About Us
Bulgarian Education Center, Co. was established in the beginning of 2015. Our mission is to preserve the Bulgarian language and culture in our children. We are proud of the fact that we can provide the opportunity for them to learn a second language on the island of Nantucket. Our professional team strives to create a suitable environment for the students, in order to support the development of their ability to quickly and efficiently switch between the two languages. Our goal is to prepare the kids to adapt to different situations, to develop their problem-solving skills and logical thinking, to help them feel comfortable on the stage, to grow up active and to have the desire to learn other languages. Our programs help them build and maintain strong relationships with their families in the United States and in Bulgaria.
Principal
Rositsa Stefanova
Rositsa Stefanova graduated from the University of Plovdiv ‘Paisii Hilendarsky’ in Bulgaria 2014 with a Bachelor degree of Pedagogy. She came to Nantucket in 2011 with the work and travel program as a student. For couple of years she has been exploring the island by doing gardening. Back in 2012 she became ‘Miss Bulgaria in USA’ in Chicago, IL. As being many years a professional gymnast and a coach, in 2018 she founded her own club ‘ACK Rhythmics Gymnastics’ Nantucket, MA. Rositsa strongly believes in education and endless opportunities it gives us.
Our Teachers
Zhaneta Avramova
Zhaneta is currently studying Early Childhood Education at the Cape Cod Community College, Massachusetts. Prior to moving to Nantucket, Zhaneta was a student in the South-West University 'Neofit Rilski', Bulgaria, with major in History and minor in Early Childhood Education. Teaching children has always been her childhood dream. She has lived on Nantucket for several years and the island has become incredibly special to her. Zhaneta is committed to keeping Bulgarian traditions and language and passing it on to the next generation. After obtaining her degree from the Cape Cod Community College, she wishes to open a daycare center on Nantucket. She is a natural educator and her kind and decent personality is highly appreciated by her students. In her free time, she likes to go snowboarding and to travel and explore new places. She also likes to go back to her home country Bulgaria.
Gergana Neykova
Gergana Neykova is one of the founders of the Bulgarian Education Center in Nantucket. She graduated from the University of Forestry, Bulgaria in 2007 with a BA in Landscape Architecture. She had had the idea for a Bulgarian school on the island for years and in February, 2015 her idea became reality. Gergana has been working with kids ages 1 - 6 since she moved to the United States. She has gained a lot of experience, which is now being shared with her students. She is married and has a daughter who is a student at the Bulgarian School. Gergana is a part-time working mother who takes pride in keeping the Bulgarian language, culture and traditions alive. She is a positive and trust-worthy person who distributes all her love and strength to people who surround her. She spends her free time with her family.
Mihaela Ivilova
Mihaela Ivilova graduates from the Medical School in Plovdiv 'Mara Maleeva' with major Dental Technology. She has been living on Nantucket for 23 years. She is a Teacher Assistant at the Nantucket Elementary School and a bookkeeper at Fairwinds Nantucket Counseling Center. Her free time she spends with her family and friends. She loves traveling, reading books and painting.
Board of Directors
Virginia Kostadinova
Virginia is one of the founders and current Director of the Bulgarian Education Center. She maintains efficient Accounting and record-keeping system for the organization. She graduated from the University of National and World Economy, Bulgaria in 2004 with BA in Informatics, Economics and Business Administration. Virginia moved to the United States shortly after she graduated and came to Nantucket by way of New York City. She is currently working as a financial controller for a local company. Virginia is a dynamic and multitasking person, with exceptional organizational skills. She is able to work under pressure and is really motivated to handle with same passion her duties at the Bulgarian School on Nantucket. She spends her free time with her family.
Gergana Neykova