“CELEBRATING EDUCATION: Education Empowers, Creating Change, Nurturing Minds, Embracing the Future”.

Many years ago the yearning to become a teacher was burning within me. Unfortunately, for me, I came from a single parent family and was living within the poverty level on the South Side of Belize City. My attempt of becoming a teacher was delayed since immediately after graduating from Saint Catherines Academy I sat and successfully passed my entrance exams to attend the then Teachers Collage but soon realized that the stipend given would not suffice my financial needs at the time so I had to withdraw from the program and postponed my dream and became a Public Officer. I spent over fifteen years within the Public Service but I never gave up the aspiration of one day being in the classroom as a teacher. After leaving the Public Service and staying at home for three years, I decided to vehemently peruse my passion and first love.
My interest was even further sparked when one of my children encountered some terrible experiences with teachers at a certain school. These experiences made me more determined and motivated me to believe that if I could positively influence children in the classroom to become the best they could ever be without having to live the experiences of my child, then I would be doing a great service to God’s Children.
In 2008, I was given the opportunity to teach at Santa Elena Primary School. At that time if I was asked whether or not having the pedagogical training of a teacher was important, I would have said a resounding “NO”. I found teaching very natural and I was comfortable in my class. I was fortunate to have colleagues who were more than willing to share their knowledge and experiences with me which made my transition into the classroom easy. After almost three years in the class I still embrace the experience with joy, although I have changed my mindset towards pedagogical training.
My change in thinking about the importance of pedagogical training was gradual. It was further solidified in August of 2010 .Our school staff decided that we would embark on a Leadership Training Program. Mrs. Abigail Wade of the National resource Center for Inclusive Education (NARCIE) and Dr. Jennifer Morrow from Independent Day School (Corbett Campus, Tampa) are the chief coordinators, who with the Belize National Energy Trust launched this whole-school initiative to promote teacher efficacy and inclusion.
We have been taught and instructed by a number of dynamic presenters in different subject areas, but what most impressed me was the fact that although the training was and still is a bit intense, the information imparted opened a new world for me as an educator.
Many of the strategies and techniques shared are similar to what I was already doing but did not have a label or method. The idea of multiple intelligences and the lectures on Brain research, and how the brain functions, have given me new insight into how to best nurture each students God given potential, and to appreciate the “ Uniqueness” of all learners.
Over the past year, I have tried many of the strategies, which were modeled, and for me they have all been successful, contributing to productivity and cooperation in the classroom. My experience through these professional development sessions has been meaningful. It has also provided me with ideas on how to plan effectively for learning to occur. I know have better classroom management skills; the ability to recognize the different needs displayed by students ant to cater for those individual learning needs within a classroom setting. This allowed for richer diversity and total inclusion.
For me the biggest change has been the realization that although being academically qualified does not translate to “Teacher of the Year”, It however makes me more equipped and prepared to deliver quality education and instruction. This program has made us at Santa Elena Primary School feel ready to face all future challenges and to address current issues with hope and a positive attitude.
Most recently a workshop was held on Monday 2nd May, 2011 that was conducted by Mrs. Judy Diego who is the chairperson for the Teachers Services Commission. She brought with her a wealth of knowledge and experiences. Her lecture was dynamic, hammering home the idea that as teachers we should set the example and model the way through mentorship and self efficacy. We are encouraged not only to be professionals, but to pursue excellence with love and passion for such a noble vocation. We were humbled by her commitment to facilitate this workshop on a public holiday, and applaud her for being a role model and true educator. In light of celebrating education through two weeks of meaningful activities, I must say that we are empowered to create change, nurture minds and embrace our future.
Marie Fernandez
Santa Elena R.C. Primary School
Santa Elena Town, Cayo District

Santa Elena Primary School working hand in hand with the Teaching Services Commission

Santa Elena RC School is a primary school located in Santa Elena Town, Cayo District. It houses a population of over a thousand students and boasts of a staff of 38 diligent teachers. The teachers at Santa Elena Primary School have been participating in a Teachers Leadership Program since August of 2010. The program focuses on improving teacher efficacy with a concentration on creating a brain-friendly environment for all students. The co-coordinators of the program are Mrs. Abigail Wade from The Ministry of Education ,District Education Center-Cayo and Dr. Jennifer Morrow from Independent Day School in Tampa Florida, in collaboration with the Belize Natural Energy Trust.
Since its inception the teachers have had to attend several workshops on weekends, holidays and after school hours; taking into consideration the need to maintain contact hours with our students and the importance of keeping children engaged at all times. We are honing our skills on our time and not the children’s time.
This past Monday May 2, 2011, we had the wonderful opportunity of attending a workshop on Mentoring and Teacher Leadership. It was facilitated by Mrs. Judy Diego, the chairperson for the Teaching Services Commission. The staff at Santa Elena Primary school prides themselves in developing an Olympic mentality where the best keep getting better. They remained engaged through all the sessions, intent on learning more so that they can deliver better.
Mrs. Diego’s presentations focused on how all teachers are leaders and schools will get better if they see themselves in that light. We learnt that teachers need to embrace ownership and take responsibility for the running of the school. The function and operation of the school is not only left up to the administrators but everyone must work together towards the common goals of the school. It is also key for all partners to find their role in the progress and development of all school programs, especially parents. Mrs. Diego reinforced the importance of us seeing ourselves as leaders by conducting several activities which were thought provoking and stimulating.
Mrs. Diego knows the importance of respecting and honoring our invaluable teachers. She concluded the session by presenting each teacher with a certificate that stated three words that best described the individual teacher. It reflected what they personally thought of themselves if they were to be awarded as ‘Teacher of the year’. This activity added the icing on the cake; the teachers felt appreciated and honored by this deed.
At Santa Elena Primary School we are trying to develop a culture that really believes that ‘It’s All About Kids’, because we see the children as priority and their individual needs and learning styles as important. Then we recognize the need to ensure that we are equipping ourselves with current trends of learning and strategies for quality instruction. The principal and staff of Santa Elena Primary School are truly grateful for Mrs. Diego for spending her holiday with us, it shows her level of commitment in guaranteeing that we have Quality Education for Quality Schools.
In February of this year three of our teachers and the principal, Mr. Manuel Medina, travelled to Tampa Florida where they took part in workshops conducted by Kagan Institute. The teachers came back rejuvenated and eager to share what they learned. Ten other teachers from SEPS are raising funds to attend the Summer Academy in Orlando, Florida. If you would like to assist us in making this venture possible, please contact us at: DEC-Cayo, 824-2271 (Mrs. Abigail Wade) or SEPS, 824-2919 (Mrs. Deborah Reneau, Vice-Principal).

HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY TO ALL TEACHERS!