Mrs. Vanya Zankina holds two Masters’ degrees (in Civil Engineering and in Industrial Management) and has completed post-graduate degree in Information Management at the State Department of Science & Technology, Moscow, Russia. Her language skills enabled her to teach foreign languages to children and adults back in Bulgaria.

In the USA, she worked for the National Network of Digital Schools. She developed the online curricula in German language for all levels for several US Cyber schools, including the Pennsylvania Cyber School.

Mrs. Zankina has been teaching Bulgarian language to adults as well as to children at the Bulgarian school “Otets Paissii” since 2011. She developed several curricula in Bulgarian language and adapted those to the various ages and skill levels of children of Bulgarian origin born in the United States.

Mrs. Zankina is very committed and dedicated to preserving and promoting Bulgarian cultural heritage and Bulgarian language.

We are pleased to introduce a new addition to our teacher team - Vanya Borisova.  Vanya will be teaching Bulgarian Language and Social Studies to our youngest students – the pre-schoolers.  With extensive teaching experience and a passion for promoting learning and engaging with kids, she made the perfect addition to our ever evolving school. 

Vanya, her husband Anton, and their 2 kids Bobby (9 years old) and Darina (4 years old) joined our Bulgarian family last year. They have quickly become an inseparable part of the community and showed passion and dedication to promoting the Bulgarian culture and ensuring best possible environment and support for the kids. 

Please join me in welcoming Vanya as our pre-school teacher! We are looking forward to a successful and exciting school year!

Our Bulgarian folk dance instructor,  Aleksandar (Sasho) Zankin, has been teaching Bulgarian folk dances since 1974.  He holds Master’s degree in Bulgarian Folk Choreography and is a professionally qualified Choreographer-Pedagogue. He was the artistic director of many folk dance groups and ensembles in Bulgaria and a teacher in Bulgarian folk dance at the public school with intensive study of Bulgarian dance folklore “Christo Fotinov” in Sofia. He has taught Bulgarian folk dances at many workshops in the USA, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.  He has been awarded several prestigious awards by the Bulgarian state for his teaching and choreographic work. With his groups and ensembles he also won national and international awards.

Responsibilities: 

• Presides at all parent, parent/teacher, and School Board meetings, determines agenda, sends out summaries and outlines/coordinates next steps based on decisions made during meetings. 

• Maintains and signs all documentation requested by the Ministry of Education. 

• Together with the Secretary, stays up to date with Ministry of Education requirements, changes, documentation required to keep school in good standing and maintain funding. 

• Communicates with parents in a timely manner about school events, important updates and information relevant to the function of the school. 

• Works with School Board to determine school fees for the following year based on expected funding from the Ministry of Education and the needs of the school. 

• Assesses school needs for instructors/teachers. 

• Works to establish teachers and instructors based on school needs.

• Resolves conflict in a respectful manner in accordance with school values (between kids, parents, or parents and teachers). 

• Enforces disciplinary actions whenever needed. 

• Prepares and maintains current an emergency contact book listing out emergency contact information and any known conditions of active students. 

• Ensures that the emergency book stays in the BMNECC office and location is known by all School Board members.

​Responsibilities: 

• Communicates with the Ministry of Education to ensure we are providing the right documentation to remain in good standing.

• Stays up-to-date with requirements from the Bulgarian Ministry of Education. 

• Prepare financial report and other end of year school reports required by the Ministry of Education. 

• Ensures Director and teachers are aware of the requirements and updates in a timely manner. 

Responsibilities: 

• Board member of the parent organization, represents the interests of the school at BMNECC board meetings 

• Assists in all major decisions for the school.

• Ensures all parents have paid their school tuition. Issues receipts within 4-6wks of final payment deadline. 

• If Director position becomes vacant, assumes responsibilities of Director.   

Responsibilities: 

• Identifies opportunities for participation in various community and ethnic events

• Communicates with event coordinators to confirm details around age groups to perform, time allotted.

• Coordinate with our instructors to ensure that we have the right program format, timing, dances to address the needs.

• Coordinate delivery of music

• Coordinate logistics of the event: ensure parents know specifics of the event including timing and location; any specific instructions and needs outlined either by our own instructors or by the event coordinators. 

• Work with communications chair to provide information to parents.

• Provides information about our program and participants to include but not limited to: list of music, length of music, short description or intro to performance, names of performing students. 

• Confirms kids’ participation, ensures instructors and organizers know which kids and how many are participating.

​Responsibilities: 

• Lead the organization of 2 school parties: Christmas and Graduation Responsible for coordinating food and decoration for parties Ensures that date and time are reserved in the Club calendar.

​Responsibilities: 

• Maintains website with current information, updates weekly (Wednesday updates)

• Emails parents to highlight any needed information or relevant updates and reminders (Wednesday). 

• Identifies opportunities and promotes the school to aid with fundraising or membership drive.

​Responsibilities: 

• Inventories and maintains the costumes and accessories of the group

• Maintains a list of all costumes and accessories loaned to students. 

• Determines needs (new costumes / repairs) based on available costumes and kids in school in any given year.

• If new costumes are needed, works with Director and Assistant Director to outline and present to BMNECC board.

• Ensures repairs are completed – chair has freedom to determine how repairs are done based on best judgement (that could include enlisting parents to help with repairs).

​Responsibilities: 

• Takes pictures and videos at major events and gatherings Works with communication chair to upload on website or social media with parents’ permission.

​Responsibilities: 

• Determines 2 fundraising opportunities during the year. Coordinates with parents to ensure participation and clarifies expectations. 

• Outlines specific needs for parents and seeks volunteers.