From Campeche to Gainesville: Fostering teacher relationships between Florida and Mexico

BY THACHER LOUTIN (MALAS 2023)

The Center for Latin American Studies has a history of offering summer professional development opportunities as part of its outreach program, with the goal of fostering educator collaborations with teachers throughout Latin America. In recent years the Center has worked with Campeche, Mexico organizing a teacher exchange program in 2017, a 10-day institute in 2018, and hosting Darwing Perez, a visiting Instituto Campechano English Professor in the spring of 2019. The Center and the Autonomous University of Campeche (UAC) signed a cooperation agreement just prior to the pandemic, which slowed down activities. This spring, Nadia May Acosta, an English as a Foreign Language teacher from the UAC-affiliated Godoy High School, came to Florida. Dr. Mary Risner meticulously prepared her two-weeks schedule full of school visits and excursions with local educators. Dr. Carlos de la Torre, the director of the Center for Latin American Studies, greeted her with great enthusiasm.

Ms. May Acosta had school site visits speaking with students in Volusia and St. Johns Counties at St Augustine High School. Daytona Beach Elementary, New Smyrna Beach High School, and DeLand High School. She also participated as a judge at the Volusia County Schools World Language Festival. Her Alachua County tour included visits to Loften High School’s Career and Technical Education Academies, Hawthorne Middle and High School, and Kanapaha Middle School. Ms. Anna Rodell and Ms. Thacher Loutin, graduate students and members of the Center for Latin American Studies’ Outreach team, welcomed her to the University of Florida Campus and the Center for Latin American Studies during an organized tour alongside Dr. Crystall Marull, from UF Spanish and Portuguese Studies. In addition, Carolina Currea, a teacher in the department of Spanish at Hawthorne Middle and High School, had a crucial role in the success of her visit.

With far too many other things to list, it can be concluded that Ms. May Acosta’s visit had a positive impact on our schools. In an effort to cultivate long-term relationships with educators, the Center for Latin American Studies Outreach Program places high emphasis on the development of relationships between Florida teachers and Latin America. This summer, eight teachers will be participating in a 10-day program in Campeche to further build relationships and develop projects among educators. ◆