Liberian Education Assistance Project  

LEAP  2001

 

4300 16th St. NW
Washington DC 20011
202 545-0139

Returning to LEAP for the third time.

 

Dr. Joan Safran Hamilton

Early childhood education specialist, Clackamas Education Service District, Portland, Ore.  

Joan Hamilton has become the LEAP lobbyist for early childhood education. Her job involves research with children who have communication delays. She specializes in developing new tools to measure progress in interpersonal relationships among children on the autism spectrum. For the workshop, she teaches teachers how to evaluate learning readiness of children who are not yet literate and may be approaching English as a second language.

Joan H. has three children of her own but is most excited right now about the twin grandchildren expected in the fall. She says being in Liberia makes her feel "25 again." But with a difference. In 1965 she taught grades 2 and 4 and night school to grade 8 in Voinjama. In '66, she taught 3rd grade in Vezala. "In Peace Corps my relationships were with children. LEAP has offered an opportunity to know adults in Liberia and has deepened my knowledge and appreciation of the culture. I marvel at the teachers' ability to find joy in life amidst the struggle." She first went back in 1997 as an election monitor with Friends of Liberia.

One of the favorite memories of the first workshop was when Joan Hamilton learned that a Liberian teacher's husband, who grew up in Vezala, knew a unique song about a dead rooster, which Joan had brought to Liberia 35 years ago as a Peace Corps volunteer. The teacher made the connection when the song was taught during the workshop. This year Joan has produced a workbook for each of 60 teacher participants on early childhood learning.

 

Joan Keenan,

Resource teacher, Charles H. Emmanuel School, Frederiksted, St. Croix

   

Hands on science teacher Joan Keenan is returning again, proving that national recognition hasn't gone to her head. She won the 2000 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching in the U.S. territories and was flown to Washington for the presentation. She has been a hands on science teacher for most of her career since teaching in Owensgrove, Liberia, in the mid '60s.

Before there was LEAP, Joan produced "Liberian Cookhouse Cooking,"a compilation of stories and recipes that has been a fund-raiser for the FOL Communities Nurturing Children project. CNC funds have been used to rebuild the schools at Johnsonville, Owensgrove and now Sugar Hill, Gbarnga. Since 1999, Joan has worked with the principals and teachers from all of these schools at the workshop. She creates the T-shirts and certificates that Liberian teachers receive as a mark of their accomplishments at LEAP. She produced a CD of Cuttington Choir singing that has been donated to the Cuttington Alumni for their use as a fund raiser.

One of the greatest rewards for her has been finding one of her students working as a program officer with UNICEF in Monrovia. She occasionally communicates with him on e-mail. She always receives enormous support from her community and husband, Keith in preparing for the workshop. This year she also gained the support of "Teacher Created Materials" of Westminster, Calif., who sent sets of books on science subjects. The American Chemical Society of Washington DC also contributed educational material.

 

Dr. Richard Stuempges,

Principal, Avalon Elementary, Pittsburgh, Pa.  

 

Former Lofa teacher ('66-'68) Dick Stuempges' price for coming back to teach math for the third year is to include his former Wozi principal, Albert Johnson, in the workshop. Like so many of Dick's friends from his time in Lofa County 35 years ago, the principal now teaches at a school in Monrovia, waiting out the unrest that still plagues his home county.   Dick says, ''LEAP means sharing and learning, not only for our Liberian counterparts but for me as well.  It's difficult for my (Avalon) staff to comprehend that there are Liberian teachers who have 80 students in a class without books, paper, pencils, desks or chairs. LEAP means giving Liberian teachers some additional tools or information so that they can perform their jobs a little better. I continue to be amazed at the high level of commitment of Liberian teachers and principals. Teachers and principals make the same, about $25 per month when they are paid.  They could provide better for their families by working in many other occupations including driving a taxi, but they remain committed to education, to teaching children.  In working this past two summers teaching LEAP math I've focused on information geared towards the kindergarten level. The Liberian math texts begin with first grade, which left kindergarten teachers in a kind of void, what is appropriate for this age student? I have been thrilled at the creativity Liberian teachers have exhibited in teaching kindergarten children math without the expected equipment or materials.''

Dick and wife, Joanne, have four children (2 boys, 2 girls), all of whom support his African forays. His staff at Avalon has been helpful in providing technical advice about gearing math lessons to the youngest learners.  The local Addison Wesley Publishing Co. sales representative has provided the LEAP participants with kindergarten math books and workbooks. These books and workbooks correspond closely with the Liberian first through sixth grade math texts, which are also produced by Addison Wesley.

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