2023-2024
President - Dr. Nagina Parmar
Dr. Nagina Parmar brings tremendous experience as an educator and clinical researcher to the Spelling Bee of Canada. She has been the Chapter President of Richmond Hill Region for the last four years. She is passionate about working with kids and young adults and has built a great team of dedicated volunteers and officials. She has published various articles and books.
Her passion for teaching, providing mentorship, and inviting students to be part of research projects have earned her trust and respect among students, and she is the two-time recipient of Dean’s Teaching awards. As an ambassador to Passages Canada for the last few years, she has been sharing her experiences as an immigrant to Canada with kids grades 4-9. She is also a motivator coach to empower women in her community. She loves to read and spend time with her family during her free time.
Vice President - Sandra Yeung Racco
Sandra Yeung Racco was first elected in 2003 as Councillor for the City of Vaughan and became the longest serving Asian female politician in both City of Vaughan and York Region. Over her 5 terms on Vaughan Council, she has been the driving force in bringing vital services to her constituents, addressing the needs of youth and seniors, playing an integral role in arts and cultural initiatives, advocating for strong comprehensive development, and collaborating with various levels of government to get much needed infrastructure in place, including the opening of the subway into the City of Vaughan in December 2017.
Sandra has served on many Committees and Boards, working with residents, businesses and stakeholders to help develop the vision for City of Vaughan, especially Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (Vaughan’s downtown). She participated in numerous trade missions to Asia to nurture international business relationships and advance mutually beneficial economic growth. Sandra have always held transparency, fairness and accountability high on her agenda and on every decision she makes.
Born in Hong Kong and raised in Ontario, Sandra obtained her A.R.C.T. at the Royal Conservatory of Music and graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Music Education degree.
Executive Assistant - Uchechukwu Mabel Eshalomi
Mabel Uchechukwu Eshalomi is an Educator with a background in Microbiology. This mother of four and lover of God has worked in different capacities as an Administrator, a Teacher, a Coach, a Counsellor, an Educational Consultant and an Instructor to children, adults, and organizations. She is an IT enthusiast and works as a Virtual Assistant with Monitec Consulting Canada. She is a ardent Dyslexia advocate.
She started her journey with Spelling Bee Canada in October 2022, first as a volunteer with the Fundraising Committee. Her dedication, commitment and passion got her to the position of the Executive Assistant after which she became a member of the Board of Directors where she currently serves.
Mabel has participated in several capacity development programme including, Web Development Training (sponsored by USAID/LSETF), also Data Analysis, Customer success amongst others.
She was a beneficiary of the Dream Mentorship Programme, North Carolina, USA. She has since gone on to thrive in her pursuit for excellence, and also mentor various youths and adults.
She is very passionate about helping people grow and develop uniquely in both their personal and professional capacity.
Education Director - Jill O'Craven
Jill has been involved with the Spelling Bee of Canada for nearly two decades, starting as a participant in the primary category. During her time with SBOC, she has learned hundreds of words, won two regional competitions, volunteered as an event speaker and competition official, and served on the Board of Directors since 2020. She graduated from the University of Toronto Schools in 2015 and Western University in 2020 and worked as a multidisciplinary tutor from 2020 to 2022. She currently lives and works with her fiancée and their three pets in London, Ontario.
As Education Director, she oversees the Word Selection Committee and the Coaching Committee and adjudicates the annual essay competitions. She prioritizes giving children the tools and encouragement they need to succeed at the pinnacle of their ability.
Expansion Director - David Ibeawuchi
David Ibeawuchi is a Lawyer and manages a law office in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He specializes in immigration law, civil rights litigation, and corporate law. He has vast experience in working with Not-for-profit organizations in various capacities with proven track records in areas of corporate governance, international partnerships, and local content.
He sits on the Board of the Spelling Bee of Canada as Expansion Director and also provides legal advice to the organization.
David is excited to help Spelling Bee to remain at the forefront in promoting education and literacy among children and youths in Canada and expand operations internationally as part of the organizational growth strategy.
IT Director - Ranga Narapuram
Mr. Ranga Narapuram, owner of Sriranga Solutions Ltd, leads an IT consulting firm serving Fortune 500 clients, including CN Railways, Bell Media, and ALDO. His visionary leadership and commitment to excellence have earned him recognition in the IT sector. He is a member of the Board of Directors at the Canada Hindu Chamber of Commerce, fostering business growth.
