Rabun Gap teachers collab with Honduran colleagues

Passion for students and a love of learning transcends borders.

That’s the conclusion three Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School faculty members made after spending a week in Honduras working with local teachers, students, and parents.

Representing each division at Rabun Gap, Ms. Emily Neidle, fourth-grade teacher at the Evelyne Sheats Lower School, Middle School Spanish teacher Ms. Maribel Aguirre, and Upper School Religious Studies teacher Mr. Derek Sanders traveled to Honduras in early June to mentor teachers at Instituto Esperanza (Hope Middle School).

This trip was a part of Rabun Gap’s collaboration with Christ-centered missions organization HOI, Inc. For nearly three decades the Georgia-based organization HOI has been following God’s call to strengthen communities in Honduras and Nicaragua through long-term partnerships. The organization runs two schools, Instituto Esperanza (Hope Middle School) and Escuela Aldersgate (Aldersgate Elementary School).

This year, Ms. Neidle, Mr. Sanders, and Ms. Aguirre brought new teaching strategies to the elementary and middle schools. They focused on incorporating learning center rotations and helped the teachers implement these stations in their classrooms. The Rabun Gap teachers also explained the importance of varied, student-centered instruction in today’s classroom, and presented the learning stations to parents and students, who loved the new teaching concept.

“My favorite part was to see the teachers’ enthusiasm to learn more strategies and the students wanting more as well,” said Ms. Aguirre. “I learned that no matter where you go, effective teachers are always looking for ways to help their students.”

Ms. Neidle said she was greatly impacted by the fellow teachers’ creativity despite not having the abundant resources she enjoys in the United States.

“I was amazed by how creative they were based on what little materials they did have. During a science class that I observed, the teacher was teaching a lesson on the respiratory system. She made a diagram of lungs out of cardboard and plastic bags and used straws to show what happens when you inhale and exhale. During the lesson, a little boy who spoke some English ran up to me and said, ‘Ms. Emily, this is fun!’ At that moment I was humbled and reminded that even with very little, these teachers are making a huge impact on these kids in a fun and engaging way,” Ms. Neidle said.

The trio also had the opportunity to meet up with current student Ronal Murillo ’23 of San Esteban. Murillo is sponsored by HOI, Inc. and is working for the organization this summer as a translator for their mission groups.

This was the second trip Rabun Gap faculty have made to Honduras. Last year, Ms. Aguirre, Associate Head of School for Academic Affairs Mr. David Landis, and Head of the Upper School Dr. Erka Farr met with educational leaders in the schools and government, as well as Honduran students and teachers.

Learn more about HOI here.