Elimu Safari "Educational Journey" ~ A message to teachers on the first days of school

Being an educator is hard work. Every year, a new group of kids come through your classroom and you have to dig deep to figure out how to connect with them. If you teach elementary school, you have the important job of laying the educational foundation for little humans and making a first impression upon them about who they are as students. If you teach Middle School or High School, you make an impact on a couple hundred kids a year who come through your classroom everyday.You are their last stop before they become adults and future leaders. Each of these students that you connect with  have their own unique learning styles, aspirations, and obstacles to overcome. This is a terrific responsibility.

This summer, I had an opportunity to travel to the other side of the world and to visit rural Kenya as an educator. The trip was called an Elimu Safari. Elimu is the Swahili word for “Education” and Safari is the Swahili word for “Journey.” So essentially...I took an Educational Journey to Kenya.

Today you begin an Elimu Safari in your current teaching position. You are in a position to make connections and enjoy the journey.  During my own Educational Journey, I have found that a successful 





Elimu Safari includes these three key elements:

1. Find Your Team
2. Take Risks
3. Smile!

Find your team: Over the years, I have worked with many incredible teams, but pictured here is my Kenya 2015 team. Like any strong team, there is diversity amongst the group who works together towards a common goal. Our goal was to make connections with the students and teachers in Kenya and to participate in an educational exchange program in which we had an opportunity to learn about the incredible people of Kenya. At different times during our Elimu Safari, each member of the team played different roles that supported the common goals. Our #Kenya2015 team included innovators, experience, and partnerships.

The trip was inspired by my dear friend and one of my educational mentors, Jen Perazzo. When she is not teaching science during the school year, she and her husband, Charles, run a safari company in Kenya. Charles is from Kenya and they do tours for tourists and educators. On the team,  Jen played the role of the innovator. Without her vision for Elimu Safari, the connections we made would not have been possible.

As you start your new school year, find the innovators at your school site who inspire you. Students, staff, or admin can be innovators. Listen to new ideas and be open to new possibilities. You never know what doors they may be opening and what adventures their ideas might to lead to!

Kerry Mattimore, a 5th grade teacher was also on our Kenya 2015 team. She is an experienced traveler. There were many times through our journey when we would lean on Kerry and her traveling experience to help us understand the unknown.  

As you work with your colleagues, students, and parents, remember that there are many people who you can lean on for guidance and experience. They can mentor you and keep you on your path of excellence in education.

Sarah Landis and I have partnered together of several educational projects. Not only is she one of my best friends, but she is also an incredible team player that works to bring out the best in everyone on the team. Last summer, she watched me present at a teaching conference as I shared my passion for global citizenship education and my life long dream to teach in Kenya. A few weeks later, she set a meeting up with Jen and Charles to discuss the program. A few months after that  we were fundraising, and writing grants for scholarships. Eventually we were having the most incredible time of our life teaching these kids in Kenya.  

As a teacher, everyone needs a partner. It’s way too hard and not nearly as much fun to do this job alone.  A good partner is someone you can trust. A good partner is someone who listens to you and your ideas. A good partner is someone who pushes you to take risks and try new things. And a good partner is someone who will let down their hair with you and have fun!

Before we left for Kenya, people asked all kinds of questions. Who will take of care your kids while you are away? Is it safe where you are going? Aren’t you afraid of malaria or Ebola? For some, they thought teaching in this school was risky. As a team, we took our chances. When you take risks as an educator, the rewards are pretty sweet!

We had the honor and privilege to teach these amazing kids!

We met Kenyan educators who welcomed us with hospitality.

We were surrounded by students and teachers
who were grateful and eager to learn. 

We met the Maasai Mommas who welcomed us to their school
and during a ceremony presented us with gifts.
 

We toured the boma of this Maasai family who
donated an acre of land for a school to be built.

We met Fred ~ A leader in education who connected us to all the schools.
He is full of wisdom and he knows how to transform education globally.

We were surrounded by smiles! 

The "RISKS" were so worth it!

One lasting impression that I had of Kenya and the people is the smiles and gratitude that they continuously show. In the classroom, when the teacher asks a question, many students raise their hand and call out, “teacher, teacher!” After they respond to a question, the teacher says, “clap for the student.” This happens multiple times within a lesson. At the end of the lesson, the teacher would say, “ Are you happy? Do you feel happy to learn something new?”   It was evident that gratitude is acknowledged regularly.

Watch this clip of one of the classrooms that I taught in. What do you notice about how the teacher is connecting with the students?

What I see is the joy of education. The students are engaged and the teacher is connecting. There is an exchange of information and ideas. The teacher is praising their students. The classroom isn’t fancy and the  materials are limited. But even so, the teacher and the students are on their Elimu Safari. Their  journey towards learning and growing together.

I want to leave you with this simple message. This handwritten poster was hanging up in the teachers lounge of this school. It reads:  

A smile is a language of love.

A smile is a source to win a heart.

A smile is a sign of a lovely mood.

A smile creates greatness in personality.

When you are in your classroom this school year. Remember to smile. Enjoy each smile that comes your way and bring the best out of  your students and colleagues with your your own smiles. You and your students can enjoy the same kind of interact and connection that you observed in the video. How will you share your smile this school year? And how will you bring out the smiles of your students?

For the little humans and young adults in your classrooms, you are their inspiration. Their Elimu Safari is through you. The investments and rewards in education are boundless when you open heart. As you start your new school year, I wish you all the best. I hope that you find your team, you take risks, and you smile.

May you feel honored to teach your future students and enjoy the Elimu Safari.  In Swahili, Asante Sana means thank you! Asante Sana! Have a great year!