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Contributors

Meet the people who made the National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project possible.

The team also extends gratitude to the Toronto Catholic District School Board for their groundwork towards a National LINC/CLIC Curriculum Framework.

Principal Writers

Carol Derby

Principal Writer,
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Carol Derby has been working in the EAL field for almost 30 years, primarily in settlement language. She began her teaching career abroad and moved into the settlement sector in 2001. She has a master’s degree in Adult Education and is a certified intercultural practitioner. She has sat on numerous local and national boards, including the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB), New Language Solutions, and the National Language Advisory Body (NLAB). 

She currently works at Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS), where she has been a LINC instructor, curriculum developer, team lead and manager. Her consultancy work includes the Language for Success project with the CCLB, and this project, Principal Writer for the National LINC Curriculum Guidelines with Achēv.

Setsu Kawahara

Principal Writer,
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Setsu Kawahara is one of the principal writers for the National LINC Curriculum Guidelines, focusing on EAL Literacy and CLB Stage I. Previously she has worked as the YMCA Of Halifax/ Dartmouth Provincial Small Centre Supervisor, overseeing the North Shore LIP and the settlement, language, HIPPY, CNC and SPELL programs, and also as the Literacy/ Accessibility Support supervisor at ISANS, after years as a literacy instructor and PBLA Lead.

With an extensive background of more than 20 years in EAL, Setsu is also a language assessor, a PBLA Lead Teacher PLAR adjudicator and facilitates courses for instructor training courses for the CCLB. She participates in CLB mapping panels, various working groups pertaining to newcomers and their language goals, and continues to develop curricula and facilitate professional development sessions in PBLA and EAL Literacy.

Contributing Writers

Emily Albertsen

Contributing Writer, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Emily Albertsen is an EAL instructor, writer, editor, and instructional designer. She has eighteen years’ experience teaching EAL literacy. Emily believes that access to education is a human right and is passionate about helping learners develop language and literacy, reach their goals, and connect with their communities. Emily develops materials and resources for learners and instructors. She was the editor and primary writer of Learning for LIFE: An ESL Literacy Handbook and A Practical Guide to Teaching ESL Literacy. She was the lead developer of the Post-TESL courses at Bow Valley College and has extensive experience designing and delivering professional development for EAL instructors. She is also a regular writer for the CCLB and has worked on many projects, including the multilevel modules, ESL for ALL, and ESL for ALL Support Kit. Emily’s research interests include literacy, reading and writing, assessment, task-based language teaching, trauma-aware practice, and compassion fatigue.

Justine Light

Contributing Writer, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Justine Light has been a College/ University instructor for close to 25 years. She has worked primarily in English language teaching, teacher education and academic English programs. Her current faculty role is as the Learning and Development Lead at NorQuest College, supporting the development of new programs. She maintains a strong connection to the classroom and teaches in different College programs throughout the year. Justine has been 
a consultant, writer and project manager on numerous provincial and national projects, partnering with CBC, ATESL, TCDSB, CCLB and ACHEV.  She has given literally hundreds of professional development workshops for pre- and in-service EAL instructors sharing her passion for language teaching and learning. Justine has received several awards including the ATESL Lifetime membership, ATESL Innovation award, and, most recently, the ACIFA Distinguished Instructor Award.

Kathy Chu

Contributing Writer, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Kathy’s passion for English language learning began as far back as 2004 when a combination of a traveling bug and an education degree took her to Taiwan for four years to teach English as a second language. After returning to Canada, she began working as a LINC Instructor in Calgary, Alberta. She has continued her career in the LINC Program working as a PBLA Lead Teacher, Content Developer, Online Courseware Writer and LINC Program Supervisor. She continues to draw inspiration from the learners, instructors, and writers she has had the privilege of working alongside.

Maria Kenward

Contributing Writer, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Maria Kenward has been a LINC Instructor with several organizations in Metro Vancouver for the past decade, primarily working in blended and online learning environments.  Prior to her work in LINC, she spent time working as an instructor, curriculum developer and program coordinator for international student programs. She has a Bachelor of Education (Artists in Community Education), Post Graduate certificate in ELL and Professional Master of Education from Queen’s University. 
She first learned about LINC and the settlement sector while completing TESL certification through Douglas College and has enjoyed working in the sector since then.   In addition to her work as a Contributing Writer for the National LINC Curriculum Guidelines (NLCG), she is a Courseware Writer 
for the National LINC Online Curriculum (NLOC) with Achēv.

