Teacher Exchange: Meet Elizabeth

Elizabeth has been teaching the English language to students in northern Uganda for 30 years. “I enjoy it so much, especially teaching grammar,” she told us recently. “It helps in composing stories. Once you understand grammar, composition is much more easy,” she explained.

Growing up in Gulu, Elizabeth decided that she wanted to be a teacher while in secondary school. Now, over 30 years later, one of the things that brings her the most joy is seeing her students become responsible adults in their communities. Currently, Elizabeth is teaching English at Sir Samuel Baker School.

Elizabeth has participated in the Teacher Exchange Program for three years in Uganda. The program, started in 2007, brings international educators to Uganda to team-teach in Invisible Children partner secondary schools for six-weeks, and takes a group of Ugandan educators to the U.S. every winter for three weeks. With the aim of enhancing present educational models and establishing long-term learning opportunities for all participants, the program lets educators engage in team teaching, information sharing, and skill-building conferences. In this round of the Teacher Exchange, Elizabeth and five other Ugandan teachers will travel to the U.S. at the end of the calendar year to team teach with U.S. educators.

Elizabeth can’t wait to interact with students and teacher in the United States. “I am looking forward to meeting the teachers in the U.S. and hearing about how they handle teaching the English language,” she said. “I also want to see how they encourage reading among the students because that can be so difficult and I see reading as one way to really improve knowledge of the English language.”

“I’m longing to meet them, I’m ready to meet them,” she smiled.

-Malorie

Teacher Exchange: Meet Joseph

Joseph was all smiles when we had a chance to talk about his upcoming trip to the United States.  As one of six Ugandan teachers who will be traveling to the United States at the end of the year, Joseph will team-teach with an international partner teacher for three weeks.  Joseph is traveling as a participant of the Teacher Exchange (TeX), an Invisible Children program designed to help both Ugandan and international teachers improve their teaching methods.  It aims to energize Ugandan teachers and their international counterparts by expanding their skill sets through bringing 20-30 secondary school teachers from abroad to teach and interact with Ugandan teachers for six weeks each summer, and sending a group of Ugandan teachers to do the same in the U.S. each winter.

Teaching geography at Layibi Secondary School for six years, Joseph decided to become a teacher because, “It gives you a wider knowledge, and the ability to be a role model in society.”  Now, with 22 years of experience under his belt, Joseph is more than excited to embark on his journey to the United States to continue widening his knowledge and experiences in life.

Joseph has been involved with the TeX in Uganda for two years, and tells of the students’ excitement when they see teachers from another culture in their classroom.  He cannot wait to travel to the U.S. to learn more teaching methods, and to share the students’ excitement.  He is also eager to learn about discipline management, and U.S. administration systems to help improve the operations at his school.

Joseph is ready to take on the challenge of teaching students of a different culture and background. We wish you the best of luck!

-Juliana

Teacher Exchange: Investing in northern Uganda’s teachers

Walter grew up in Pader District, in rural northern Uganda. As a young boy, he was impacted by his uncle, who was a Mathematics teacher. After watching the way that his uncle interacted with his students and the community, Walter’s mind was made up: he would study and become a teacher. “I used to admire his way of teaching,” Walter said, speaking of his uncle. “He was a Math teacher, so I gave myself the chance to learn more of Mathematics and follow his way. That’s why I am now also a Math teacher. I think he was the best example to me,” Walter explained with a proud smile.

After studying and achieving his dream, Walter taught Mathematics at several secondary schools in northern Uganda before settling into his current role, Head Teacher at Pabbo Secondary School. While serving as the Head Teacher, Walter has seen the impact that the Teacher Exchange has had on his school and community, and is looking forward to participating in the program in the United States.

Started in 2007, the Teacher Exchange brings international educators to Uganda to team-teach in Invisible Children partner secondary schools for six-weeks, and takes a group of Ugandan educators to the U.S. every winter for three weeks. With the aim of enhancing present educational models and establishing long-term learning opportunities for all participants, the program lets educators engage in team teaching, information sharing, and skill-building conferences. In this round of the Teacher Exchange, Walter and five other Ugandan teachers will travel to the U.S. at the end of the calendar year to team teach with U.S. educators.

During his stay in the U.S., Walter is looking forward to observing how American classrooms are run and managed and sharing with students about various aspects of Ugandan culture. He’s also interested in learning how to make Mathematics more relevant to his students’ everyday lives. “In case we are teaching Mathematics, I want to think of how we can continue to relate it to other subjects the students are learning as well,” he explained.

“I really hope this program continues,” Walter said. “You know, teaching is an investment. Every town I go to [in northern Uganda], I find a student I have taught at some point over the last 30 years, and I’m so proud of them,” he finished.

Good luck to Walter and rest of the Teacher Exchange participants!

-Malorie

Teacher Exchange: Meet Rosemary

Rosemary is one of six Ugandan teachers who will soon be traveling to the United States as part of the Teacher Exchange Program (TeX). The Teacher Exchange is designed to help both Ugandan and international teachers improve their teaching methods. The TeX aims to energize Ugandan teachers and their international counterparts by expanding their skill sets though bringing 20-30 secondary school teachers from abroad to teach and interact with Ugandan teachers for six weeks each summer, and sending a group of Ugandan teachers to do the same in the U.S. each winter.

Rosemary is in her 5th year of teaching English language and literature at Sacred Heart Secondary School – only a fraction of her 17 years of teaching experience that began in Moyo District, her place of origin. (more…)

Teacher Exchange: America, get ready for Denis!

