In early 2013, Edwin Yaxón, District Supervisor of San Antonio Palopó, met with Child Aid’s board of directors. He had many positive things to say about the Reading for Life literacy program. Before becoming District Supervisor, Yaxón had participated in Child Aid trainings as a teacher at the Agua Escondida school. He had seen, first-hand, the effectiveness of the program in preparing teachers and improving students’ reading skills.
But there was one comment Yaxón made during the meeting that particularly stuck out for Child Aid CEO Nancy Press. At the time, Child Aid was working with four of the district’s thirteen primary schools. When asked how Child Aid could help him build on these successes, Yaxón quickly responded. Saying that he would like to see Reading for Life in all of the primary schools in his district. “It was first time that we had had an invitation from a District Supervisor to work with an entire district,” says Press. “It really got us thinking about what the advantages and opportunities would be to work at the district level. Rather than on a school-by-school basis.” Yaxón’s comment spurred additional conversations and planning that have culminated in a “district-wide” initiative to bring Reading for Life to all of San Antonio Palopo’s schools.
For the 2014 school year, Child Aid is working in nine new schools in the district. While also continuing programs in four others. To accommodate this growth and meet the new demands, we have added to our literacy training staff. The Child Aid team is also working with a committee of education leaders from the district. Working to develop a series of training workshops for the district’s principals to be held throughout the year. The objective of the workshops will be to help principals sustain the literacy program when Child Aid leaves. That way they can effectively manage the continued professional development of their teachers.
Country Director John van Keppel says this new partnership with the San Antonio Palopo district is a great opportunity. His team can work at the district level to facilitate greater communication and cooperation between teachers, principals and schools.
“We have become very good at working at the classroom level. Wev’e been engaging teachers and helping them become more effective at promoting reading, writing and learning skills.” says van Keppel. “But we haven’t focused as much outside of the classroom. With the school principals, district supervisors, parents and the broader community. With this partnership, we have the opportunity work directly with the principals and district supervisor and to learn what it takes to integrate them. We want them in the program and to engage them in our efforts to improve education in their schools.”
The Child Aid team has met with Yaxón and the San Antonio Palopo principals several times in the lead-up the new school year. Introducing them to the program and soliciting their feedback and advice on how best to implement it in their schools. That process will continue with the workshops, which van Keppel expects to be very interactive and participatory.
“It has been important for us to include the school directors from the very beginning,” says van Keppel. “This is partly because we know that if they participate in the implementation of the program they will feel a sense of ownership. They will want it to be successful. But also, their involvement will ensure the long-term sustainability of the program, which is one of our primary goals.”
“We are going to learn a tremendous amount from this process,” adds Press, “which will inform our work in other schools and districts. I’m hopeful that it will generate more communication between teachers, principals and schools and that this initiative will be a jumping off point for engaging parents and the community as well. Because the more people we get involved in the process of education the better it is for the success of the kids.”