Record Number of Teachers for Open Books, Open Minds 2025
This is always such an exciting time of year for everyone at Global Learning Exchange Initiative (GLXiⓇ) .
Guatemalan classrooms are once again filled with teachers and students. GLXi-donated supplies have been delivered to schools (more on that in our last blog post). And a new cycle of our teacher training program, Open Books, Open Minds, is now underway!
When we last updated you on the 2025 teacher training cycle, it was to tell you about the high number of applications that we received from some of Guatemala’s more underserved regions, and in particular, Quiché.
We mentioned GLXi’s efforts to expand our reach of high-quality resources to those areas.
At the time, we didn’t yet know how many applicants we’d be able to accept, and from where. All we knew was we were going to try our very best, with finite resources, to meet the extremely high demand for our programming.
A total of 61 teachers are participating in the "Libros Abiertos, Mentes Abiertas" program for 2025, representing 8 regions of Guatemala:
Sacatepéquez
Totonicapán
Quiché
Santa Rosa
Quetzaltenango
Zacapa
Chimaltenango
Sololá
Well, we have some great news. With the 2025 teacher training cycle, we are introducing a record number of teachers to our curriculum! We have accepted 61 teachers into this year’s program, up from 57 the prior year, and 45 in 2023.
It feels so good to grow! And your support is helping us do that.
The teachers hail from eight regions of Guatemala, across the following grades: 7 pre-primary teachers, 23 first grade teachers, 12 second grade teachers, 8 third grade teachers and 11 teachers who serve multiple grades.
"I applied because I’ve always wanted to grow as a teacher and provide better opportunities for my students,’ said Onilia Jovita de León Calderón, a teacher at EORM El Edén in Quetzaltenan. “When I found out I was accepted, I felt so proud and excited—it was like a dream come true!"
Benefits of Open Books, Open Minds Teacher Training
Several of the new trainees who we spoke to said they learned of the program from other teachers who participated and realized its benefits.
“Seeing how their classrooms improved and hearing about their positive experiences definitely motivated me to join,” said Sara Amarilis Velásquez Rodríguez, a teacher at EORM JM Aldea Los Cipreses in Totonicapán.
Reyes Manuel Ventura Pol, a teacher at EORM Cantón Tzanimacabaj in Quiché, also heard about Open Books, Open Minds from a teacher who graduated from the program.
“She shared her experience and showed me how it transformed her teaching,” he said. “That really inspired me to apply."
Many trainees said they were drawn to the program for the breadth of opportunities that it offers, or because there was an immediate need in their school or classroom.
On March 7, the 2025 teacher trainees met for their second session, which focused on movement, mental processes, and age-appropriate reading and writing activities.
Some schools require teachers to rotate between different grade levels, and the teachers said transitioning to lower grades can be particularly challenging.
In these moments, they often feel the need for fresh ideas and creative approaches to strengthen reading and writing skills.
GLXi is a valuable resource, because we can provide them with practical tools and innovative strategies that not only enhance their teaching, but also create meaningful, lasting impacts on their students’ lives.
“As a teacher, I think this training will give me more confidence and new ideas to address challenges in the classroom. For my students, it will mean a more dynamic learning environment where they can develop a stronger foundation in reading and writing,” Mrs. Velásquez said.
What the Teacher Training Looks Like
The training, which consists of 18 one- or two-hour sessions plus supplemental gatherings for the final project, has already begun. Teachers who graduate from our program will also have the option to participate in our ongoing Open Minds in Action workshop program, which includes 12 sessions over the course of a school year.
As in the past, these sessions are entirely virtual to ensure we can reach the most teachers across the broadest geographical area. Because the training is ongoing throughout the school year, teachers can use their new techniques and tools immediately in their classrooms.
"Conducting training during the school year allows teachers to immediately apply what they are learning, creating a direct and measurable impact on their students' learning experiences,” explained Juan Fernando Porres, GLXi’s Education Director. “This hands-on integration helps ensure the training's relevance and effectiveness."
Teachers will explore innovative tools and approaches to improve literacy education in their classrooms. We will include a mix of theoretical and practical sessions, focusing on:
Guided reading and writing
Independent reading and writing
Vocabulary
Reading time
“I’m most looking forward to learning strategies for teaching reading and writing,” said Mrs. Calderón, the EORM El Edén teacher. “I also can’t wait to explore the materials and activities that will make lessons more interactive and fun for my students.”
Mr. Ventura, the teacher in Quiché, said he was a little nervous adding the training on top of his existing teaching responsibilities, but “I know it will be worth it.”
“I feel a mix of excitement and curiosity,” he said. “I’m eager to meet other teachers from different regions and learn from their experiences.”
Opportunities to Grow Our Program
This year’s teacher training selection process was especially challenging due to the large number of highly qualified candidates who applied.
It is worth noting that 139 teachers applied in total – more than double the number of the current class of trainees.
This underscores GLXi's growing reputation as a valuable resource for teachers seeking to enhance their skills in literacy and innovative pedagogy.
While we unfortunately could not accommodate everyone — even with expanding the current class to record levels — GLXi remains committed to growing its reach. We are exploring ways to scale our impact in future training cycles.
This includes seeking additional funding and partnerships to support more teachers while maintaining the quality of the training.
For those who were not accepted this year, we encourage you to apply again in the future as spaces become available!
You can help support the next class of teachers by donating to GLXi here.