher, a part-time lecturer in theory of literature at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", author of methodological solutions for business training and pedagogical consultant for a number of national and international projects.

Margarita Stoilova

Deputy director of "Lyuben Karavelov" Primary school, Ruse

Margarita has been working at "Lyuben Karavelov" Primary school for 20 years. She has a Master's degree in Informatics and Information Technology. She describes the school as a pioneer, which has given her the opportunity to continuously improve her qualifications over the years - meaningful implementation of technologies, school in the cloud, participation in seminars and discussions. She was part of the innovative school application team. In 2018 and 2019, she has publications on the topic of education management. During the last school year, she was the implementation coordinator of the 1:1 model and LEGO for education.

Anika Petrova

Director of the “Vasil Levski” High School, Ardino

Anika has over 25 years of managing experience. As a manager and leader she knows how to fine-tune the team by inspiring, setting directions and creating an appropriate environment for achieving goals.

Ani Angelova

Director of "Ivan Vazov" Secondary school, Varshets

Ani graduated from Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv, majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. She worked as a teacher and educator at the College of Economics in Varshets. For 25 years, she has been a director of "Ivan Vazov" Secondary School, Varshets. The school has been innovative since 2017, with the latest innovation project being "Standard+", ending in 2023.

PARALLEL SESSIONS

day 2 | 11.11.2022

Lena Parova

Director of “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” Primary School, Vetren

Lena has been working in the educational system for 31 years, of which 21 years she has been a school director. She believes that educational improvement depends on setting clear goals, working with like-minded people and engaging the community, not only on regulatory framework changes. She is convinced that we all have a role to play in student success. Through respect, understanding, trust, faith, rules and cooperation between all parties, teachers become more confident, students more engaged and parents more empathetic.

Dedislava Ralcheva

Deputy director of the School for children with impaired vision "Louis Braille"

Desislava has been working at the School for children with impaired vision "Louis Braille" since 1999. She has developed good communication skills by working with colleagues, with visually impaired people, with parents of visually impaired kids, with personal assistants, etc. She likes to experiment in the application of information and communication technologies. Desislava knows how to encourage students' creativity. She motivates her students to participate in projects to support the development of the educational institution, multicultural educational environment, non-discrimination. She tries to constantly improve herself in order to be useful to her students.

Miglena Nikiforova

Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation

Miglena Nikiforova is a certified educational manager. She is experienced in various educational and state institutions. Desislava participated in developing The state educational standards for acquiring professional qualifications from the List of professions for vocational education and training. She is a trainer of pedagogical specialists on curricula approved by the Ministry of Education and Science. She participates in analyzing the quality of school results as an external expert at the National Institute of Education.

Iva Boneva

Chief Executive Officer at Association for Shared Learning ELA

Iva Boneva is the founder and Chief Executive Officer at Association for Shared Learning ELA. She has a Masters' Degree in Social Policy and Social Development from the University of Manchester and a PhD in Social Pedagogy. She has worked for Save the Children UK, The United Nations Development Programme, CRS. Iva is a Fulbright Scholar, Chevening Foreign and Commonwealth Office Scholar, German Memorial Marshall Fund Fellow, winner of the 2018 Educational Leader of the Year Award awarded by Center for Research and Innovation in Non-formal Education, honored with the DISES International Leadership Award and is awarded the Honorary sign of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria for outstanding contribution and merit in protecting children's rights.

Phd. Marcela Claudia Călineci

School counsellor at the Municipal Centre for Resources and Educational Assistance Bucharest (CMBRAE), Romania

She has relevant experience in school and career counselling, trainer (visible learning, communication, team building, project management, career development, resilience and talent management), curriculum development for subjects with focus on career guidance and personal development, participation in international Erasmus+ projects in guidance and counselling. Her motto: Joy, being, learning!

Luminița Doina Mitrofan

School counsellor at the Municipal Centre for Resources and Educational Assistance Bucharest (CMBRAE), Romania

She has an excellent experience in school counselling area with qualitative results for beneficiaries. Also, she is actively involved in international Erasmus+ projects related to guidance and career counselling and developing of the socio-emotional resources. Her motto: Never give up!

Valentina Venkova

Manager LEGO® Education and STEAM, Center for creative training

Valentina will help you choose and implement the most suitable LEGO® Education product in your organization, according to your specific needs and goals. She is responsible for related training, the development of LEGO® Education learning resources and actively interacts with educational specialists.

Stanislav Christov

Business development manager, Center for creative training

Proactively studies, describes and implements experience and knowledge gained through projects and partners of Center for Creative Learning. He participates in all stages of project implementation.

Svetlana Mihailova

Communities and Partnerships Manager

Svetlana has over 10 years of professional experience and personal excitement in the field of education. The first certified Google Educator teacher in Bulgaria and a certified mediator. She works with the community of the Center for Creative Learning - active people with ideas that change the educational environment in Bulgaria for the better.

Victoria Kuneva

Intel "Skills for Inovation" Project, Center for creative training

She believes in the power of innovation as a pillar of positive change in education and therefore supports and disseminates the Intel project - "Skills for Innovation". In her work, she relies on empathy and reliability.