Elections 2026
Jana Ftáčnik Pastorková
Jana studied management and education in Slovakia and received her TESOL certification in Vancouver, Canada. Over the years, she has taught English in a wide variety of settings – from kindergarten and university classrooms in Slovakia to an Indian slum, a Roma village, an Icelandic high school, a Canadian summer camp, and a Finnish elementary school.
Her time working in a Canadian association BCPVPA, has made her believe in the power of teachers' associations in shaping and improving the quality of the entire educational system.
She currently teaches at the Secondary Vocational School of Industrial Technologies and at Gymnázium Púchov. For the past 3 years, she has served as Chair of SCELT and now hopes to pass this responsibility on, and continue to support the chamber as its treasurer.
You can find out more about Janka in her CV.
natalie lackovic
Natalie Lackovič Križanová is an Australian born bilingual biology and English teacher based in Slovakia. She teaches English, academic English, and biology in English at a bilingual grammar school, mentors students and teachers, and creates practical CLIL and bilingual teaching materials. Since 2023, she has served as Vice President of SCELT, where she has helped organise national and international ELT events, coordinate speakers and partners, prepare professional development materials, support grant applications, and strengthen SCELT’s visibility.
She was named Top Teacher of Foreign Languages in 2020 and was a Global Teacher Prize Slovakia finalist, reaching the top 30 in 2024 and the top 10 in 2025.
She believes in practical, accessible teacher development and in making even the subjects students fear most feel meaningful, useful, and enjoyable.
You can find out more about Natalie in her CV.
Zuzana Lehotai
I am an English language teacher at a bilingual grammar school in Košice, where I hold the responsibility for the English language section.
With a rich background in academia, I previously worked at the university, specializing in English language teacher training. My passion lies in classical education, believing in its efficacy in preparing students for the challenges of the future job market. I am dedicated to equipping my students with the linguistic skills and critical thinking abilities necessary for success in an increasingly globalized world. For the last three years, I was an active SCELT executive board member.
You can find out more about Zuzana in her CV.
stephanie wilbur
Originally from California, but based in Bratislava since 2019, Stephanie Wilbur has been working in English Language Teaching since 2004 when she started her teaching career by receiving her Cambridge CELTA qualification.
She also holds a Cambridge DELTA qualification and a Master’s degree in International Education. Over the last 20+ years, she has lived and worked as a teacher and teacher trainer in Guatemala, Slovakia, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Bahrain, Jordan, and Colombia, and has worked on CELTA courses in an additional 15 countries. She has also held positions as a University Lecturer, Academic Manager, Teacher Training Manager, Young Learner Coordinator, ICT Coordinator, and IELTS Speaking Examiner.
Currently, Stephanie spends her time exclusively teaching and training pre-service and in-service teachers. She has been a CELTA Trainer since 2015, and a DELTA Tutor (for modules 1 and 3) since 2021, as well as being a lecturer in the English Language, Literature and Didactics department at Comenius University since 2024.
You can find out more about Stephanie in her CV.
Sonia Petras M.A.
I am a dedicated language educator and entrepreneur with a strong commitment to advancing excellence in English language teaching and professional collaboration within the ELT community.
As the owner and director of a language school, Linga s.r.o., I have gained extensive experience in curriculum development, teacher support, student engagement, and educational leadership. Although I manage the day-to-day responsibilities of running a school, I continue to teach regularly because staying connected to the classroom is extremely important to me. It allows me to be more understanding of both teachers’ and students’ needs and keeps me actively engaged with the realities of language learning and teaching. Effective English teaching is especially important to me because I believe language learning has the power to open opportunities, build confidence, and connect people across cultures.
I am passionate about helping both teachers and learners develop meaningful, practical communication skills through engaging and learner-centred approaches. I strongly value high-quality teaching standards, continuous professional development, and innovative methods that make learning accessible, engaging, and relevant for students of all ages. Throughout my career, now more than 20 years, I have focused on creating inclusive learning environments that encourage growth, collaboration, and lifelong learning.
I enjoy connecting with educators, sharing best practices, and supporting initiatives that strengthen the quality and visibility of English language teaching.
By standing for the SCELT elections, I hope to contribute my experience, energy, and collaborative approach to help further the organisation’s mission and support its members across the teaching community.
You can find out more about Sonia in her CV.