Six Ghanaian senior high school teachers have been selected to participate in the International Leaders in Education (ILEP) and Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) programs. The International Leaders in Education Program (ILEP) and the Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA) bring outstanding secondary school teachers of English, math, science, social studies, and special education from the Near East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Western Hemisphere to the United States. Participants further develop expertise in their subject areas, enhance their teaching skills and increase their knowledge about the United States. ILEP teachers participate in a five-month academic program at U.S. university graduate schools of education. The Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA) is for a period of 6 weeks. The program also includes field experience at a secondary school to engage participants with American teachers and students.
Read the profiles of the selected teachers below.
Jo-Ann is a teacher and a counselor. She teaches biology and integrated science at the Senior High Level. She also tutors teacher trainees in science and educational psychology at the College of Distance Education, University of Cape Coast. She has been teaching in a predominantly farming community for six years. She also volunteers for the NGOs Hero Network and the Centre for Learning and Community Development, where she offers counseling in public health and HIV stigmatization. She received a Master of Arts in counseling psychology (public health advocacy) from LEUITP, Scotland, United Kingdom in 2012 and a Bachelor of Education in science from the University of Cape Coast in 2008. Jo-Ann intends to share her experiences and new knowledge gained after ILEP with colleagues and stakeholders of Ghana’s education to help improve the use of technology in education. She also hopes to help under-privileged girls in her community by offering counseling and skills training.
Veronica Tampour-Kuupol is a professional teacher who has taught at the basic and the senior high level. Having taught in a girls senior high school for over a decade, she has a great passion for the molding and holistic development of girls. Her greatest desire is to ensure the retention of girls in school, their transition from one level to another and their successful completion. Veronica received her Master of Arts degree in human resource development from the University of Cape Coast in 2012 and her bachelor’s degree in linguistics with Swahili from the University of Ghana in 2004. She also holds a Post-Secondary Teachers’ Certificate ‘A’ from the University of Cape Coast. On completion of the ILEP, she intends to share the knowledge and skills acquired with her colleague teachers, students and other stakeholders to enhance the education of girls in her region and the country at large. She wish to establish a ‘ Girls Development Club’ in her school with the aim of providing a platform to motivate and encourage girls to pursue higher education and dare to venture into otherwise male-dominated professions.
Alex Boadu is currently the head of mathematics department at Nkoranza Technical Institute. Alex has taught in remote villages in Ghana where students have less interest in education as well as other places with challenges that hinder the development of education. Alex holds a Master of Education (mathematics) and Bachelor of Education (mathematics) from University of Cape Coast and teachers’ certificate ‘A’ from Offinso College of Education. He has attended several workshops and seminars in Ghana that have equipped him with the requisite content knowledge, methodology and leadership roles. Upon completion of the fellowship, Alex intends to organise seminars and workshops for his fellow teachers where the new knowledge and experience learnt will be shared among his colleagues. He hopes to establish mathematics clubs in schools where students will be given more insight in mathematics.
Abdulai Mohammed Shani holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from University of Education, Winneba and an honors diploma in information and communication technology at NIIT, Tamale. At the senior high school level, he is a head of department and a Camfed mentor, where he provides psychosocial and academic support to students, particularly girls to develop young women in the community. Upon completion of the Teaching Excellence Achievement program, Shani intends to share the new knowledge and experience acquired with stakeholders in the education field to help improve the quality of education in the region. He will continue mentoring girls to encourage them to participate in leadership positions and take part in the decision-making process. He hopes to participate in the activities of the District Teachers Support Team, where he could train other teachers with the new experiences he has acquired.
Cynthia Jebuni-Adanu is an assistant director with the Ghana Education Service. She currently heads the science department of Adisadel College with oversight responsibilities over six subject units (physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, physical education and integrated science). She is also a member of the Academic Board of the college. Cynthia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in physics and currently awaiting graduation in MPhil in physics both from the University of Cape Coast. She also holds a teachers education certificate from St. Francis College of Education, Hohoe. Upon completion of the fellowship, Cynthia intends to share the new knowledge and experience acquired with stakeholders in Ghana’s educational sector. She hopes to work with thriving organizations such as W-ISE Ghana, Erratic Truth Foundation, and Ghana Association of Science Teachers. She has the ambition of starting her own foundation to promote science education, especially for girls in rural communities in Ghana.
Mr. William Ababu of the Swedru School of Business has, for the past 20 years, worked as a professional teacher of mathematics. He has also worked as a mentor of teacher trainees at the University of Education, Winneba, and a tutor of teacher trainees of the College of Distance Education at the University of Cape Coast, a counsellor, a conference speaker and a reverend minister. He holds a Teacher Certificate “A”, Bachelor of Education (mathematics), Master of Education, and an advance diploma in Biblical studies. Upon completion of ILEP, William hopes to take the international best practices in educational technology and replicate them in his senior high school, other schools in his district and the national education system as a whole through workshops, educational fora and publications in consultation with stakeholders in education. He also hopes to set up an educational institution focusing on girls and the sciences.
