Teacher Exchange Participant Elicits Community Support, Donations

Kwake Gerald Azamah, a Cameroonian teacher who participated in the Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program at Winthrop University in spring 2016, made an important impact on the local community in Rock Hill South Carolina. After a feature about the program in the local newspaper, Mrs. Judy Coffey contacted the university and donated a whiteboard, laptop, speakers, and a microscope to Gerald’s class in memory of her husband, Mr. Wayne McIntosh.  

This will be the first whiteboard in his school, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. In addition, Ms. Kelly Reynolds Chavis, Gerald’s partner teacher, and her students at Northwestern High School in Rock Hill are contributing a projector. Gerald writes via Facebook, “My students and I are very grateful for all these gifts. You will forever remain in our hearts. God bless you all, God bless America .

At-a-Glance: The Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA) provides outstanding secondary school teachers of English, social studies, math, science, and special education with unique opportunities to develop expertise in their subject areas, enhance their teaching skills and increase their knowledge about the United States.

Teachers come to the United States from all world regions for a six-week academic program at a U.S. university graduate school of education, including intensive training in teaching methodologies, lesson planning, teaching strategies for their home environment, teacher leadership, and the use of instructional technologies. The program also includes field experience at a secondary school to engage participants with American teachers and students.

(US Embassy Yaounde)