Meet Francis
Every day for the last five years, I start my day surrounded by the smiling faces of my elementary students – eager to learn something, anything that I bring to the classroom that day - and every day I love what I do a little more.
I joined The International School of Kenya (ISK) a genuine “beginner” teacher in a school system that was very foreign to my traditional Kenyan schooling where a typical punishment for misbehaving (which there was a lot of) was a severe beating of whoever looked the most mischievous. In the early days at ISK I experienced waves of emotions from surprise, frustration and inspiration provoked by my students as I learned to teach in this new and fascinating international school environment where I found students to be partners in the learning which was very different from the way I was “taught at.”
While some might be frustrated by the challenge of adapting to the environments of different international schools, it is a challenge that I embrace. There is so much potential for culture clashes, but I enjoy getting over those clashes and getting to know the cultures of my fellow instructors, students and families. One of my Spanish students, at a gentle young age of 9 years old has taught me enough Hindi that if I ever find myself in India, I could get by for at least a day! Just like this student, everyone I meet from different countries of the world and all walks of life shares a little piece of their languages and cultures with me and I share a piece of Kenya with them and as a result we all become more understanding citizens of the world.
Beyond my passion for learning about new cultures and languages, as a lifelong learner myself, the way students learn at ISK drew me in and I’m sure now will never let me go. As a student who would ace exams without ever going to class because I didn’t need to sit in a room where a teacher read directly from the book, the ISK curriculum was a beacon of hope to me as I am sure it is for many of my students even if they do not know it yet. At ISK we don’t train them to be effective in the production lines of life, we educate them to provide real solutions to real world problems. The world is getting ever more complicated and is more and more in need of young people who can make the changes the world needs.
The vision behind ISK’s education that trickles down through the organization through administrators, teachers and even to our youngest students is that we possess the tools to change the world. This philosophy empowers us to reach for our goals. Today I work as a teacher, but my goal is to become an administrator and ultimately a director in an international school. By overseeing strategic decisions regarding school policies I would ensure that the school, staff, facilities and most importantly curriculums are current and appropriate to continue to meet the evolving needs of our students and of the world.
Currently I am enrolled in the International Education graduate program with The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) to become certified to teach a homeroom elementary class. Participating in this program has not only enhanced my skills as a teacher through the rigorous coursework and practicums, I have also connected with a network of other international educators, with backgrounds and stories as diverse as my own. Together I know we can develop a community that nurtures young international learners to one day change the world for the better!
I joined The International School of Kenya (ISK) a genuine “beginner” teacher in a school system that was very foreign to my traditional Kenyan schooling where a typical punishment for misbehaving (which there was a lot of) was a severe beating of whoever looked the most mischievous. In the early days at ISK I experienced waves of emotions from surprise, frustration and inspiration provoked by my students as I learned to teach in this new and fascinating international school environment where I found students to be partners in the learning which was very different from the way I was “taught at.”
While some might be frustrated by the challenge of adapting to the environments of different international schools, it is a challenge that I embrace. There is so much potential for culture clashes, but I enjoy getting over those clashes and getting to know the cultures of my fellow instructors, students and families. One of my Spanish students, at a gentle young age of 9 years old has taught me enough Hindi that if I ever find myself in India, I could get by for at least a day! Just like this student, everyone I meet from different countries of the world and all walks of life shares a little piece of their languages and cultures with me and I share a piece of Kenya with them and as a result we all become more understanding citizens of the world.
Beyond my passion for learning about new cultures and languages, as a lifelong learner myself, the way students learn at ISK drew me in and I’m sure now will never let me go. As a student who would ace exams without ever going to class because I didn’t need to sit in a room where a teacher read directly from the book, the ISK curriculum was a beacon of hope to me as I am sure it is for many of my students even if they do not know it yet. At ISK we don’t train them to be effective in the production lines of life, we educate them to provide real solutions to real world problems. The world is getting ever more complicated and is more and more in need of young people who can make the changes the world needs.
The vision behind ISK’s education that trickles down through the organization through administrators, teachers and even to our youngest students is that we possess the tools to change the world. This philosophy empowers us to reach for our goals. Today I work as a teacher, but my goal is to become an administrator and ultimately a director in an international school. By overseeing strategic decisions regarding school policies I would ensure that the school, staff, facilities and most importantly curriculums are current and appropriate to continue to meet the evolving needs of our students and of the world.
Currently I am enrolled in the International Education graduate program with The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) to become certified to teach a homeroom elementary class. Participating in this program has not only enhanced my skills as a teacher through the rigorous coursework and practicums, I have also connected with a network of other international educators, with backgrounds and stories as diverse as my own. Together I know we can develop a community that nurtures young international learners to one day change the world for the better!