About Leading Out – Teach Abroad with Confidence

Steven Lobodici

Steven is a certified and well-traveled teacher who has a genuine passion for people. He graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Since then, Steven has studied and taught in New Zealand, Australia and Canada. His employment at Leading Out has proven to be a real asset with his network of travel and educational contacts overseas. His desire to help others coupled with his experience in international education helps teachers feel comfortable and confident with their adventures abroad.

“The best way to learn is through the soles of your footsteps”

Riley Wignall

Riley Wignall is a professional copy writer and editor currently based in Montreal, Canada. A member of the PWAC, she has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a diploma in Professional Writing from Concordia University, and a diploma in Media Arts from Sheridan College. Riley studied abroad in school and currently works with people around the globe as a freelancer. She aims to bring the excitement of travel to life with Leading Out.

Tim Warmels

Tim Warmels is Leading Out’s Director of Business Development. He is a graduate with Honours from Western University’s Ivey Business program. Tim is well travelled and knows the joys living abroad can bring. Leaving home at age 16 to be an exchange student for a year in Chile taught him the hardships and rewards of making a new life in a strange place. He has lived in Syndey, Australia, travelled the entire coast of Australia, and explored much of New Zealand too.

Lucy Lobodici

Lucy Lobodici has been with our company since our early years. She comes with an administrative support background in International Education and Special Event Coordination at her local community College. In that role she gained extensive experience in dealing with many cultures and diverse educational trends. In addition, she loves working with people and brings this spirit to her position at Leading Out. Lucy has travelled extensively and has made numerous trips to Australia and New Zealand. She loves sending teachers down under and shares in their joy and excitement in starting a new experience.

Jennifer Shank

Jenn is an American teacher currently living in Texas. After teaching for two years in Austin, Texas she was bit by the travel bug, and wanted to have a more global impact in her career. She found Leading Out and moved to Melbourne, Australia in 2018. During her time in Australia, she visited every State, as well as nearby countries like New Zealand, Indonesia, Fiji, Vanuatu, and more! She spent three years teaching in Melbourne and traveling the area. In her second year, she found her partner and became a permanent resident in Australia. She recently returned to the US and joined Leading Out’s recruitment team to pass on this amazing opportunity to likeminded educators. She is passionate about literacy development in young readers and culturally responsive education. She is also passionate about long hikes, sunny beach days, and spending as much time with animals as possible!

Linnea Kalchos

Linnea Kalchos is a certified teacher who taught and lived in Melbourne, Australia for three years, where she travelled to three countries and seven Australian States and completed her regional work to secure her additional visas. She graduated from Queen’s University’s concurrent education program with a specialization in international education. Linnea has studied and taught in four countries as a high school humanities teacher and has a special interest in social-emotional programming, English Language Learners and special education. She is passionate about helping teachers find passion and purpose through diverse experiences working overseas.

Sam Hogenhout

Sam Hogenhout is Leading Out’s Head Recruitment Specialist. He has vast experiences teaching at schools and youth camps throughout Canada, Spain, Australia, and the UK. After signing up as a teacher with Leading Out and having an amazing year living and teaching in Melbourne, he decided he wanted to get involved with the company and pay the opportunity forward to other likeminded educators.

Grace McClelland

Grace is a certified teacher who is currently living in Calgary, Alberta. She has always loved travelling and exploring different parts of the world which led her to becoming a teacher with a specialisation in international education. After completing her concurrent education program at Queen’s University she moved and taught for a year in Melbourne, Australia. While in Australia she travelled around the country while also making stops in SE Asia, Fiji and Hawaii! Grace can’t wait to help other teachers connect with their dreams of teaching abroad. She hopes they can make as many great memories as she did while working and doing what they love!

Katie Campbell

Katie Campbell is a Canadian teacher currently residing in Quebec, who landed her dream job teaching Physical Education, after an incredible year teaching in Australia with Leading Out. During her time in Australia, she visited 9 countries and succeeded in visiting each unique Australian State. Her experience teaching abroad with Leading Out was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and she continues to be passionate about helping new teachers gain the same kind of enriching life and teaching experiences.

Megan Vander Lugt

Megan graduated with her elementary education degree in 2017. Looking to try something new, she had her first international traveling experience moving halfway across the world to become a teacher with Leading Out in Melbourne, Australia. During her year teaching in Australia, Megan was able to visit every State and hike endless mountains. This was just the start of her international traveling and teaching career. Following her time in Australia, she went on to teach in South Korea and Sweden, as well as visited 30 countries. In 2021 she made the tough decision to move back to the US where she completed a graduate program at USD. Megan is eager to help other teachers start/continue their teaching careers in New Zealand and Australia- a place that will forever hold a special place in her heart.

Charlie Glossop

Charlie is a qualified PE teacher currently living in Leeds, England. Charlie graduated from Leeds Beckett University in 2018, with a first-class degree in (BA Hons) Physical Education. Following graduation, he then went onto teaching and leadership roles in a school in Leeds. Several years later, Charlie joined Leading Out to challenge himself professionally and personally. He embarked on a new teaching experience in Melbourne, Australia – a life changing experience. He has since retuned to England and is passionate in supporting colleagues looking to teach aboard.

Daphna Roytblat

Daphna is a primary school teacher currently living in Toronto, Ontario. Daphna’s journey into teaching started with her concurrent education program at Queen’s University. After graduating, she lived in Northern England before she set off to Melbourne, Australia, where she taught for almost two years. Her time there wasn’t just about lesson plans and classroom adventures; Daphna explored Thailand, Vietnam, Hawaii, Singapore, and (almost) every nook of Australia itself. Daphna is eager to help fellow educators connect with their dreams of globe-trotting while making memories as epic as her own.

Claudia Calagoure-Perna

Claudia Calagoure-Perna is a dedicated Canadian teacher living in Ottawa, Ontario. She earned her teaching degree from Nipissing University in 2023 and has since qualified to teach from Kindergarten through to Year 12, thanks to her additional Basic Qualifications (ABQs). Claudia had an incredible year teaching Physical Education in Melbourne, an opportunity made possible through her connections at Leading Out. During her time in Australia, she embraced the chance to explore, visiting two countries and traveling to five of the six states, with Western Australia being her favorite. Claudia is eager to share her passion and experiences with others, helping them discover the amazing opportunities that await them down under!