Administration

Founder and Head of Erudito licėjus

Prof. Dr. Nerijus Pačėsa

Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Nerijus Pačėsa, the ISM University has become an indisputable standard of higher education and the pursuit of gifted graduates. During this period, the ISM University Community began to focus on qualitative change in secondary education – initiated and successfully implemented education programs “Students’ University” and “Teachers’ University”. The Master’s Program for Educational Personnel, Leadership in Education, which turned to be especially successful, was started under Nerijus Pačėsa leadership. All these initiatives were influenced by Prof. Dr. Nerijus Pačėsa conviction that the role of school in forming a sustainable society is the most important, and teachers must be strong moral authorities and constantly developing professionals.

The idea of ​​the Erudito licėjus has been contemplated and matured for several years, with the aim of creating a school that reveals and shapes the key competences, necessary for students’ future happiness and success, surrounded by inspirational people and a joyful environment, where passion for learning and the highest achievements can flourish.

Deputy Director of Education

Rokas Balčiūnas

Deputy Director of Education. A graduate of KTU Gymnasium, regular winner for national school competitions, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the Kaunas University of Technology in 2008 and a Master’s degree in Chemistry in 2010. As a student, he worked at the Institute of Physical Electronics at KTU, contributing to the development of diamond-like coatings and an innovative medical device. In 2011, Rokas completed his teaching qualification and has been a teacher of physics, mathematics, technology, IT since, and runs children’s’ camps during the school breaks. Interested in philosophy, psychology, physiology and wellness, Rokas enjoys hiking, holds a footprint specialist diploma and a black Aikido belt.

Rokas has taught the IB Diploma Programme for the past five years, in subjects including Maths, Biology, and Physics, and has also been an Extended Essay supervisor.

Rokas believes that comprehensive education is the way to success in the 21st-century world.

Deputy Director of General Affairs

Laima Pačėsienė

Deputy Director for General Affairs. Graduated from German philology studies at Vilnius University and earned a Master’s degree in English. Later, at Vytautas Magnus University, she acquired a Master of Business Administration degree. Laima is a creative person who is interested in design, art, music, design solutions that create an attractive and comfortable learning environment. Laima Pačėsienė seeks to ensure that the aesthetics of the classes and other spaces would meet the needs of each child. The environment in which students spend most of their day is very important in shaping a personality. It is important for students to feel good while studying, relaxing, as well as engaging in activities after lessons.

Laima thinks that all children are unique.

Deputy Director for Informal Education, Teacher of Economics and Business

Kristina Celiešiūtė

Deputy Director for Informal Education, Teacher of Economics and Business, started her pedagogical career in 2011. New challenges arising from the reform of education fostered her interest in entrepreneurship education in which she has been involved up to now. In 2006 she acquired Master’s degree in education science at Vytautas Magnus University, since then she has mainly been engaged in formal and informal schoolchildren education, particularly in business areas, as well as in international and local project activities.

Business concept has changed and currently we perceive it not only as an activity focused on commercial benefits but also as a personal growth of an individual, his capability to work in a team, being able to find appropriate arguments and express a flexible reaction towards changing circumstances and situations. School is an environment where children discover themselves, strengthen their abilities and gifts. It is a starting point where an independent life of a young person begins. Consequently, we, teachers, must encourage children to find and recognize themselves, their uniqueness and strengths at the same time educating their competences.

Kristina’s motto – each child is both unique and gifted.

International Programmes Coordinator

Julie Ly Chu

Julie coordinates the international programmes at Erudito Licejus: Cambridge Assessment International Education Primary and the IB Diploma Programme candidacy journey, currently holding the IBDP Coordinator and CAS Coordinator roles. She is also language support and various after-school activity teacher. Julie has experience in minority care, SEN, rehabilitation and pedagogical research in non-governmental organizations around the world. She obtained a BA in Sociology and an MSc in Educational Counseling from the University of Bristol, UK, and obtained her MEd from Oxford University, specialising in International Education, student welfare, and child-oriented education.

Pedagogical motto – Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school (Albert Einstein).

Cambridge Primary Coordinator

Talia Shaban

International Cambridge program teacher. „From a young age I have always had a natural interest for creativity, learning and helping others. When I realised that teaching would allow me to bring together these three passions, I knew I had found my career path.“ – says Talia. Talia received Bachelor’s degree in Foundation Phase in the University of South Africa and then started her carrier as a primary school teacher in Herzlia Weizmann Primary school, Cape Town, South Africa. As Talia has grown in her career, her curiosity has led her to explore more progressive and multi-dimensional teaching environments. Her focus is to extend her skills as a teacher to facilitate learning that incorporates 21st century skills and prepares her students to be globally-minded, knowledgeable and creative thinkers. She believes in the value of placing the student at the centre of the learning experience to allow them to take ownership for their learning.

