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Josie's Teacher and Orphan Interviews
Teachers
Anabel Hernandez Grade-Preschool
Anabel has taught in the school for 18 years and taught preschool for 4 years. Other grades she has taught include first, second, third, and fourth. She teacher four half an hour classes in the morning from 8 till 12. She has to be at school at 7 am. She lives in Altagracia near Hotel central and has two kids, an 18-year-old girl named Ledys Tatiana Gonzalez who goes to a university every Saturday to study sustainable energy. She only goes Saturday because it cost money to live at the university. Her son is named Luis Carlos and he is 17, He goes to class later in the day at the "Instituto." She loves teaching the younger kids, and her challenge is to continue learning more about kids and continue teaching. She likes to share knowledge with kids. She says its difficult because her husband died two years ago, and she is still trying to find a way to get by. The kids need more storybooks they only have 15 old ones) coloring crayons, pens, pencils. Toys like Legos are also needed.
Rosa Varela
She has taught for twenty-four years at Ruben Dario. She's taught first, second, third and fourth. For one year she just taught preschool. She lives in Altagracia and has no husband or kids of her own. She adopted Karla Varela who is now a psychologist at Si A La Vida. She used to give classes to kids in her house, kids from all over, like from San Silvestre. In 1982 a friend of hers came and suggested she teach at the school. She was one of the first in the Sister Island Relationship. She knows Nancy, Kim, Dave, and many others. She likes the relationship and how they helped giving supplies to the kids and made the school pretty. But she says the groups don't come anymore, they go to other towns. The kids need notebooks, pencils and other coloring supplies.
Magally Paisano Sguirre Grade-Kindergarten
She has been teaching for 19 years in the school and has 30 kids in each class She lives in Altagracia, with her four kids. She has a 21-year-old boy Jonathan who works elsewhere, a 20-year-old boy Jaime who helps in the house, a boy of 14 and a girl of 13 named Vanessa. Her first husband died, leaving her with the first 2 kids. They lacked teachers in the school and she needed to make money. Someone suggested she teach. Her mom helps watching the kids. Every year there are different kids and she works to get to know them before they leave and prepare them for first grade, which is a challenge. She has difficulties with parents who aren't responsible and don't help with making their kids go to class. Some kids leave class. She tries to start the class at eight but its hard to start on time because she has to wait for the kids who show up later. She needs interactive games for the kids.
Maria Elena Martines Grade-1st
Maria has been teaching for 26 years. At one time she was the director of the school ad she was one of the founders of the Islas Hermanas relationship. She has taught every grade but third. She has 30 kids in each class and teaches Spanish and Math. She's been to Bainbridge and says "Kim's house is my house" She lives in Altagracia, and her husband also works in education. She has six kids. She says " I love teaching, and I love to watch them come back as professionals." Islas Hermanas helped us in the beginning but not any more, they go to other towns. They really need materials, she only gets one bag of supplies, and the kids have to share scissors. Her biggest challenge is teaching the kids to read, some have a really hard time. She and the other teachers are always looking to make the school better. Ruben Dario has a lot of prestige, a really good library and a TV so the kids can watch videos. So, because other school's need is greater, they don't get much help anymore.
Johana Obregon Draz Grade-2nd
Johana has taught at Ruben Dario for 9 years but has taught for 18 years. At Ruben Dario she has taught 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th, but now she teaches Spanish and math class to second graders. She has also taught at two other schools on the island. One called Escuela Madera for eight years and one called Sinitope for one year, teaching 4th grade. She also a class called Ordentation Practico. I am unsure of what this class is. She lives in Altagracia with her husband Asael Dioz Carillo who works at the power plant. She has two boys and two girls. She loves to teach and especially loves to realize at the end of the year how much the kids have learned. She likes to experiment since she has taught so many grade levels with how the kids can learn better. She says they would really learn better with supplies, like colored paper and other materials. The materials aren't proportioned well.
Students Si A La Vida
Name: Nelson Martin, Age: 17
Nelson has been living at the project for a year. He came because of problems with his family. They left him without a place to live. He is one of eight kids. He has three sisters , Anna, Joselin and Sarai, and four brothers, Jefrin, Joel, Crisitan and Eliezer. His dad died when he was young. His mom likes that he is at the project, and she's coming to visit him on mother's day. In his free time he likes to make pulseras and play sports, like baseball and soccer. His favorite classes are Science, Math and English. He's learned to behave better at the project and he thinks he wants to leave next year. He sees himself working, hopefully as a doctor, 20 years from now.
Name: Robert Abiles, Age: 14
Roberto has lived at the project for two years. His family lives in Managua. His father works, something like a farmer Roberto thinks. He has four siblings, two sisters and two brothers. In his free time he likes to listen to music, like reggae and Bachata. Bachata is like meringue or salsa. He also enjoys playing soccer. His favorite classes are social studies and Spanish. He likes living at the project, says its calm and he has a lot of friends. He also likes to go to Altagracia t night after school. He has friends living in Altagracia too. He has learned to behave better and work in the plantain fields. He wants to keep studying and finish high school. In 20 years he wants to be working as a carpenter.
Name: Miguel, Age: 15
Miguel has been at the project for about a year, he thinks. He came because he wanted to improve himself and be a better person. He has a grandmother named Nuvia living in Managua who is fifty-four, along with four siblings. His siblings help his grandma and go to class. He likes to make pulseras and play soccer. Today he had a soccer game at two. He likes living at the project and all the boys are his friends. His favorite subject is Math and his favorite teacher is Luis Marie, who works at the project. He's learned to work and clean and says he doesn't want to leave the project He doesn't want to go back to the streets. In 2o years he sees himself doing construction work.
Name: Orlando Jose Membreno, Age: 19, Position: Promoter
After four years of living at the project Orlando came back. A kid from the project who left and is a few years older than the others is chosen each year to come back for a year, live at the project, and be a promoter. He sets a good example for the kids while helping them. He teaches them dance on Saturdays, goes to Altagracia with them at night, and does activities with them. He teaches Reggaeton. He came to the project in the first place because he was young and living on the street, sniffing glue, sleeping on the street. He kind of likes being a promoter but thinks I would be better to live with his family. His mom and dad both work in business, selling goods. He has 3 siblings and all his family lives in Managua. His favorite classes are English, Math and Science. He likes to study and Patricia is his favorite teacher. He's learned a lot living at the project. He used to do drugs and he doesn't anymore. He wants to continue studying and in 20 years he sees himself married, hopefully working in business or he'd like to be a lawyer.
Name: Lester, Age: 15
Lester has been living at the project for two years. He came because he was living on the street. His family lives in a town near Managua. He has five siblings that go to school. His family likes that he is at the project more or less. In his free time he lives to play soccer and make pulseras. He goes to the high school in Altagracia and his favorite subject is math. His favorite teacher is his science teacher Yaser. He's learned to swim, make pusleras, and live a better life at the project He says maybe in another year he wants to leave. If he can, he will go to a University and would like to be working as an engineer in 20 years. If he can't go to a University he would like to be a mechanic.
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