Training the next generation of Haitian teachers: Moving from concept to reality

The transition of the Educator and Leadership Institute (ELI) in Haiti has started. This weekend, we are working with 28 Haitian educational leaders to prepare them for increasing responsibilities in ELI. In 10 steps, here's what this means:

1. In meetings held between 2014-2015, we agreed with our Haitian partners that a core value of ELI must be sustainability. We determined that we (the Canadian partners) would support ELI for five years, from 2016-2020 and that we would "train the trainer" so that our Haitian colleagues would take on increasingly levels of responsibility.

2. In 2017, we asked our Canadian instructors to identify the key Haitian  leaders in each of their courses. Our instructional coordinator (Jhonel Morvan) met with these participants and confirmed their interest.

Steve Sider (left) and Jhonel Morvan (right)

3. In August 2018, this group met with Jhonel during ELI to initiate some training. They were connected through a WhatsApp group (technology to support communication).

4. In November 2018 we received funding from the Gay Lea Foundation to support a specialized weekend of training.

5. Communication ensued with our Haitian partners and the "instructional champions" to coordinate a weekend of training.

6. That weekend is here! Our Canadians team is made up of four people: One French language high school principal from Oakville (Josee Landriault), one French language elementary vice principal from Ottawa (Nimo Ahmed), one French language staff (Jhonel Morvan) of the Ontario Ministry of Education, and me,

Sr. Viergina, our key Haitian partner

7. We arrived Thursday and spent our evening meeting with Sr. Vierginat, the Haitian principal who has been our key partner since establishing ELI. We also prepared our materials for the training.

8. Yesterday, we toured four schools in Cap-Haitien, observing classes and meeting with administrators to get a better sense of the diversity of educational experiences in Haiti. In the afternoon, the training began. It continued all day today.

Josee Landriault, a Canadian instructor, meeting girls from one of our partner schools

9. There are 28 participants in the training. They have all participated in ELI, some for all three years.There are 16 women and 12 men. The majority are from the north of Haiti but four have come from Port au Prince (a minimum six hour drive ... on a good day!). They are all key leaders and educational champions.

A collaborative vision for education in Haiti!

10. The training has focused on a few key areas that respond to the following questions: How does social change occur? How do we develop a vision and an action plan for change? How will we work together to see this change take place? Here are some pictures from the training:

Our participants!

Nimo Ahmed, one of our Canadian instructors

Now what? We now have a core group of Haitian instructional leaders for ELI who will start teaching with our Canadian instructors this summer. Eventually, they will be ELI!

So what? Education is the basis of change. Haiti has the change agents to enact this. We have met with some of these champions this weekend. Their teaching and leadership skills have been enhanced as a result of this weekend's training. Change will happen in Haiti through their efforts. The children of Haiti will be the ultimate beneficiaries.

Why do we do what we do? See above for the reason!

This weekend's training would not have been possible without the financial sponsorship and staff support of both the Gay Lead Foundation and Wilfrid Laurier University. I am incredibly appreciative!