Teachers of CLCP in Boston area, MA, New England

Program Director: Irena Stanic Rasin

Program Manager: Irena Matulic

Teachers: Jasminka Delic Friedman, Ivana Grgljanic, Biserka Ralic and Kristina Shimkus

Assistant Teachers: Svjetlana Ducharme, Ana Stipanovic and Martina Snajder

BIOGRAPHIES

Jasminka Delić Friedman - Teacher
Jasminka is an English as a Second Language Teacher in Canton, MA. She holds a Masters Degree in Education and has previous work/academic experience in Business Management. She speaks several other foreign languages and has taught Croatian to American students in a Boston language school in the past. Jasminka was born in Vinkovci, Croatia. She graduated in Economics from Zagreb University and spent 6 years in China afterwards studying and working for American companies. Jasminka came to US in 1989. She lives in Needham, MA with her husband and two children, Lara (8) and Ella (7) who are students in our Croatian Program.

Svjetlana Ducharme (Lana) - Assistant Teacher
Lana was born and raised in the city of Metkovic in the Dalmatian region of Croatia. She spent winters dancing at a local folk group, and summers enjoying the "Sunce, More i Miris Mediterana" ("the Sun, the Sea and the smell of the Mediterranean"). Both in high school and college youth organizations, she held the position of president. She completed college first in Croatia then in USA, and obtained awards from both institutions. Lana has given Croatian folk dancing lessons, as well as seminars about coping strategies during cultural adjustment to life and work in USA. Lana has worked as a Graphic/Web Designer since 1996.

Ivana Grgljanić - Teacher
Ivana was born and raised in the city of Vinkovci, in the east part of Croatia. She is a senior at the Teacher College in Osijek. Ivana's teaching experience includes teaching at Ivana Mazuranic Elementary School and English Language School, the Globe. Ivana likes reading, singing, dancing, playing piano, swimming and rollerblading. In her free time she has danced with a folk group Sumari in her hometown. Ivana is also very proud of her medals and diplomas in athletics. She was a runner for many years. Ivana is very interested in programs improving children's creativity and ability to expess themselves in their own way.

Irena Matulić - Co-founder and Program Manager
Irena is an architect by profession (she holds Master of Architecture Degree from Boston Architecture College). Her teaching experience includes teaching at Boston Architectural College. Irena was born in Split, Croatia and both her parents are from island of Brač. She studied architecture at University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Irena lived in Sukošan near Zadar, Croatia and in Salzburg, Austria. She has been living in Boston since 1994 with her husband and two children, both involved at the CLCP.

Biserka Ralić - Teacher
Biserka holds a B.A. in Linguistics from Boston College. She speaks several languages and has over thirty years of experience in interpreting. At the CLCP, which she helped pilot in 2007, she teaches the Croatian language to adults.

Irena Stanić Rašin - Co-founder and Program Director
Irena was born and raised in Croatia, where she obtained her B.A. in English and Italian. She has been living in the U.S. for over 15 years. Irena holds a M.A. degree in Italian and teaches Italian in Arlington. Together with some other CLCP parents, she is a member of the Croatian folk band "Pajdashi". In 2007 she received George P. Faulkner Annual Citizens Award for Outstanding Service to Youth by Arlington Boys and Girls Club. She is the mother of one former, one current and one future CLCP student.

Kristina Shimkus - Teacher
Kristina holds a B.A. in English and Italian Language and Literature from University of Zagreb. She has 14 years of experience working with international organizations, non-profits and academic institutions. Kristina is currently employed by Cultural Care Au Pair as a Local Childcare Coordinator. She lives with her husband and two children in Newton, MA.

Ana Stipanović - Assistant Teacher
Ana was born in Kotor Varos in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Apart from working with the children at CLCP, Ana has volunteered for five years as a Religious Education teacher. Her background is in administration and accounting and she is currently working at a bank. She is the mother of two CLCP students.

Martina Šnajder - Assistant Teacher
Martina was born and raised in the city of Sisak, located in central Croatia. She received her veterinary assistant’s degree in 1998. Martina is currently a Croatian international student studying at the University of Massachusetts in Boston. She is seeking a degree in Health Sciences and would like to eventually become a nutritionist. She obtained her Associate’s Degree from Bunker Hill Community College in 2007, graduating with honors. This is Martina’s fourth year in United States. She greatly enjoys being an assistant teacher for the youngest group of students at CLCP as well as being an active member of the Croatian community in the greater Boston area.


