Central American Teachers attend PAC

Central American teachers attend PAC
By Angie Santos
Pulse Staff Reporter

Seventeen rural Central American teachers are attending Palo Alto to learn how to become better teachers. This is the second year Palo Alto has hosted this program.

Back in January of 1999, the first group of teachers was welcomed on campus. The Cooperative Association of States (CASS), a division of USAID, made this program possible through scholarships.

The mission of the Primary Education Teacher Training is to “provide experienced rural teachers with skills and training to enhance their classroom performance and to advocate for primary education in their communities.”

The teachers will learn strategies to develop school support networks beyond the classroom that will focus on incorporating parents into school life; building partnerships with businesses to support the school in the community; and working with NGOs (Non- Governmental Organizations) and other organizations to increase support for primary education, according to the Primary Education Teacher Training manual.

Many of the Central American teachers here at Palo Alto spoke of their students’ poverty level. In addition, they spoke of how their schools have no electricity, no running water, more than 40 students in each class with only one teacher, and more than three grade levels per classroom.

The teachers are happy to be here and plan to take advantage of this opportunity to learn as much as they can. The 17 are: Elena Chicas Vigil (El Salvador), Reginalda Cordon Garcia (Guatemala), Clementina Hernandez Sanchez (Nicaragua), Jimmy Allen Sandoval (Honduras), Maritza Morales Carrasco (Nicaragua), Maklin Arraza Gomez (El Salvador), Leopoldo Caal Alvarado (Guatemala), Bayron Chavez Agustin (Guatemala), Medardo Hernandez Iglesias (El Salvador), Francisco Montes Altamirano (Nicaragua), Marisol Olivas Molina (Nicaragua), Norma Ruiz Martinez (Honduras), Omayra Trotman Castillo (Panama), Santos Cristina Cayetano Alvarez (Guatemala), Edelio Perez Morris (Panama), Asterio Ramirez Garcia (Panama), and Walter Urbina Mencia (Honduras).

“I want to learn what the students learn so I can take it back to my country and use it to benefit my students,” said Caal.

Morales agreed, “I want to be a leader for my students, fellow teachers and for my community.”

The following faculty and staff are making the Central American colegas’ experience here much easier by mentoring them: Rosa Samelson, Maria Antonieta Galvan, Valerie Chavez, Diane Greene, Marianna Ornelas, Irene Scharf, Irma Sanchez, Lydia Hannawi, Eloisa Cordova, Olivia Eisenhauer, Jose Trevino, Mark Hogensen, Jessie Dominguez, John Trilling, Mario Ramirez, Roberta Ziegler, Diane Lerma, Yolanda Reyna, Joyce Flaugher, Eleanor Skelley, Alfonso Marquez, Fermin Ortiz and Denise Barkis Richter.

“Palo Alto is the best place to be. It is quiet and peaceful, with respect and security,” said Perez.