Cabarrus Educators Venture to Mexico
By Justin Vick, Independent Tribune, Concord, N.C.
Jul. 31–Eight educators from Cabarrus County Schools have returned from a 10-day trip to Mexico with a better understanding of how to connect to the system’s fast-growing Hispanic population.
They were among 33 North Carolina school officials involved in the Latino Initiative for Educators, a program for those employed in school systems with high or increasing numbers of Hispanic students. Mecklenburg and Union county teachers joined them.
The June trip included school visits, discussions with Mexican educators, guided tours of cultural and historic sites and a weekend stay with a Mexican family.
“It was so enlightening to go there and get a better understanding of the culture and differences,” said Kecia Cohn, principal of J.N. Fries Middle School. “This will give me some conversation pieces that I can talk with some of our students about. With any student, we’re trying to find something relative to them.”
Amy Jablonski, assistant principal of instruction at A.T. Allen Elementary, said the trip would also complement “Sheltered Instruction” techniques the system is using to help students struggling with English.
Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol, also known as SIOP, targets students learning English as a second language by teaching math, science and social studies simultaneously with language development skills.
“The trip helps with teaching strategies to better serve those kids,” Jablonski said. “Using the experience from Mexico and talking with administrators, teachers and children (over there) will help our teachers understand where our students are coming from to better meet their needs.”
Sarah Scott, a fifth-grade teacher at Weddington Hills Elementary, said she couldn’t wait to introduce Mexican culture to non-Hispanic students. She said her experiences would help give students a better understanding and respect for cultural differences.
“Every person who went walked away with a lasting experience,” Jablonski said. “It’s going to be wonderful seeing how this rolls out to the rest of the system in the fall.”
The 10-day program in Mexico City and Guanajuato was sponsored by the Center for International Understanding, a public service program of the UNC System. The center also helps participants create new lesson plans, policies or programs.
–Contact Justin Vick: 704-789-9138
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