			CLCP Team

	Program Teachers Students Classes Contact Us Links		Program Director: Irena Stanic Rasin Program Manager: Irena Matulic Teachers: Jasminka Delic Friedman, Ivana Grgljanic, Biserka Ralic and Kristina Shimkus Assistant Teachers: Svjetlana Ducharme, Ana Stipanovic and Martina Snajder BIOGRAPHIES Jasminka Delić Friedman - Teacher Jasminka is an English as a Second Language Teacher in Canton, MA. She holds a Masters Degree in Education and has previous work/academic experience in Business Management. She speaks several other foreign languages and has taught Croatian to American students in a Boston language school in the past. Jasminka was born in Vinkovci, Croatia. She graduated in Economics from Zagreb University and spent 6 years in China afterwards studying and working for American companies. Jasminka came to US in 1989. She lives in Needham, MA with her husband and two children, Lara (8) and Ella (7) who are students in our Croatian Program. Svjetlana Ducharme (Lana) - Assistant Teacher Lana was born and raised in the city of Metkovic in the Dalmatian region of Croatia. She spent winters dancing at a local folk group, and summers enjoying the "Sunce, More i Miris Mediterana" ("the Sun, the Sea and the smell of the Mediterranean"). Both in high school and college youth organizations, she held the position of president. She completed college first in Croatia then in USA, and obtained awards from both institutions. Lana has given Croatian folk dancing lessons, as well as seminars about coping strategies during cultural adjustment to life and work in USA. Lana has worked as a Graphic/Web Designer since 1996. Ivana Grgljanić - Teacher Ivana was born and raised in the city of Vinkovci, in the east part of Croatia. She is a senior at the Teacher College in Osijek. Ivana's teaching experience includes teaching at Ivana Mazuranic Elementary School and English Language School, the Globe. Ivana likes reading, singing, dancing, playing piano, swimming and rollerblading. In her free time she has danced with a folk group Sumari in her hometown. Ivana is also very proud of her medals and diplomas in athletics. She was a runner for many years. Ivana is very interested in programs improving children's creativity and ability to expess themselves in their own way. Irena Matulić - Co-founder and Program Manager Irena is an architect by profession (she holds Master of Architecture Degree from Boston Architecture College). Her teaching experience includes teaching at Boston Architectural College. Irena was born in Split, Croatia and both her parents are from island of Brač. She studied architecture at University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Irena lived in Sukošan near Zadar, Croatia and in Salzburg, Austria. She has been living in Boston since 1994 with her husband and two children, both involved at the CLCP. Biserka Ralić - Teacher Biserka holds a B.A. in Linguistics from Boston College. She speaks several languages and has over thirty years of experience in interpreting. At the CLCP, which she helped pilot in 2007, she teaches the Croatian language to adults. Irena Stanić Rašin - Co-founder and Program Director Irena was born and raised in Croatia, where she obtained her B.A. in English and Italian. She has been living in the U.S. for over 15 years. Irena holds a M.A. degree in Italian and teaches Italian in Arlington. Together with some other CLCP parents, she is a member of the Croatian folk band "Pajdashi". In 2007 she received George P. Faulkner Annual Citizens Award for Outstanding Service to Youth by Arlington Boys and Girls Club. She is the mother of one former, one current and one future CLCP student. Kristina Shimkus - Teacher Kristina holds a B.A. in English and Italian Language and Literature from University of Zagreb. She has 14 years of experience working with international organizations, non-profits and academic institutions. Kristina is currently employed by Cultural Care Au Pair as a Local Childcare Coordinator. She lives with her husband and two children in Newton, MA. Ana Stipanović - Assistant Teacher Ana was born in Kotor Varos in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Apart from working with the children at CLCP, Ana has volunteered for five years as a Religious Education teacher. Her background is in administration and accounting and she is currently working at a bank. She is the mother of two CLCP students. Martina Šnajder - Assistant Teacher Martina was born and raised in the city of Sisak, located in central Croatia. She received her veterinary assistant’s degree in 1998. Martina is currently a Croatian international student studying at the University of Massachusetts in Boston. She is seeking a degree in Health Sciences and would like to eventually become a nutritionist. She obtained her Associate’s Degree from Bunker Hill Community College in 2007, graduating with honors. This is Martina’s fourth year in United States. She greatly enjoys being an assistant teacher for the youngest group of students at CLCP as well as being an active member of the Croatian community in the greater Boston area.