Paula - CEO and Principal Researcher

Paula - CEO and Principal Researcher

DED, Lda. is owned and operated by Paula Frederica Hunt, a Portuguese native with a vast teaching experience in both Portugal and the USA, where she holds teaching certificates in both regular and special education. Paula holds both Master and a PHD degrees in Special Education, as well as a Graduate Specialization in International Development.

Paula started her teaching career as a Visual Arts teacher in Portugal and spent the first 5 years of her professional life working in special scholls in the USA - with children "at risk", children with disabilities, children with special education needs, and children and adolescents in conflict with the law, or in the care of the State. While working in segregated settings, such as special schools and institutional care facilities, she became an advocate for Inclusive Education, and has spent most of her teaching carrer educating children, families and other professionals on social inclusion and children's rights.

Throughout her career, she has worked to develop inclusive policies and programs for ALL children and has provided professional development focused on the implementation of Inclusive Education at the national, local school and classroom levels. Paula also worked in Teacher Education, providing novice teachers with the skills, tools and inspiration needed for them to become teachers for ALL children.

After dedicating 20 years to the teaching profession, she transitioned to a long-term consultancy at the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia as the Inclusive Education Specialist and Regional Disability Focal Point. She provided logistical support, technical expertise and capacity development to both Regional and Country level stakeholders. Paula worked to support governments and their partners in developing inclusive systems of education, child protection and social inclusion and worked with various partners including government officials, non-governmental organizations and Disabled Persons Organizations, civil society representatives, etc.

Paula has managed and operated DED Lda. since 2015, and has had the privilege to work in/with: Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Figi, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Malasya, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Macedonia, Papua New Guinee, Paraguay, Peru, Romania, Rwanda, Russian Federation, Serbia, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Stated of America, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Viet Nam.

Team of Freelance Consultants

Angela Cara

Angela Cara

Angela Cara holds a PHD degree in Education. Angela has conducted several Analysis on Implementation of Inclusive Education in Moldova, Turkmenistan, Tajkistan, Georgia, Ukraine, Madagascar and has extensive experience supporting UNICEF and its partners in most Russian-speaking countries in Eastern Europe region. She is the author of more than 187 publications, including Reports on implementation of Inclusive Education and Vocational Education Program. External and Internal Evaluation of the quality of education, Mid-Term Evaluation, Road Maps for Inclusive Education.

Bolorchimeg Bor

Bolorchimeg Bor

Bolorchimeg Bor holds a Master’s degree in International Educational Development awarded by Teachers’ College, Columbia University and has about 20 years’ experience in education policy, inclusive education, early childhood development, education in emergencies, project management, monitoring, evaluation and assessment. She has played a leading role in the introduction of inclusive education concepts and values as well as the formation and development of Education Cluster in Mongolia. She authored and contributed to numerous reports on various education issues as a UNICEF Mongolia Education Specialist in 2008 – 2019 and translated several internationally recognized publications especially on inclusive education into Mongolian.

Jacqueline Whipple Walker

Jackie is DED Lda's Senior Editor. She was an instructor of Technical Writing, English Composition, Early American Literature, and Early English Literature, who taught and advised students for over 20 years. As a former senior lecturer of English literature and composition at the University of South Carolina and the University of North Texas, Jackie created curriculum and edited scholarship for colleagues. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgia College and State University and a Master of Arts in English from the University of Florida. In addition, Jackie has completed advanced studies at the University of Florida, where she studied English Renaissance literature, the sermons and poetry of John Donne, and the poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer. While at the University of North Texas, Jackie served as the Vice Chair of the Faculty Senate and was the Faculty Advisor to the English Honor Society Sigma Tau Delta.

Cristina E. Troya

Cristina Troya has been in the field of Early Childhood Special Education and Disability for over 25 years.  She has her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and her Master’s Degree in Special Education with a minor in Early Childhood Special Education.

She was born in Ecuador, pursued her graduate studies in California, and has lived in many cities worldwide. Before relocating to Panama City, Panama, her current primary residence, she lived in New York City for ten years, where she was the Director of the Columbia University School of Public Health Head Start Program. She has also worked as an Early Childhood Education Consultant for various private Foundations. She was the first recipient of the prestigious Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. International Public Policy Fellowship. She had to relocate to Panama City, Panama, where she became the first Regional Disability Specialist for the UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office (LACRO). After her assignment concluded at UNICEF, she worked as the Organizational Manager with the Special Olympics office for the LAC region, and was promoted to the Global Youth Technical Assistance Manager position with Special Olympics International.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cristina was diagnosed with a serious and rare condition but was able to overcome her illness. This experience gifted her a whole other perspective on what it is like to be a person with a disability. 

 

Around the World

DED Lda provides services around the world. Our team has global experience and connections.

If you have a support request specific to a particular region or country, let us know. Our extensive network with professionals in disability inclusion may be able to help you.

Around the World

DED Lda provides services around the world. Our team has global experience and connections.

If you have a support request specific to a particular region or country, let us know. Our extensive network with professionals in disability inclusion may be able to help you.