Rachel Genders Boyd

Contributing Writer, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Rachel Genders Boyd is a linguist and language educator originally from the UK.  After spending several years working in public education in Germany and private language academies in France and Spain, she moved to Canada where she began to work in the language and settlement sector as a LINC instructor, as well as a program coordinator and course mentor to new instructors. With her in-depth knowledge of language acquisition and curriculum development, she single-handedly conceptualized, designed and wrote a multi-level online LINC course for Collège Boréal. Shortly after this, she joined the National LINC Online Curriculum as a content writer, creating and writing multiple units at different levels. She was delighted to be a part of the National Curriculum Guidelines project, which she believes will be an incredibly useful tool and resource for anyone in language settlement programs.

EDII Subject Matter Experts

Carmen Celina Moncayo

EDII Subject Matter Expert, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Carmen Celina Moncayo is a Master’s graduate in Community Psychology and Human Rights.  Originally from Colombia, she immigrated to Canada 25 years ago with her then 12 years-old daughter and is now a proud grandmother of a girl. Her dedication to empowering marginalized communities and championing human rights has been a driving force throughout 
her career.  Carmen Celina co-founded Colombia’s first feminist centre and served as Senior Advisor on Women’s Rights for the Colombia Public Ombudsman for over 15 years. For the past 23 years, Carmen Celina has been an integral part of ISANS (Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia), assuming various roles aimed at supporting newcomer’s mental health and facilitating family integration. Currently, she holds the position of Supervisor of Specialized Settlement Services.  Her professional journey reflects a commitment to social change, equality, and resilience-building within diverse cultural contexts.

Elissa Micheline Beaulieu

EDII Subject Matter Expert, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Élissa Micheline Beaulieu worked in managing French as a second language programs for newcomers to Canada for nearly 10 years. She now works at the Consortium national de formation en santé and continues to devote herself to the vitality of Francophone minority communities. Originally from northern Ontario, she understood very early in her life the importance of celebrating and promoting her mother tongue, French.

Gail Brant-Terry

EDII Subject Matter Expert, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Gail Brant-Terry, member of Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, 
has over 35 years of experience in education as a teacher, 
and administrator at the school system, and provincial level. 
Gail is Co-Founder and Principal Consultant of Ridge Road Training & Consulting. Gail was Indspire’s 2020 Guiding the Journey award recipient for Leadership in Indigenous Education.

Dr. Sulaimon Giwa

EDII Subject Matter Expert, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Dr. Sulaimon Giwa is a College Member of the Royal Society of Canada and the interim dean and associate professor of social work at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. His research interests include critical race and anti-Black racism; race and sexuality; 2SLGBTQIA+ migration, settlement, and integration; intersectional stigma and human rights; critical social work pedagogy; and the criminal justice system. He is a leader in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the community, at Memorial University, and across various government and non-governmental organizations. Dr. Giwa’s creative research projects and collaborative partnerships aim to address important social issues and advocate for policies and actions that promote equity, justice, and well-being for every member of society. He is a sought-after speaker and consultant who shares his expertise and insights with policymakers, practitioners, and community leaders to help them make better decisions and achieve positive social change. As a respected scholar, educator, and advocate, Dr. Giwa continues to have a significant impact on the lives of individuals, families, and communities both locally and globally.

Tyson Seburn

EDII Subject Matter Expert, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Tyson Seburn (MA EdTech & TESOL, University of Manchester) 
is a lecturer in and assistant director of an EAP foundation at the University of Toronto and tutor of Oxford TEFL Barcelona’s Trinity Dip TESOL course. He has volunteered on local and international teacher association committees, most recently as IATEFL TDSIG Coordinator. His personal and professional experiences inspired his interest in Queer and racialised ELT experiences, and thus ways to better practices and materials. He discusses critical 
and inclusive pedagogies via his online spaces (fourc.ca and @seburnt). He is author of Academic Reading Circles (2015) and How to Write Inclusive Materials(2021).

CCLB Reviewers

Anne-Marie Kaskens
and Margaret Stasiak

CCLB Reviewers, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Anne-Marie and Margaret each have extensive experience 
in the government funded language training sector, including instruction, curriculum materials development, eLearning development, expert review and editing, TESL training, and professional development delivery. They have co-authored several LINC resources, including LINC 5-7 Curriculum Guidelines and Classroom Activities, dozens of ONYX/ Avenue eUnits, and ESL literacy support materials, among others. 

NLCG Stakeholder Advisory Group

Angela MacMichael

NLCG Stakeholder Advisory Group, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Angela MacMichael is the Language Department Manager at the Multicultural Agency of the Greater Moncton Area.  She has been teaching English as an Additional Language for over 25 years in community and academic settings.  She holds a Masters of TESOL from Providence College and Seminary, MB.  She also is a certified TESOL teacher trainer.  She was a part of the pilot site testing for PBLA and was a PBLA Lead Teacher.  She has also worked as a PBLA Regional Coach and CLBPT Assessor for the Center for Canadian Language Benchmarks.  In 2017 she was recognized with the Canada 150th Anniversary of Confederation Award for her contributions to the community for Teaching English to New Canadians.  She lives in Moncton, New Brunswick with her husband & beloved Miniature Schnauzer and enjoys fiber arts during her free time.

