In this update, we will be highlighting our JRF teaching staff and our philosophy about their role in our educational program.
We know that quality teachers are the building blocks of education. Without them, we could not provide a complete experience for our children, and without skilled teachers, we could not provide effective programs. We have placed a high priority on developing a competent, long-term teaching staff since arriving in Jacmel.
One of the ways in which we are doing this is by hiring entirely local. For years, the JRF operated largely with the help of international interns because well-trained educators were hard to come by. Our interns were valuable and certainly helped us, but we have always believed that, when possible, local staff is best. We can take our time training and developing important skills with them and know that we won’t have to do it again in a year. We get to build a strong team that will bond with the children for years to come, and train the team to learn the particular culture and values that the JRF promotes.
A recent picture of all the JRF staff. From left : JP (Assistant Director), Madame Belizaire (teacher), Madame Noline (teacher), Catherine, David, Momo (cook), Tanya (cook), Ruth (Education Program Developer), Boloko (assistant), and Madame Mama (teacher).
One of the greatest improvements in our education program is having hired a French Program Developer. Ruth Saintil was hired in July of last year to take charge of developing our French curriculum and has done a wonderful job. Ruth is passionate, hard-working, thoughtful, and speaks Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole. She spent five years studying in the Dominican Republic, so she can relate even more to our children, who have a lot of Dominican culture. Just a couple months in to her time with us, Ruth told Catherine (me) that she feels so inspired and moved by the work of the JRF, and that she doesn’t just view the JRF as her job, but also as something she can contribute to that is much greater. She has invested her energy into all areas of the Foundation, and has strong and personal relationships with the children and families. She regularly shares her ideas and knowledge to help the Foundation advance. Ruth has shown us with her humility, openness to learn, and willingness to work hard that she will continue to make an excellent manager in the long-term. We are incredibly lucky to have found Ruth, and she feels the same way about us.
Ruth helping out some first grade students in the library.
Our teaching staff currently consists of three teachers, plus Ruth, and we will be expanding the staff with two more teachers in the near future. Madame Mama, Madame Noline, and Madame Belizaire are all hard-working, patient, and kind people. Madame Mama has been with the JRF since we arrived in Jacmel and has truly shown a ton of growth. She started with her limited knowledge of lesson planning and activities in the classroom, and now easily follows our methodology and is even appreciative. She also runs her own preschool and says that she has implemented a lot of what she has learned with us in her own school. All of our teachers have shown appreciation for the workshops and support that we offer. They have learned more about behavior management, fun classroom ideas, and even health.
We believe in the importance of offering a secure and open work environment. We hold our teachers to high standards, and in return we offer better pay, ask for fewer hours, and provide constant support. We want our teachers to buy into the work that the JRF is accomplishing and love our children as more than students. It brings us a lot of pleasure to see our teachers take pride in their work when they ask a student personal questions about school or family, stick around after hours to make sure a child understands material, or jump up and down joyously celebrating a good grade on an exam. Our teachers bring in snacks and prizes with money from their own pocket, and one teacher even baked a cake after a great week with her classes.
As always, none of this would be possible without your donations and support. Together we are accomplishing our mission.
