When teachers see the last few days of school on the calendar, they are preparing for a well-deserved time off to relax, unwind, and spend time with family, but one teacher at Buffalo Trail Elementary School was packing for a two-week trip to teach Kenyan educators. Second grade teacher Emily Reese left her classroom in Colorado and a week later, she flew to Kenya.
Reese joined another teacher friend, Alison Sampish, a kindergarten teacher in St. Vrain Valley Schools, to support educators and students at Cornerstone Preparatory Academy (K-12) in Mai Mahiu. Students there go to school six days a week and that community had recently experienced a devastating and deadly flood a month prior. A lot of the students that attend the school are orphans and all students learn English in kindergarten. Reese stayed on the grounds of the school and focused on preschool to grade level three.
“The teachers were so open and excited to learn from us!” Reese said. “There was no hesitation, and they wanted to learn as much as they could. We observed and gave them feedback on how they could make their lessons more engaging. We also taught lessons and did read-alouds.”
Every afternoon, there would be professional development for the PreK-3 teachers and the following day, the teachers would try and implement what they learned. Reese and Sampish would be in the classroom as support. Fridays were all-school professional development days.
“Before we went, we were in communication with the principal to know what they were interested in learning and what we realized was it was a list of what teachers in the U.S. and Cherry Creek Schools struggle with as well,” Reese explained. “Emotional regulation, energy breaks, students with dyslexia, and building relationships with students, so we worked on lessons that would involve engagement.”
Teachers in Kenya didn’t have many supplies, but had a white board at the front of the classroom. Teachers brought dice, scarves, Wikki Stix, etc. that could be used in a variety of ways that make learning fun and engaging while including subjects such as math, reading, and phonics.
“Trace your letters with the scarves, roll the dice to make gamified learning,” Reese explained. “The kids were so excited to play with the items and learn in a fun way. At the end of the week, the teachers reflected and said, ‘I didn’t realize that I can make games part of learning and make learning fun,’ which gave me goosebumps.”
The two American teachers also brought as many supplies as they could fit in their carry-ons. They created Amazon wish lists that their families and friends supported. They also went into the village, visited flood victims, and built bunk beds.
“It was very life-changing to hear the hope that they had, even through all the devastation,” Reese added. “It was hard to see kids in poverty, it was hard to see the extreme need of the school. It made me feel very grateful and so much gratitude for what we do have here, in this district, in our school, in our country, that it makes you feel so thankful for what we do have and inspires you to keep going.”
Something that Reese learned from the Kenyan teachers is the way they incorporate songs into a lot of lessons. When they didn’t have a lot of physical supplies, they had to go back to spoken word.
“It inspired me to continue to love teaching more,” Reese said. “Sometimes at the end of a school year, you are burnt out, but this was rejuvenating. It was such a gift to work with students and teachers in that way, and it renewed my passion for teaching and learning, and I hope I can go back.”
At the end of the two weeks, they got to treat themselves to a safari. While on the safari, they reflected on what they took away from the experience. Reese said if you want adventure, a new culture, and to meet new people who are friendly and welcoming, you should think about coming to Kenya. She hopes to return in the summer of 2026. If you are interested, you can reach out to Emily Reese at ereese2@cherrycreekschools.org.
Posted on 9/9/2024.
