Rabun Gap teachers share expertise in Honduras

Passion for students and a love of learning transcends borders.

That’s the conclusion three Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School faculty members made after spending a week in Honduras working with local teachers, students, and parents.

Representing each division to Rabun Gap, Emily Neidle, fourth-grade teacher at the Evelyne Sheats Lower School, Middle School Spanish teacher Maribel Aguirre, and Upper School Religious Studies teacher Derek Sanders traveled to Honduras in early June to mentor teachers at Instituto Esperanza (Hope Middle School).

This trip was a part of Rabun Gap’s collaboration with Christ-centered missions organization HOI, Inc. For nearly three decades the Georgia-based organization HOI has been following the call to strengthen communities in Honduras and Nicaragua through long-term partnerships. The organization runs two schools, Instituto Esperanza (Hope Middle School) and Escuela Aldersgate (Aldersgate Elementary School).

This year, Neidle, Sanders, and Aguirre brought new teaching strategies to the elementary and middle schools. They focused on incorporating learning center rotations and helped the teachers implement these stations in their classrooms.

The trio also had the opportunity to meet up with current student Ronal Murillo ’23 of San Esteban. Murillo is sponsored by HOI, Inc. and is working for the organization this summer as a translator for their mission groups.

This was the second trip Rabun Gap faculty have made to Honduras. Last year, Aguirre, Associate Head of School for Academic Affairs David Landis, and Head of the Upper School Erka Farr met with educational leaders in the schools and government, as well as Honduran students and teachers.