About Us

Petar Takev

I am a graduate of the “Vasil Levski” National Sports Academy in Bulgaria, where I completed two fields of study – Sports Journalism, specializing in sports commentary and broadcasting, and Pedagogy, earning a qualification as a Physical Education and Sports teacher. I later earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration from “New Bulgarian University” in Sofia.
My professional background combines education, communication, and entrepreneurship. I currently live and work on Nantucket, where I run my own business and am also involved in the restaurant industry.
As Principal of the Bulgarian School in Nantucket, I embrace this new role with a strong sense of responsibility and commitment to the continued growth of our school and its community. It is especially important to me that we help our children maintain a meaningful connection to Bulgaria through its language, culture, history, and traditions.

Zhaneta Marinov

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.

Tatyana Drumeva (Tanya)

Tatyana Drumeva (Tanya) is an experienced educator, trainer, and educational program coordinator with over 40 years of experience in teaching, youth and adult education, curriculum development, teacher training, and the coordination and administration of educational projects within both the school and higher education systems In Bulgaria. She is a former teacher in primary, lower-secondary, and upper-secondary school stages, with extensive experience in creating instructional content and conducting training programs for diverse groups of learners, including vocational education. However, the major part of her professional journey has been spent in higher education—at the "Dimitar A. Tsenov" Academy of Economics in Svishtov. For over 30 years, she held key positions within the Center for Professional Education (CPE) and postgraduate qualification structures, serving as an educational program secretary, adjunct instructor, and project coordinator. In this role, she administered continuing education programs, developed digital learning content in Moodle, and participated in accreditation, licensing, and professional development credit award processes for teachers. Additionally, she developed innovative training materials for employed and unemployed individuals, vulnerable populations, university students, children, and adult learners. She possesses deep knowledge of the Bulgarian educational system, instructional planning, student support, educational record management, and the implementation of international educational projects. Throughout her career, she has worked with learners from diverse backgrounds and age groups. Tatyana Drumeva holds a Master’s Degree in Economics with a specialization in Accounting from the "Dimitar A. Tsenov" Academy of Economics in Svishtov. Her supplementary qualifications include a professional teaching credential, as well as specialized training in andragogy, teaching methodology for children and adults, project management, and digital learning environments. She has extensive experience in the management and execution of national and international projects, including those funded under the Erasmus+ program, serving as a coordinator, researcher, and trainer. Among the initiatives she has successfully implemented are projects focused on digital entrepreneurial skills (ECO-VIBES), business continuity strategies for micro-businesses, the application of artificial intelligence in the HoReCa sector, and social entrepreneurship. She shares a profound interest in supporting and preserving the Bulgarian language, culture, traditions, and heritage within Bulgarian-American school communities.

Polya Dimov

Polуa Dimov has lived on Nantucket since 2012. She graduated with a bachelor degree from The International Business School in Bulgaria in 2011, major Accounting and Audit. After that worked at big corporations as Lidl and HP in Sofia. Currently she is running her small cleaning business on the island and is a substitute teacher at NIS and NES. Her passion is music and the colorful Bulgarian folklore. She has been part of the young choir ‘The Children of Pleven’ , now known as ‘The Bell’ in her hometown Pleven. Her love in folklore music comes from her roots - her grandmother was a folklore singer in North Bulgaria. Polya is teaching our students Bulgarian songs, dances and games. In her free time she loves to exercise, sing, dance and spend time with her family.

Kristina Hristova

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

Zhaneta Marinov