When Denis was in primary school, he was inspired by his Mathematics teacher.  “He was very good – the way that he talked to pupils, the way that he handled Mathematics problems,” Denis explained.  “So, from that point…I decided to be a teacher.  When I joined Secondary School, I made sure that I performed well in Mathematics and focused so that I could become a teacher.”  His hard work eventually paid off.

Denis has been teaching for 8 years at Gulu Senior Secondary School, Invisible Children’s largest Schools for Schools (S4S) partner school, in terms of population.  He is a Math and Physics teacher, and has two years experience with the Teacher Exchange in Uganda, participating in 2008 and 2011.

An Invisible Children program started in 2007, the Teacher Exchange aims to enhance present educational models and establish long-term learning opportunities for both international and Ugandan teachers.  The program lets educators engage in team teaching, information sharing, and skill-building conferences in both the U.S. and Uganda.  In this round of the Teacher Exchange, Denis and five other Ugandan teachers will travel to the U.S. at the end of the calendar year to team teach with U.S. educators. (more…)

Teacher Exchange: Coming to America

Invisible Children Uganda Country Director, Jolly Okot, with the 2011 Reciprocal Teacher Exchange participants.

Last week, we had the chance to meet up with the six Ugandan educators who will be making their way to the United States at the end of the year to participate in the Teacher Exchange Program. The Teacher Exchange is a program that allows Ugandan and international educators to create teaching partnerships with their international counterparts. Begun in 2007 to enhance present educational models and establish long-term learning opportunities for all participants, the program lets educators engage in team teaching, information sharing, and skill-building conferences.

Each of the teachers participating in this round of the exchange have had experience with the program in Uganda, which hosts international educators and pairs them with Ugandan educators in our 11 Schools for Schools (S4S) partner schools.  They have all seen firsthand how the program has impacted their students and their schools in Uganda and are preparing to come to the U.S. to team teach in participating schools.  They are looking forward to spending time overseas. (more…)

Better World Books: we say thank you!

We just found out that our partners at Better World Books awarded us their “LEAP”  (Literacy and Education in Action) award which will fully fund our Reciprocal Teacher Exchange Program. Thanks to Better World Books, Ugandan teachers will now be able to come to the United States, each from a different Schools for Schools partner institution, and teach with a host teacher in a selected school in America. This remarkable experience not only makes a huge impact on the students and staff but the school’s community as well. Thank you Better World Books for believing in our programs and enabling us to do good work.

To learn more about the Reciprocal Teacher Exchange Program go here and also check out the “LEAP”awards at betterworldbooks.com.

Plans for Keyo Secondary School

After participating in a month-long Teacher Exchange (TeX) program in the U.S., Calistus has returned to Uganda with a lot to offer Keyo Secondary School.

While in the U.S., Calistus spent time in Missouri, teaching alongside U.S. educators at Rock Bridge High School and Gentry Middle School.  During his time there, he and the teachers he was working with were able to exchange teaching ideas and methods.

He explained that while the U.S. has access to a lot of resources that are not often available in northern Uganda, there were many fresh ideas he was able to bring back that will help raise the academic performance at Keyo S.S.

For example, as a result of what he experienced in the U.S., Calistus intends to carry out periodic meetings with teachers and students.  He feels these meetings will help increase teacher-student interactions and promote a participatory style of learning.

He never stops.  Calistus is determined to implement continuous assessment of teachers and students. He says this will lead to identification of teacher-student needs.

“Dealing with these problems will for sure raise academic performance, I have no doubt,” he said.  “I encourage more teachers to respond to the Teacher Exchange program because it is a great resource.  It will rejuvenate performance in northern Uganda.”

Welcome home, Calistus!

-Bernadette

USA or bust!

As part of Invisible Children’s Reciprocal Teacher Exchange Program (TReX), five teachers from northern Uganda will spend a few weeks team teaching in schools around the US.  Their journey starts today, and they’re excited!

Calistus, Head Teacher of Keyo Secondary School, has been looking forward to this moment for some time.  “When I come to the US, I think it will be like a dream I have been looking forward to achieve,” he said recently.   “I am a geography teacher.  I have been teaching about America, mainly from books, but I think that this is actually going to be an opportunity to see some of those things I was seeing in pictures; it will be an opportunity for me to even step on the soil of America.  When I come back I think that will actually be a historic moment.”

While in the US, Calistus and the other teachers will give presentations about East Africa and participate in team teaching, information sharing, and skill-building conferences.  They will leave the teachers and students in the US with a new understanding of northern Uganda and return with a new set of skills and knowledge of American culture.

“I have a lot of stories to tell the students and the teachers about northern Uganda,” Calistus said, “which I am so excited to share with them.”  We have a feeling that they’re just as excited to hear them, Calistus!

Good luck to all of our teachers participating in the TReX and a big thanks to their host families and schools!

-Malorie

On the ground: Teacher Exchange comes full circle

For the last nine years, Otto Ben Kasule has been teaching at Anaka Secondary School, a school out in rural northern Uganda.  Ben attended Anaka for grades S1—S4 [the equivalent of 7^th—10^th grade in the US] and credits the pride he felt for the school as his motivation for returning as a teacher.  Since his years as a student at Anaka, Ben has spent almost a full decade passing on the same pride and respect to his students that his teachers had instilled in him.

Due to the conflict in northern Uganda, Anaka was displaced to a temporary school site in 2000.  With the help of Invisible Children and other NGO’s, the school was able to return to its original site in 2008.  Since then, the school appears and feels “different,” as Ben explained.   Having overcome a difficult situation, everyone—teachers, students, and staff, alike—feel triumphant.  “There is now a higher morale and more motivation to help the school,” he said.

(more…)