Teachers from Ecuador visit local schools

By Karen Billing

Teachers from Ecuador visited Ocean Air School last week. Ocean Air Principal Ryan Stanley, Rotarian (and Ocean Air parent) William Moore, Ma. Cecelia Armijos, Alegria Crespo, Rosa Castillo, Beatriz de Plaza, Ma. Gabriela Andrade, Assistant Superintendent Holly McClurg and Superintendent Sharon McClain. Photo/Karen Billing

Teachers from Ecuador came to visit local schools recently, the result of a group study exchange coordinated by Rotary Club of La Jolla. The teachers visited Skyline School in Solana Beach, as well as Del Mar Heights, Ocean Air and Sycamore Ridge to learn about different methodologies used in the classroom and to see how American schools run.
The group of four teachers and one Ecuadorian Rotary member toured Ocean Air on a recent Wednesday morning and were treated to a small private concert by fourth grade students.
The fourth graders played songs on their recorders, led by music teacher Jodi Nielson and showed how they have learned to read music and incorporate their learning about fractions.
A third grade audience showed off how they can read music notes—they will play recorders next year.
“It’s wonderful,” said Ecuadorian Rotary member Beatriz de Plaza of Ocean Air. “I think this is a model that is very interesting for us. In our country, public schools are very bad. The Rotary works for education and Rotarians help many schools in Ecuador.”
Superintendent Sharon McClain, who has a Spanish degree and studied in Mexico and Costa Rica, welcomed the visitors in their native language before they set off to visit classrooms.
Ma. Gabriela Andrade, an English and art teacher in Ecuador, snapped photos of the art projects on the walls of the classrooms. She teaches in a private school in her country and said the private schools are very similar to Ocean Air.
In kindergarten and second grade classrooms, the visitors all remarked on how quiet the children were and how content they were to work at their desks. Teacher Rosa Castillo enjoyed interacting with the students and was thrilled when kindergartner Isabel White went around giving hugs to all the visitors. She happily posed for a photo with her new American friend.