Dana Murphy

NLCG Stakeholder Advisory Group, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Dana Murphy has over twenty years of experience teaching English as an additional language, and several years ago she began to focus on the teaching of literacy skills in the EAL classroom. She is currently teaching a Pre-Benchmark CLB class at a LINC school in St. John’s, NL and has been teaching at the Pre-Benchmark level for well over a decade. She also works as a CLB Placement test assessor and worked for several years as an IELTS speaking examiner.  She has presented at two conferences for EAL teachers and was a reviewer of the CLB: ESL for ALL Support Kit published by the Center for Canadian Language Benchmarks. She served on the TESL NL board as the LINC representative from the fall of 2018 to the fall of 2020. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Joint Hons., French and English) and a Bachelor of Education, both from Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Donna Clarke

NLCG Stakeholder Advisory Group, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Donna Clarke is the Literacy Centre of Expertise Lead at TIES 
(The Immigrant Education Society) in Calgary. She has been working with Literacy learners for more than 15 years and advocating for more research and training to better serve their unique needs. Her passion 
is fueled by the exceptional students she has had the privilege of knowing and sharing her days with.

Kathleen McMurray

NLCG Stakeholder Advisory Group, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Experienced ESL and LINC Instructor with over 16 years of experience teaching and developing curriculum for English Language Learners.  Curriculum eWriter for the National LINC Online Curriculum (NLOC). 
M. Ed in TEAL (2018), B.A, in History, BC certified teacher.

Lisa Herrera

NLCG Stakeholder Advisory Group, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Lisa Herrera has an MA in Educational Administration from UBC and 
is a CLB Lead Trainer and PBLA Regional Coach for the CCLB, working on the PBLA leadership team to support PBLA implementation, and training Lead and classroom teachers  across Canada. Lisa has also worked for ISSofBC for over 31 years, first as a LINC teacher and since 2008 as the Lead Instructional Coordinator, helping to provide instructional direction to the program and support and professional development to teachers.  Through ISSofBC, Lisa has been the Lead on for several national curriculum projects including Reconciliation Awareness LINC Lessons, Remote Access to Digital Literacy Training for Newcomers, and the Digital Literacy Curriculum Resource. Independently, Lisa has worked on projects such as NorQuest College’s LINC Works, and developed workshops delivered in person and online across Canada such as Getting Down to Brass Tacks on PBLA and How to Love What You Do.

Matthew Levan

NLCG Stakeholder Advisory Group, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

As the Senior Manager of Language Programs at MOSAIC, Matthew Levan is fortunate to work with a team of remarkable and engaged educational leaders across several programs both funded and in MOSAIC’s social enterprises.  In the funded programs he has the privilege of leading MOSAIC’s LINC program which operates at 3 Language Centres in Burnaby, Vancouver, and Surrey.  He assisted in the creation and implementation of the REACH SDI research project which created online asynchronous learning modules for caregiving mothers.  He has assisted in the creation and expansion of one of MOSAIC’s social enterprises, MOSAIC engage, which provides fee for service programming in language training and testing.  He is committed to ensuring that staff, clients, partners, and funding stakeholders all benefit from a client centred, dynamic, and responsive delivery of MOSAIC educational programming.

Sarah Sampara

NLCG Stakeholder Advisory Group, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Sarah Sampara is an educational developer and curriculum consultant with nearly 20 years’ experience developing over 15 online, in-person and hybrid learning experiences. During her time at ISANS, her focus has been on sector-specific curriculum development for such industries as tourism, healthcare, engineering and early childhood education. In 2021, she transitioned to the role of Team Lead, supporting the growth and development of EAL professionals in both classroom instruction and curriculum development. In her most recent role at ISANS, as the National Healthcare Language Project Lead, she has supported the launch of the initiative, bringing culturally-responsive, communication-based training to internationally educated healthcare professionals across Canada, in partnership with Bow Valley, ISS of BC, World Skills and CCI Ottawa. Currently, she is pursuing her passion in curriculum development, moving into the role of Learning and Development Specialist with Shannex.

