Teachers | Bulgarian School of Minnesota

Directors of Bulgarian School of Minnesota – “Saints Cyril and Methodius”

President, Director

Mihail Changalov

Misho is from Smolyan, a town located in south-central Bulgaria in the heart of the Rhodope Mountains. He graduated from Technical University of Sofia and holds an Engineering Degree in Computer Science. Misho is excited about technology, physics and mathematics as well as music and sports.

President, Director

Meglena Lilova

Меglena (Megi) Lilova grew up in Dobrich, a small town in North-Eastern part of Bulgaria located only 30 km from the Black Sea. She study economics and accounting in her home town, but later she moved to Sofia where she pursued her passion and obtained her Masters in Psychology.

Meet Our Teachers and Board Members

Elena Momtcheva

Artistic Director, Board Member

Elena's journey commenced in Sliven, a town nestled in the historically significant Northern Thrace region of Bulgaria. From a tender age, she found herself immersed in a family of accomplished musicians, singers, and dancers ...

Yana Ganeva

Board Member, Teacher

Yana grew up in Sofia where she obtained her Master's degree in Psychology. She moved in Minnesota in 2013 with her family. Her two kids were born here and have been students in our school since 2016.

Spasimir Bodurski

Treasurer, Financial Director

Daniela is originally from Nova Zagora, a town located in the Upper Thracian Plain in the southeastern part of Bulgaria. She graduated Law from the University of National and World Economy in Sofia and worked as a lawyer in Sofia until she moved to Minnesota in 2010.

Hristina Markova

Teacher

Hristina moved from Bulgaria to Minnesota in 2003 to pursue an MBA degree from the Carlson School of Management. She helped found the Bulgarian school of Minnesota to build a strong community and promote the Bulgarian traditions in the Twin Cities area. Hristina is currently a volunteer teacher at the school in Bulgarian language and history.

Pamela Marindoneva

Teacher

Pamela Bennewitz hometown is the Rose valley in Kazanlak. Her passion is learning foreign languages and exploring new cultures. Her major is applied linguistics with French and Spanish which she acquired from the university of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria.

Iliyana Beneke

Teacher

Iliyana Beneke has been a teacher in Bulgaria and Minnesota for 17 years. She holds a Masters degree in EFL from Plovdiv University in Bulgaria, and an English as a Second language license from the State of Minnesota and Bulgaria.