2024 CEESA CONFERENCE

John is currently the Primary Technology for Learning Coordinator International School of Geneva – La Châtaigneraie 
John is a trainer – course designer at the Principal Training Center – Teacher Training Center and Farai Education Group Consultant and Coach.

John has 29 years experience as an educator in Education and Media Technology in International Schools (Africa, Asia & Europe), of which 18 years in school leadership as an IT Director, Director of eLearning, Head of Education and Media Technology and Deputy Principal.

Dominique Smith, Ed.D. is Chief of Educational Services and Teacher Support at Health Sciences High and Middle College in San Diego, California. Smith is passionate about creating school environments that honor and empower students. His research and instruction focuses on restorative practices, classroom management, growth mindset, and the culture of achievement.

Dominique also provides professional learning to K-12 teachers in small and large groups that address classroom and school climate and organization. He holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from San Diego State University with an emphasis on equity as well as a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California.

Dominique also holds credentials from San Diego State University in administrative services, child welfare, PPS, and attendance. Smith has been recognized with the National School Safety Award from the School Safety Advocacy Council. In 2018, he delivered a TED Talk on building relationships between students and teachers.

Sanja Tarczay was born in Zagreb, as a deaf child in a deaf family and later became Deafblind. In 1994, she established the Croatian Association of Deafblind Persons "Dodir" where she currently serves as the president. Sanja is the creator of a Croatian Sign Language course, courses for Service Support Providers (SSPs), courses for Deafblind interpreters and the founder of the Croatian Sign Language Interpreting Centre.

Since 2008, Sanja has been the practicum leader for a module on Deafblindness at the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Zagreb, where she earned her PhD in 2014, making her the first Deafblind person in Croatia to be awarded a Doctorate.

From 2013 until 2022 Sanja served as the president of the European Deafblind Union. In 2022 she was elected as the president of the World Federation of the Deafblind.

Sanja's lifelong mission to promote the rights of Deafblind persons to equality, accessibility and inclusive education has earned her a number of awards and honours. Among these was the special honour she received in 2015 by the President of the Republic of Croatia for extraordinary services to healthcare, social welfare and the promotion of social values for the quality of life of Deafblind persons in Croatia and the world.

Sanja is fluent in five sign languages, as well as in Croatian and English.