Provide quality education to 1750 youth in Panama

Educational Leadership Program for 2024

The Educational Leadership Program for 2024 provides training and support to 50 teachers in seven regions across the country. At the start of the 2024 school year, the number of teachers participating in the program remained stable thanks to the efforts of the latest recruitment campaign to bring more professionals into our mission, as well as the work dedicated to opening San Miguelito as our seventh impact region. Currently, we have 26 individuals in Cycle 1, three of whom are teachers from the San Miguelito region, which was opened this year. The 17 teachers from the 2022-2023 Cohort have completed their training, and 24 teachers have advanced to their second and final cycle.

New Areas of Focus for Alumni Pathways

The Educational Leadership Program focuses on preparing current participants to become highly connected and committed Alumni, working to improve Panama’s educational system and social well-being. To achieve this, the program emphasizes three main areas: Educational Innovation, Educational Leadership, and Social Innovation. Through the first area, participants develop skills to tackle educational challenges and review policies at the national level. The second area promotes leadership, fostering collaboration and a growth mindset among participants. The third area drives initiatives for social well-being and cross-sector collaboration.

Throughout the two years of the program, participants receive training in these areas to challenge educational practices, take on leadership roles, and design projects that transform both the educational and social environment. These focus areas ensure that participants acquire solid preparation to continue contributing effectively to Panama’s educational and social development as committed and effective Alumni.

Second Alumni Gathering - Alumni Committee

On April 20 and 21, the Enseña por Panamá Alumni Community held its Annual Gathering in Veraguas, bringing together more than 35 professionals from various cohorts of the Educational Leadership Program, including second-cycle participants. The event, under the theme "Building a movement of interconnected leaders working to improve the country's future through education," focused on strengthening the community, generating learning opportunities, and defining future strategies. The agenda included workshops on artificial intelligence, educational partnerships, networking sessions, an innovations fair, and planning activities.

The gathering facilitated interaction and the exchange of experiences among participants, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual support. Challenges were identified, and solutions were proposed, such as strengthening the organizational structure and improving communication. Attendees appreciated the event and highlighted the importance of spaces for connection and learning. As a result, an action plan was established, which includes consolidating an organizational committee, developing events to share knowledge, and fostering collaborative work with governmental and non-governmental institutions.

Links:

• https://ensenaporpanama.com

In January 2024 we celebrate oir summer trainning institute to strengthen the essential skills and mindsets of teachers in the Educational Leadership Program. This training program was conducted through both in-person and virtual sessions, structured over four weeks that combined theory and practice. The training concluded with reinforcement classes for students in grades four to seven, achieving significant improvements in the academic performance of the participants.

The primary objectives of the institute included training in strategic management, developing socio-emotional skills, and fostering a mindset of social impact. Among the goals achieved, it is noteworthy that 80% of the participants designed quality lesson plans, 75% executed effective classes, 100% improved in at least six components of the evaluation rubric, and the students showed positive growth in their assessments. Additionally, prior activities included planning, communication with participants, and selecting students from public schools.

The Institute comprised staff from Enseña por Panamá, Alumni, and second-year participants of the Educational Leadership Program, who worked together to offer 110 hours of training over 25 days. The program's impact was reflected in student attendance, academic achievement, and socio-emotional skill development, as well as in the improvement of teacher competencies. This contributed to Enseña por Panamá's mission of providing quality education in underserved communities.