ICS Supports Rural Schools to Achieve Future of Education

Eight ICS teachers and several members of the school leadership team hosted teaching and counseling workshops in northern Ethiopia.

Collaborating with teachers from 22 schools, ICS faculty traveled to four schools in Bahir Dar, leading two full-day workshops covering topics including teacher wellness, student behavior, and instructional strategies.

“I feel really passionate about the work we’re doing in education," ICS Counselor Cassidy Storm said, who delivered sessions on trauma and how it impacts students’ ability to learn. “This is an opportunity for me to learn from and give back to the teachers in our host country, offering my expertise to teachers who are responsible for supporting students who are in real need."

The ICS partnership with the schools in Bahir Dar and the surrounding area began in 2015 through Partners in Education Ethiopia, a non-governmental organization that supports over 22 government schools in the northern part of Ethiopia. The aim is to support schools as they progress from traditional learning approaches to a more student-centered learning, sharing current research and strategies of best practice. The training will support the local teachers to  find ways to make learning more interactive and fun, while empowering students to speak for themselves, advocate for their rights, and develop skills that will help them learn independently.

"I am so proud of the way ICS practices inclusion, innovation, personalized learning," ICS Professional Learning Manager Seble Genet said. "We are fortunate to have amazing educators who share a vision to grow alongside other schools in Ethiopia. We collaborate within Africa to share our strength and also to learn from each other, and we are now looking at ways to engage our students in opportunities like these."