Rhoda Keck

NLCG Stakeholder Advisory Group, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Rhoda’s first experience teaching English as a Second Language was in Germany, while studying for her Bachelor’s degree.  While she initially went on to teach music, she always had an interest in language and culture.  This growing interest led her to return to school to get her TESL certification and pursue teaching EAL at Regional Connections, a Settlement service provider in Southern Manitoba.  She enjoyed 13 years of teaching English to newcomers both as a classroom teacher, and as a lead teacher.  In 2018, she took on the role of Language Program Director at Regional Connections.  While she misses the daily interaction with students, and the practice of teaching, she does enjoy the new challenge of administering the Language Programs at Regional Connections.  
She is currently serving on the board of the Adult Secondary Education Committee, as well as being an active participant on the Language Advisory Group with MANSO.

New Language Solutions

Sharon Rajabi

New Language Solutions, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Sharon Rajabi, MEd, is an adult education consultant with extensive experience in second language teaching and learning. Sharon’s interest is in the application of technology in second language acquisition. Currently, Sharon is working with a team of language and technology experts, in collaboration with New Language Solutions, to develop technology standards for the language training sector in Canada. As part of her portfolio with the Toronto Catholic District School board, Sharon managed numerous curriculum development and technology projects for the governments of Ontario and Canada. Sharon’s projects in the past decade included National Curriculum Framework research study; Onyx e-Learning project, and Quartz curriculum app to name a few. Sharon has served on TESL Ontario and TESL Canada Boards for several years as Research and Communications Chair; she became TESL Ontario President in 2006. In 2007, Sharon authored Step Forward Canada Books 1 & 2, published by Oxford University Press.

Achēv Project Team

Rafa Khan

Manager, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Rafa is the Manager for National LINC Curriculum Projects at Achēv, which encompass the National LINC Online Curriculum and the National LINC Curriculum Guidelines. Rafa is passionate about enabling community integration and well-being. She works with 
LINC instructors across Canada to develop CLB- and PBLA- aligned guidelines for LINC providers, and online courseware for LINC learners. Previously at the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council, she managed the development of online and asynchronous training for Indigenous cultural safety. In the past, she has also volunteered with Frontier College as an ESL instructor. Rafa has a Bachelor of Science, Master of Public Administration, and is currently working towards 
her PMP.

Tanveen Tatke

Coordinator, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Tanveen Tatke is the Coordinator for the National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project at Achev. With a strong background in ESL instruction and curriculum development, Tanveen previously worked 
as a LINC Home Study Instructor and Instructional Coordinator. Certified in TESL Ontario, OCELT, CLB Bootcamp, PBLA and PLAR, Tanveen remains committed to advancing her expertise in English language teaching, driven by her passion to significantly impact language education. Additionally, she brings extensive international teaching experience from her tenure as a former Assistant Professor in the Department of English at Delhi University, alongside her M. Phil in English Literature and a portfolio of publications. Tanveen’s proficiency also extends to her roles as an IELTS and CELPIP instructor. With a blend of expertise, experience and empathy, Tanveen is driven to empower learners and contribute to their success in Canadian society.

Roshan Patel

Web Developer, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Roshan Patel is a skilled Web Developer who brings extensive expertise to the National LINC Curriculum Guidelines project at Achēv. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from York University, Roshan has honed his skills over the past 5 years, working on a diverse range of web development projects, from e-commerce platforms to educational websites. As a sole Web Developer, Roshan is responsible for translating design and content requirements into a seamless online platform, collaborating closely with the content writers, coordinator, visual designer and subject matter experts. Proficient in the latest web technologies, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and various front-end and back-end frameworks, Roshan is known for his technical prowess, attention to detail, and problem-solving abilities. Beyond his technical skills, Roshan is also a strong communicator and team player, actively contributing to the overall success of the project initiative.

Anna Ballares

Visual Designer, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Anna Ballares is a Product Designer and Illustrator with over 4 years 
of experience in the UX/UI Field. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts Degree in Illustration from Sheridan College, and an Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design from Humber College. She has garnered significant design experience in UX Strategy Firm, Design Studio and Startup environments, where she enjoys working collaboratively with a cross-functional team of Designers, Product Managers, UX Researchers and Software Developers to build and scale digital products. Her passion 
is creating joyful, bespoke digital experiences with intent and tackling complex design problems using a holistic user-centred approach. Eager to continuously expand her toolkit and learn more about web technologies, Anna is also currently working to obtain a Full-Stack Engineer professional certification online.

Cristina Beleuta

Administrative Assistant, 
National LINC Curriculum Guidelines Project

Cristina Beleuta is an Administrative at Achēv with over 18 years of experience helping newcomers to Canada to achieve their goals in being proficient in English Language. By focusing on understanding the needs of each client, Cristina pays close attention when she is matching each client with a LINC instructor.  Recently, Cristina was given the opportunity to be part of the National LINC Curriculum Guidelines project. For Cristina this was an opportunity of learning new skills which she is grateful for.  When Cristina is not at Achēv she likes to read Personal Development books, she likes to spend time in nature, and spend time with friends.