Our Story
Over the course of our meal, I shared with them my frustrations and challenges I was facing in trying to develop Precious Gem Academy to be an inclusive school—specifically, the dire need to train teachers in inclusive strategies. I also professed my burning desire to empower teachers in their role as nation builders. From appetizers to dessert, the three of us somehow managed to formulate the answer to my frustrations and fulfill my aspirations in the form of The Teacher’s Gallery (TTG).
TTG was officially incorporated in November 2014 as a Philippine based social enterprise. Our first project was a benchmarking trip bringing Quezon City educators to Andrea Stavrakas’ school, the Wellesley, Massachusetts Public School system in May 2015. During the planning stages of this trip, TTG happened to meet a young Filipino American educator also based in Boston, Alpha Sanford, who embraced our vision and mission and helped us to solidify TTG’s programming. From that point, Andrea and Alpha played a critical role in the formation of The Teacher’s Gallery supporting me and Mai in every project we embarked on that required their expertise.
Today, The Teacher’s Gallery is run by passionate millennials under Mai’s leadership and behind them is an Advisory Board of international and local technical experts in various fields of education. Enjoyment and immersive exploration became the core strategies in carrying out TTG’s mission— building the skills and expertise of teachers but enabling a fulfilling, rewarding, and enjoyable experience in the process!
Our Mission and Vision
The Teacher’s Gallery (TTG) aims to offer learning opportunities related to inclusive education to both teachers and the broader education community that inspire transformational change and provide the community with the tools necessary to enact this change.
Get to know more about
The Teacher’s Gallery!
The Teacher’s Gallery (TTG) is a social enterprise founded from an advocacy for inclusive education. It is currently run by passionate teachers and behind them is an Advisory Board of international and local technical experts in various fields of education. Enjoyment and immersive exploration became the core strategies in carrying out TTG’s mission — building the skills and expertise of teachers while enabling a fulfilling, rewarding, and enjoyable experience in the process.
‘Trailblazer’ in Inclusive Education
The Teacher's Gallery Through The Years
Institutional Partners
Core Offerings
Signature Learning Seminars & Workshops
The programs focus on:
- Inclusive & student-centered practices that foster classroom environments with equitable opportunities for learning, critical thinking, collaborative skills, and global perspectives.
- Transformative leadership skills.
- Holistic educational approaches for a healthy and happy work-life balance.
Educators' Global EdTours
Through its cross-country interactive study tours, school walkthroughs, peer to peer engagement and cultural immersions, TTG provides innovative learning environments that opens opportunities to benchmark and establish critical-to-quality metrics for world-class performance.
Advisory Board Members
Lilibeth Aristorenas
Board Chairperson and President
Lilibeth is a development entrepreneur focused on making positive change through innovation and collaboration. She founded The Teacher’s Gallery out of her advocacy for inclusive education and supporting the learners’ aspirations for a better quality of life.
With 40+ years of experience in the field of development work, leadership roles in non profit organizations, social enterprise startups and convening industry-government-academe alliances to work together for collective impact.
Dr. Marie Therese Angeline P. Bustos
Board Member
Dr. Marie Therese Angeline P. Bustos has served as ACTRC’s Philippine Director since 2014. She is a Professor of Special Education at the University of the Philippines-Diliman and the former Dean of the College of Education. She is the Chair of the Technical Committee for Special Education and a member of the Technical Panel on Teacher Education of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
She is active in research on Philippine basic education with a focus on inclusion and persons with disabilities. Her recent roles in research on inclusive education include Lead Researcher of the Incorporating Disability in the Conditional Cash Transfer Program and Project Director of the Philippines Response to Indigenous Peoples and Muslim Education Program. Her other research interests are student achievement and deaf literacy.
Dr. Lorna Dig Dino
Board Member
Dr. Lorna Dino is a distinguished education, leadership, and management consultant with over three decades of experience. Currently a Professor at Our Lady of Penafrancia Seminary in Sorsogon City, she has excelled locally and internationally as a facilitator and trainer in various educational domains. Dr. Dino’s illustrious career in the Department of Education, culminating in roles such as Regional Director and Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction, reflects her commitment to educational reform. Notable leadership includes presidencies of the Association of DepEd Directors Inc. and AFTA Philippine Chapter Inc. With stellar academic record and numerous accolades, including being an Outstanding Alumna of Philippine Normal University (Manila) and University of St. Anthony (Iriga City), Dr. Lorna Dino is dedicated to advancing quality and inclusive education.
Miki O'Connell
Board Member
Miki O’Connell has 10+ years of experience in the field of international education. Following a Master’s from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education she has been working in the field of Refugee Education and towards education equity and increased access. Miki has worked for education-technology startups both in the US and the Philippines, for non-profits across the globe and has completed various projects and consultations for a multitude of government institutions. Her work experience spans from policy and research to project/product management to organizational operations. When she’s not working you can find her in the mountains of Jackson Hole, Wyoming with her husband and two dogs.
Consulting Partners
Professor Tony Booth
University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
He has been researching, teaching, and writing about participation, exclusion and the principled development of systems and settings in education for more than 30 years.
His ideas are summarized within the “Index for Inclusion: A Guide to School Development led by Inclusive Values.” –which was translated into 40 languages supporting other initiatives aiming to spread the inclusion work around the world.
Eric Hieser
Hyannis, Massachusetts
Eric has also held leadership positions at four IB American international schools. A strong proponent of “IB for All” philosophy, Eric has led workshops on IB access; college readiness; and redesigning the American high school at several regional, state, national, and international conferences.
David Hoff
Boston, Massachusetts
A primary focus of his work is on organizational and systems change to improve employment outcomes, with a particular emphasis on public policies and their impact on the lives of people with disabilities.
Dr. Frances Stetson
Texas, U.S.A
She also authored the first Report to Congress regarding IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). Further, a skilled keynote and is known for her focus on students, practical strategies, and system change, and an expert consultant in all US Education Districts.
Andrea Stavrakas
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Andrea’s background also includes: a Masters Degree in Learning Disabilities from New York University and a Wilson Level One Reading Specialist Certification (working on Level Two).
Alyssa Connor
Wellesley, Massachusetts
She is also involved in mentoring new teachers, curriculum development, coaching various student organizations. Alyssa’s background includes: a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master’s degree in Teaching and Curriculum from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Her international experience includes studying at the University of Chiang Mai and working for the International Schools at Escuela Campo Alegre in Caracas, Venezuela.