Lana Lautamus
Lana was born and raised on a farm outside a very small town in Saskatchewan, Canada. She lived in Thailand for 10.5 years before moving to Cambodia in August 2016. She has a Bachelors in Secondary Education, with an extra certification in Special Needs Education, at the University of Regina (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada). She is an experienced and trained IB educator in both the PYP and MYP programs, as well as being a certified Mindfulness in Schools Project teacher.
Her teaching career has taken her from Bangkok to Quebec, back to Bangkok, then Phuket, and then Cambodia, where she was the MYP Learning Support Teacher and about to also became the Life Skills Coordinator. During her free time Lana enjoys acting, singing, meditating, practicing yoga, and spending time with her husband and daughter.
Lana remains an active member of SENIA Cambodia from her new home in Philippines.
Karen Rivera Geating
Karen began her professional career as an attorney in Washington, D.C., but switched to teaching in 2007 when she moved overseas as a trailing spouse. She started as a volunteer in a small school in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and took things to a formal level when she returned to the US in 2009. A few years later she obtained a Master ‘s in Education with a focus on supporting English Language Learners.
She has since held roles in EAL, Reading Intervention, and Student Support in international schools in Niger, Mexico and Cambodia, as well as in public schools in Washington, D.C. Karen moved to Cambodia following her husband ‘s career, but also worked as the Learning Support Coordinator and PYP Learning Support Teacher in Northbridge International School. She has two daughters in Middle School, and enjoys biking, hiking, going on long walks, practicing yoga and spinning.
Karen has relocated but remains an advocate for SEN worldwide.
Members of the Board
Lex Hamilton – Chair of the Board
Lex Hamilton is an Early Years professional from the UK with a PGCert in Special Educational Needs Coordination. She has worked with children for 20 years in various countries including Australia and Rwanda. She moved to Cambodia with her husband in 2015 with the desire to increase quality SEND provision within the country. She is a qualified SENCo and Early Years Practitioner, and works for Northbridge International School in Phnom Penh. Lex is passionate about early intervention and networking with other professionals to bring awareness and high quality provision to all children with SEND in Cambodia.
Lex was awarded SENIA World Changer Award for April 2021 for her active promotion of inclusion in their community while supporting SENIA ‘s Mission and Vision.
She also has 3 young boys at home that love to keep her busy when she ‘s not teaching! In her down time she loves traveling, the beach, photography and a good cup of tea!
Kimm Renaud
Kimm has been advocating for inclusive practice for over 30 years. During his 30+ years, he has been a teacher, resource teacher, principal, director and community advocate. As the former principal of the school for the deaf he worked with community agencies to provide qualified sign language interpreters in schools and training for teachers. As director of the Calgary Adoption Resource Foundation, he promoted permanency planning for all children in care and provided training for new adoptive and foster parents. Kimm worked with other agencies and the provincial government to redesign provincial children ‘s services and provide more adoption supports for special needs children. Following his Masters in Counseling, Kimm continued to support teachers, parents and community agencies to work collaboratively on behalf of all learners until his move to Cambodia. Kimm currently works at the Canadian International School of Phnom Penh as a counselor and student support advisor. Kimm believes that inclusive practice benefits all students and promotes stronger communities.
George Cowie
With over 20 years experience of working as a Special Needs Coordinator and Behaviour Support Specialist in the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and Singapore, George decided to work for private clients and small groups in Phnom Penh. He fell in love with Cambodia while working for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports in Ratanakiri Province as an Inclusive Education Advisor.
George holds a Masters Degree in Inclusive Education from the University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, alongside multiple post-graduate diplomas and certificates.
Naima Nosirova
Having a dyslexic son and being dyslexic myself has introduced me to SEN, which led to new opportunities in my career path. Prior to becoming a Learning Support Coordinator in one of the international schools in Phnom Penh, I have earned 7 years of teaching experience in general education. Although, I do not have special educational background, I have dedicated my Master ‘s Degree thesis on Dyslexia and Multi-sensory teaching approach. Working with dyslexic students for a year made me realize to pursue this field further and as a result I have earned several certificates on understanding dyslexia and giving appropriate and evidence-based intervention.
Cambodia Chapter International Members
Kate Bowler
Kate qualified as a primary school teacher in her hometown of Manchester, UK. She worked as a class teacher in a range of diverse schools, before transitioning into Special Education. There, she found her passion supporting learners with autism.
In 2018, Kate moved to Phnom Penh to teach at an international school. One year later she helped establish a school specifically for children with autism, mental health and learning difficulties.
Kate is on a mission to raise positive awareness of special educational needs and disabilities. She provides regular workshops, seminars and training for parents, teachers and NGOs support those with additional needs. She acts as Chapter Liaison from her home country of UK.
Beverly Titmuss
After graduating, Beverly spent time in Mexico and Japan teaching English as a Second Language. She returned to UK to train as a primary school teacher in London. After several years as a class teacher, she developed a passion for supporting children with Special Educational Needs and took a sabbatical year beginning with supporting a local NGO in Uganda to develop inclusive SEN practices for their rural outreach clinics. The latter part of the year led Beverly to Cambodia where she continued to volunteer for a local NGO school. Her passion for Cambodia eventually led her to iCAN British school where she was the Learning Support Leader and trainee play therapist. She is also studying for a MA in SEN and Inclusion. Beverley loves swimming, yoga, and taking walks in nature! Beverley now resides close to her family in her hometown of Cambridge.
Virginia Lohr
Virginia Lohr was an Arctic archaeologist before she made the switch to teaching. Her lifelong passion for helping children reach their academic potential finally compelled her to complete her teaching coursework. She has worked in private schools in the United States in early learning, primary and secondary. Helping students develop their love of reading has always been Virginia ‘s favourite aspect of teaching. After several intense reading instruction courses, Virginia was thrilled to start working as a reading interventionist. When she isn ‘t working happily with her students, she enjoys spending time with her two daughters and husband; travelling, hiking, crafting, cooking, and of course, reading!
