TEAL Charitable Foundation
Interested in joining the TCF Board or one of the committees? Please read the Terms of Reference for the Board Position or Committee that you are interested in and then contact us at tcf@bcteal.org.
Chair, Director: Communications
Laura Blumenthal
Laura has been an ELT professional, educating both English language learners and teachers, since 1988. She retired from Douglas College in September 2021. She has been on the TCF board and the BC TEAL board on and off for many years. She has now served on the TCF board since 2021.
Vice-Chair, Director: Fundraising
Karen Densky
Karen has been an EAL teacher and teacher educator for 30 years. She has spent 12 years on the BC TEAL board in various positions including President. Karen is recently semi-retired and looking forward to working with the TCF to create fundraising opportunities that celebrate and support EAL learners and educators.
Interim Treasurer
Olga Gonokhova
Olga brings to the table over two decades of experience in the realm of English education.Currently she is teaching EAP on post-secondary level. Deeply committed to supporting education for newcomers to Canada, Olga has been a BC TEAL member since 2017.
Secretary
Tom Jensen
Tom Jensen has been involved in EAL for over thirty years through teaching, administering, presenting and curriculum developing. He is the author of English Around the World. He uses his experience to mentor new teachers as well as re-invigorate experienced ones. He is the Director of Studies at Bayswater, Vancouver.
Past Chair
Michael Galli
Michael Galli is respected for his lifelong advocacy and commitment to our profession. Michael has a long history of organizing and fundraising for the TCF Refugee Award and the Taiga Galli Memorial Refugee Award. Michael is a TESL Canada Lifetime Member.
Director: Awards
Mardy Arenas
Mardy Arenas, Director at ILSC Vancouver, brings nearly two decades of experience in international education. She started as a teacher in Canada, Japan, and the US, and has also held leadership roles at EC English, EF Education, and Kaplan International. Active in professional organizations like NAFSA and Languages Canada, she’s dedicated to advancing language education.
Member at Large
Jas Gill
Jas is the Associate Director of Instruction and Learning at the English Language Institute at the University of British Columbia. She’s worked in the field of EAL since 1988 as an instructor, a consultant and a senior administrator and has served on boards and conference committees of professional organizations in Canada and abroad.
Member at Large
Currently vacant
Member at Large
Currently vacant
Recent past directors include Raisa Lysenka, Jennifer Pearson Terell, Carol May, Virginia Christopher, Cindy Leibel, and many more.