Rising to the Challenge: A New Class of GLXi Teachers Graduates

Alejandra Lemus Duarte participates in the virtual GLXi teacher training graduation.

Alejandra Lemus Duarte began dreaming of becoming a teacher when she was just a child. Now, more than 30 years later, she’s proud of all she’s accomplished, including her more recent achievement - graduation from the Global Learning Exchange Initiative (GLXi) Open Books, Open Minds teacher training program.

“Since I was a child I had a great desire to teach - my inspiration was my fourth grade teacher,” Duarte said. “I want to contribute to education and to my students, so they are people with principles, values and well-educated academically, and prepare them to have a better future.” 

Duarte said she believes the GLXi program will help her do just that by providing her with the tools she needs to help her students overcome challenges.

“GLXi has prepared me for this 2023 (school year) to give a quality education to our students,” Duarte said. “I will have the opportunity to share my knowledge and give students new opportunities with the strategies and support material that will be very useful for them.”

Duarte was one of 45 teachers who participated in this past year’s teacher training program, which was conducted virtually and consisted of 18 training sessions throughout the school year. (In Guatemala, the school year runs February through November). 

It was GLXi’s largest class of teachers to date. Duarte and the other teachers contributed with creativity and enthusiasm, while still managing their teaching responsibilities despite the challenging circumstances created by the pandemic. Not an easy task. 

The teacher training program concluded with a beautiful virtual graduation ceremony on January 7. It was one of our most special ceremonies yet, and we couldn’t have been more proud of this class of teachers.

Lisseth Vasquez participates in the virtual GLXi teacher training graduation.

Teaching and Training in the Pandemic Aftermath

After the COVID-19 pandemic, in collaboration with our in-country Open Books, Open Minds  curriculum professionals.GLXi adapted its teacher training model. 

We leveraged virtual learning as a solution to travel restrictions and quarantine lockdowns. 

And we asked participating teachers to trust us through this process, with the promise that it would help them emerge from the pandemic with more tools, resources and opportunities to reach the students who need help the most. 

Our 2021 virtual teacher training program confirmed we had created a more sustainable solution for our training and curriculum delivery. The 2022 class of teachers was the first to reap the benefits of what had been a learning experience for all of us. 

“As for challenges during the pandemic, there were many, but all those challenges made us stronger,” Duarte said. “GLXi came to be a great support for me in 2022, helping me to overcome these challenges, especially for me because I was teaching second grade. The Open Books, Open Minds program helped me a lot - this training has taught me a lot.”

Still, it was not easy. These teachers were completing their training while trying to help their own students return to the classroom from remote learning. Imagine the challenges of that transition alone. 

Students did not return to in-class teaching until July. Before then, teachers conducted classes with students virtually or with some form of hybrid arrangement (school to home and back in small groups, i.e. “bubbles.”)

Yet these 45 educators completed the program with aplomb, while helping their students find success and a sense of security back in the classroom. 

The entire graduating class achieved a satisfactory average of over 90% in participation and attendance. That is quite an achievement, given the backdrop they were navigating. 

Blondi Salazar participates in the virtual GLXi teacher training graduation.

Celebrating Graduating Teachers

A graduation ceremony literally recognizes the value of learning.

Ours was virtual, just as the training had been, and it was intended as an integrating activity and a positive conclusion to the program. In other words, we wanted these teachers to
know how inspired we were by their efforts and successes!

As part of their training, the teachers had been instructed on how to prepare recorded, virtual lessons for their students, use digital content, write short stories around vocabulary words, and use apps creatively to engage their students. 

“I really enjoyed seeing my children's interest in reading, especially when we started reading the books we received from GLXi,” Duarte said. “I was surprised to see how they read them in such a short time and with good fluency and comprehension applying all the guidelines received. All this is a great support to the teacher as well as to the student. I am super grateful to GLXi for this.” 

As a final project, they were asked to use all of those skills to create digital books for students, to expand upon a wide virtual library available to all of our GLXi teachers for use in the classroom.

During the graduation ceremony, we recognized five teacher books that stood out, although all were quite impressive! Two of those teachers read their books aloud. We also gave honorable mentions to the five that received the best grades. (See them listed below.)

While virtual, we could feel the tangible enthusiasm from all who participated. 

We are grateful to work with such committed teachers, who share GLXi’s goal: to reach the children of Guatemala to strengthen their thinking process and give freedom through the positive idea of opening their minds.

GLXi congratulates all of the graduating teachers and encourages them to bring their love of reading and writing into their classrooms!

Teacher Books receiving Special Recognition:

First place: "Mi maestra es una Dragón" or "Mrs. Dragon, the Teacher" in English, written by Elvis Gabriel Choc Pérez

Second place: "Salchicha con Patas" or "Sausage with legs", in English,  written by Rosalío Socorec. 

Third place: "El conejito de los dientes de Oro" or "The Little Rabbit with the Golden Teeth" by Susana Urizar

Fourth place: "Sam, el perro fiel" or "Sam, the Loyal Friend" by Alejandra Lemus Duarte

Fifth place: "Un día mágico" or "A magical day" by Angélica Monzón. 

Five best grades: 

First place: Carmen Eneyda Guamuch

Second place: Alejandra Lemus Duarte

Third place: Lilian Carolina Monroy

Fourth place: Sandra Carolina Perez

Fifth place: Ana Elizabeth Perez