You Can Take the Teacher Out of the Classroom

It has been 273 days since I was inside an elementary school classroom.

My heart will always be in a classroom.

I don't remember exactly when I decided to do this or how I discovered The School of Hope. I think most people who come to an island in the Indian Ocean are here for exquisite beauty and tropical activities. At some point, this became a part of the itinerary and such an obvious one for an elementary teacher.

An educator named Coco founded The School of Hope in 2015. He began his first school under a tree as he gathered children from the village to come and learn. The children come from impoverished families who can not afford to attend government-subsidized schools. Without the School of Hope, these children would receive virtually no education.

When I contacted Coco and asked if I could come and visit, his response was instantaneous and genuine. "Welcome, my friend."

Walking the 1.3 kilometers from my accommodations to the school seemed a no-brainer. However, the oppressive African summer sun and the unpaved road labyrinth made it really challenging. As I walked past unbelievable living conditions, I was greeted with beautiful smiles and friendly greetings of "Jambo Jambo" at every corner. Even with that said, I was questioning my decision to do this.

That was, of course, until I turned the last corner and could hear the very familiar din of elementary school children in class.

The two-story school was modest and teeming with children. As soon as I walked in, children came running over, offering big hugs and high-fives. I immediately felt at home and knew this was absolutely the best way to spend my morning -- just as I did for several decades in the classroom.

Over the years in the classroom, my colleagues and I often lamented how we lacked the supplies to teach. So frequently, educators must reach into their own personal wallets to fund their classrooms. I did it, and several hundred other teachers I taught with continue to do so. The classrooms I stood in today were not dissimilar; dynamic teachers were making do with very little. They were working hard to maintain engagement and check for understanding. Simply put, they were making magic in the classroom.

The School of Hope is an incredible school for the local community of Nungwi

I didn't stay long, as my presence in the classrooms was an obvious distraction to their community of learners. But I can tell you that regardless of the culture, kids are kids. They laugh, they run, they are off-task. Educators work their magic.

You can take the teacher out of the classroom, but a teacher's heart will always find the way back home.