Additionally, Mr. Narapuram serves as President of the Quebec Spelling Bee of Canada chapter, promoting educational excellence. He owns an online school inspiring young programmers. He enjoys quality family time at his Montreal, QC residence with his wife and two children.
Marketing Director - Erica White-Ryan
Erica White-Ryan is a seasoned registered nurse who has completed postgraduate studies in intensive critical care and health administration management. She is a Christian and is the SBOC Marketing Director, Mississauga, and Family of Churches Chapter President. Erica is passionate about youth and has worked in various youth programs as a tutor and mentor with the Congress of Black Women EQAO/OSSLT and the National Black MBA Association, Inc., Young Leaders of Tomorrow team. She has a vested interest in helping people through education, encouragement, and lifestyle changes.
She is truly committed to her friends and family and enjoys travelling, Latin, and ballroom dancing.
Digital Marketing Director - Katrina Angela Yeung Racco
Katrina Angela Yeung Racco is the President of Racco Productions Corp, bringing extensive expertise in strategic consulting, management, event planning, creative creation, and marketing. With a solid background in social media marketing, she possesses years of experience in operations and overall business management. Additionally, Katrina is a music manager, representing several local artists and utilizing her specialty in marketing and social media content to enhance their reach and visibility. Committed to driving success through innovative solutions and effective leadership, Katrina is dedicated to achieving excellence in every aspect of her professional journey.
Youth Director - Kris Banga
- Graduate of McMaster University (1997)
- Long-time resident of the Niagara Region
- Successful career in Retail Management and Education currently employed with District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) as an Educational Assistant
- Passionate about helping to build strong communities through volunteerism with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Canadian Blood Services,
- Fresh Air Fund and Battlefield House and Museum
In his role as an Educational Assistant with the DSBN, he is part of a team that supports and mentors Special Education students enrolled in a Structured Strategies Program and I love it! He also strives to create, and help provide engaging opportunities for students to learn, grow and develop confidence as a school Cross Country and Track and Field coach, and organizer of a math club, eco club and of course spelling bee club.
Finance Director - Barbara Peters
Barbara Peters has been volunteering with Spelling Bee of Canada for over 10 years in the role of Treasurer. Professionally, Barbara has worked in healthcare for over 15 years specializing in mental and addiction, specifically within vulnerable communities. Barbara is passionate about making a difference in the lives of the next generation of leaders, through literacy, education, and advocacy.
Advisory Board Members
Dr. Jenny Chan
With over 25 years of work experience in the field of education, Dr. Jenny Chan is the founder and Chief Academic Consultant of Success for All Canada. Her doctoral work at the University of British Columbia has helped her better understand the learning trajectories of students. Jenny has since developed educational programs customized for each individual learner, tailoring them to the student's needs and academic goals.
Her research in the field of numeracy and literacy assessment has earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious UBC President's Academic Excellence Initiative Ph.D. Award in 2021. She has also won the Best Tutor Award for four consecutive years in Richmond, BC. Additionally, given her medico-education background, she offers consultancy regarding healthcare, wellness, smart parenting, and career planning. This is a testament to the effectiveness of her programs and her passion for leading others to achieve success and their greatest potential.
Dr. Viviene V. DeOkoro
Dr. Viviene DeOkoro is a highly gifted individual whose studies and qualifications span the disciplines of Science, Arts, Humanities, and Music. She is a visionary and founder of Deokoro Magnet Schools for the Gifted and Talented and Deokoro School of Music. A passionate, creative and driven gifted educator, author, musicologist & orchestra conductor; she has developed methods of delivering Gifted Education based on her research and vast experience. Her deep knowledge of diverse instructional strategies for gifted children serves her well as she retools educators and conducts seminars and workshops on behalf of the Ministry of Education, colleges, and universities. Deokoro is a sought-after conference presenter and resource person for teachers colleges, schools, parents, paediatricians and researches globally. She has served on numerous international educational and policy committees, making significant contributions to policies governing Early Childhood and Gifted Education.
Deokoro brings a wealth of knowledge and experiences to SBOC. Internationally, she serves as:
National Delegate: World Council for Gifted and Talented Children (WCGTC) and committee
member producing WCGTC’s Global Principles for Professional Learning in Gifted Education.
- Educational Diagnostician-Practitioner: Learning Success System (USA) and BLISS-Delta Learning System (Jamaica)
- International Partner-Associate: Global Talent Mentoring University of Regensburg-Germany
- Representative-Associate: REACH Gifted Education Consultancy Institute – New Zealand
- She is the Director of the Caribbean Center for Giftedness and Creativity (CCGC)