Beginning with our opening session on June 23 through many hours of working, planning, learning and playing together during the following ten days, our 2015 Summer Session was a huge success!
Four Haitians traveled to New Albany this year for the summer session: Laura Desmangles and Father Luxo returned, joined by Jean Renol Josselin and William Philippe. Laura, Josselin and Philippe are all Tek4Kids teachers in our partner schools in Jeremie, Haiti, while Father Luxo is curriculum director at St. Louis High School in Jeremie.
Gary Boice, Tek4Kids president, outlined three goals for the summer session: breaking the barriers of distance, language and culture, increasing our sense of being and working together as a team and improved communication as team members.
In addition to some time for relaxation and recreation, the group spent most days in learning sessions taught by local experts in their fields. Sessions covered included such topics as professionalism and ethics (Bob Glaser), teacher responsibility (Laura Glaser), classroom management (Rosie Young), differentiated instruction (Bonnia Fouts), technology in education (Donna Brown) and a visit to the boice.net offices for sessions with Bill Hall, Keith Grieshaber and Yemi Sulaimon. Big thanks to our translators who helped throughout the summer session: Tanja Berger, Anne-Marie Dather, Jessica Roseberry and Rose Yunker.
A quote by Nelson Mandela provided a great foundation of our time together this year: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
