
Board of Directors
Our board of directors consists of a professionally diverse team of individuals who each bring unique perspectives to the ongoing development of program supports.

President
Nancy Threan Loraine
Nancy Threan Loraine’s varied career includes having served as Director of Missions, a Trustee for Durham District School Board, General Manager of a Chamber of Commerce, and self-employment in public relations. Born in the Dominican Republic, Nancy remains deeply interested in education and is determined to provide high quality educational opportunities for children in her homeland.

Vice President
Sue Bruyns
Sue Bruyns 35 years of experience in education, includes roles as a classroom teacher, Principal and System Principal. Sue truly appreciates the opportunity to support and inspire new leaders. She was immediately inspired by the devotion of both the Canadian and Dominican educators. This shared commitment to improving student learning through effective teaching practices will always be at the heart of TMA.

Treasurer
Wayne Louie
Wayne Louie is a subject-matter expert in computer technology and cybersecurity, having retired from a Senior Manager role at AMD, working with numerous tech giants. A graduate of University of Waterloo, he wrote his first program in 1973 at age 13 when punch cards were the norm, and has worked in many different industries since then.

Director
Heather Benjamin
An entrepreneur for 25 years, Heather has been described as a creative genius that likes to make things beautiful and functional at the same time. Most recently Heather became the Executive Director for Salvation Army Jackson’s Point Retreat & Conference Centre. Married to Shaun and mother to Jenny, she is passionate about her community, happy to serve and helping TMA expand on marketing.

Director
José Antonio Lopez Ventura
José Antonio Lopez Ventura is a visionary. He is also an electrical engineer, lawyer, pastor and community activist in Santo Domingo Este, Dominican Republic, who has dedicated his life to serving others. An essential partner, José is known for his wisdom and commitment to education.

Director
Juan Pablo Liriano Santana
Juan Pablo Liriano Santana is a native from the Dominican Republic, having immigrated to Canada in 1976. Juan Pablo taught for twenty-one years, at the secondary level, and retired in 2007. Before retiring he co-founded Canadian Aid For Education with the mission to provide education opportunities to vulnerable people in the developing world. Juan Pablo has been a TMA site liaison and coordinator in Santiago/La Vega for several years.

Director
Denise Taylor-Edwards
Denise Taylor-Edwards is retired educator and self-styled global citizen with a passion for teaching/learning, travel, language and intercultural experiences. After several years as a high school Spanish teacher in central New York, she immigrated and continued her career teaching English to newcomer adults and adolescents with in London, Ontario. She has been part of the TMA ‘family’ since 2012.

Director
Peter Colpitts
As an entrepreneur, Peter Colpits has been involved in education having provided hundreds of student placements in his business of Colpitts Design Inc., Uxbridge. Peter has provided design, product development, and prototyping services for over 34 years to customers in Canada and the USA. Specializing in rapid prototyping and aluminium injection moulding, reverse engineering, fabrication of prototypes, and short run productions.

Director
Dr. Leonor Elmúdesi
Born in Santo Domingo, Leonor Elmudesi was the co-founder of the Lux Mundi Educational Community and currently serves as its General Director. She created the Ethics for Life chair that has been taught at the institution since its inception. In addition, she has been an adviser to EDUCA and has joined the Board of Directors. Her abstract from her doctoral thesis was the basis of the Miracle of Consuelo.

Director and Pedagogical Consultant
Dr. Beverley Freedman
Dr. Beverley Freedman is a retired Superintendent of Programs with the Durham District School Board. Bev’s multiple engagements with education ministries and organizations provincially, nationally and internationally have positioned her as a noted authority on pedagogical leadership. Bev is a sought out presenter at education conferences and is a noted leader on collaborative school reviews.

Honorary Director
Laura Elliott
Laura Elliott is currently working as the Executive Director of the Council of Ontario Directors of Education, supporting Directors of Education from Ontario’s 73 publicly funded school districts. With more than 25 years in senior leadership roles, and experience on post-secondary education boards, Laura’s depth of knowledge of education is extraordinary.

Honorary Director
Georges Boissé
Georges Boissé is a retired career diplomat introduced to Teacher Mentors Abroad while serving as Canadian Ambassador to the Dominican Republic. Georges is a vital member of our organization whose wide-ranging international experiences are particularly valuable.
Are you interested in volunteering with us?
Join our mentor team to support educators in the Dominican Republic. We're always looking for Canadian educators and bilingual interpreters who want to make a meaningful difference in education.