„Compassion, empathy, tolerance and kindness are important core values to me and I want to foster the development of these personal qualities in my students.“ – firmly says Talia

Cambridge Secondary Coordinator

Sara Spivey

International Cambridge program teacher. Having worked around the world for many years Sara has been exposed to many different cultures and teaching and learning philosophies.  Her BA specialising in English Literature and Language.
She believes her global journey both in business and education has defined, for her, the best aspects of each to develop a skill set for learning that has proven to be extremely successful over the years.  She is delighted to be joining the team in September 2019 to enhance the International experience for students. Her aim is to integrate both the Cambridge and national curriculums hand in hand with a more holistic approach to learning. A collaborative, inquisitive, unlimited attitude for students to continually explore and search for reasons, processes and results. Thus allowing the students to discover how their learning is actually relevant to the real world.
She worked for several years in medium and large sized international schools in Egypt, then spent another 2 years working in the Cambridge International system in Italy, as a qualified Cambridge exam invigilator at a Cambridge exam centre and covered all levels, primarily First Certificate up to Proficiency level. Whilst there she established a writing workshop which was a first for Rome, being well received, as she is also a published author of one novel and 5 short story compilations for her publisher in London, which she still does from time to time and has presented in Egypt, Milan and Rome. She also spent a year teaching at LUISS University, ranked number 2 in Italy teaching English, Business English and Business Management to graduates of Law, Economics and Social Sciences. One of her students wrote this to her after completing a course. ‘You made me think about myself, who I am and how I deal with others’ then went on to quote one of her favourite sayings, ‘You meet thousands of people and none of them really touch you.  And then you meet one person and your life changes’, this is what happened to me, and it’s all about you’.  This is what Sara believes teaching should be all about.

Special Educational Needs teacher

Karen Hennigan

Having graduated with a BA in Education and Geography from Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK, Karen has twelve years of experience in teaching and supporting primary age children.

With considerable experience in teaching ESL and Phonics, and in offering support to children with specific learning difficulties, in the UK, Malaysia and El Salvador, Karen is returning to full time work after taking a career break to raise her son. Now that he is nine years old she feels the time is right to return to the career that she is passionate about.

Most recently, Karen volunteered in the school her son attended, in Bratislava, and kept up to date with educational matters. The most recent courses she took were “Supporting children with difficulties in reading and writing” from the University of London and UCL Institute of Education & Dyslexia International, “Understanding Dyslexia” from the Open University and “Dyslexia and Foreign Language Teaching” from Lancaster University. Karen is also trained in Jolly Phonics and has delivered workshops on phonics teaching.

As a qualified holistic therapist Karen said “I believe that looking at the ‘whole person’ is of considerable benefit when applied to a classroom environment.” As well as using her holistic training in the primary school, she has also offered relaxation workshops to secondary students who are approaching their end of school exams.

Karen is very much looking forward to exploring the Baltic region with her husband Andrew and their son Brandon, and after many years of moving around they are hoping that Lithuania will be their home at least until Brandon finishes his education.

Communication coordinator

Aistė Simaškaitė

Erudito Licejus communication representative. Aistė graduated from Vytautas Magnus university, she has got politics and public relations master’s degree. She is a positive and creative person, interested in public relations and their influence on the modern constantly changing society. She thinks that if we want to present our country, its culture and recent events, we must do it in an attractive and interesting way. Active participation in the project work of non-governmental institutions made that understanding only stronger. Social networks are a perfect tool to make communication more interesting and available. Aistė believes that innovative, informative communication of the organization helps to create warm relationship, which brings good results.

Aistė thinks that effective communication is an effective way to reach the goals and bring success.

Psychologist

Rūta Žiaunienė

Rūta became interested in Psychology since she was at school. She graduated from Vytautas Magnus University with a Bachelor of Psychology Degree, followed by a Masters Degree in Health Psychology, and obtained her Certificate in International Coach &Trainer at the Neurolinguistics Programming Practitioner Association in 2013. For nearly a decade, she has organized annual preventive camps for teenagers with a group of Lithuanian health psychologists. Ruta is also involved in the development of the IBDP Counselling support programme during the school’s IB Candidacy journey.

Rūta thinks that environment and people the child meets become an example for him. Our aim is to be the best example.

Librarian

Vilma Trakimienė

Vilma obtained a Mater’s Drgree in Librarianship and Bibliography from Vilnius University, and ensures that constant professional developments take place through various seminars and international school practices. Since 2009, she has been a member of the Lithuanian Librarians’ Association, and works closely with the development of innovative library practices. “She speaks of the library as an open space, where free time is spent and learning is both attractive and creative. She emphasise on developmental progresses being sustainable for future generations. Vilma agrees with N. Mandela in his Life Guide, “Ascending an important mountain, you discover even more mountains to climb.” Vilma is also involved in the development of the DP library extensions during the school’s IB Candidacy journey.