Coming to a new country to teach can be challenging. To help newcomers successfully transition to a new life and school in the USA, Educational Partners International (EPI) created its Local Liaison program. Through it, experienced teachers help those educators new to the program settle into their lives and schools in the USA. Those Local Liaisons who go above and beyond in their duties receive special recognition from EPI: They are celebrated as Local Liaison Trailblazers.
Extraordinary Contributions
Local Liaison Trailblazers are veteran program members who complete additional activities designated by EPI. These might include mentoring new teachers as they adapt to their schools and U.S. culture, connecting program members in order to foster stronger local EPI communities, and sharing classroom strategies and professional development topics.
The Local Liaison program benefits those providing the assistance, as well.
“I am enjoying the fun of being a living example of how EPI was able to help me stay in the program and be the best in my field,” shared Phylicia Bianca Pagador, a middle school mathematics teacher from the Philippines.
Other Trailblazers said that what they enjoyed most was meeting new friends — the teachers they helped, as well as fellow Local Liaisons encountered via virtual and in-person meetups.
EPI Professional Instructional Support Specialist Tara Cook organizes the initiative along with Teacher Support Specialist Caitlyn Cranfill. Cook announced this year’s Trailblazers on the EPI Program Member Forum, an internal online resource that allows program members to stay in touch.
“Over this last year, we have watched you go above and beyond to assist new and current EPI program members,” she wrote. “You might have hosted Zoom meetings, attended meet and greets, helped a teacher with a cross-cultural activity, or provided resources to assist them in their classrooms. Regardless of what you did, you chose to do it because you wanted to be of service to a fellow teacher. Your enthusiasm in helping others has helped shape the Local Liaison Program into what it is today!”
We congratulate all of this year’s Trailblazers!
Local Liaison Trailblazers
- Abegail Abis Delos Reyes
- Alika Colebrooke
- Angelica Duncan
- Benjoe Laforteza
- Brian Madondo
- Coreen Dennis
- Dakota Fletcher
- Devona Brown-Armaly
- Domingo Alberto Jr.
- Emil Zamora
- Genesis Julyus Agcaoili
- Israel Dao-anis
- Lady Yohana Acosta Valencia
- Leizel Bernardez
- Maria Fuquen
- Marylou Abalo
- Mona Smith
- Nestor Sienes
- Phylicia Bianca Pagador
- Roel Maglasang
- Roger Marapo
- Sharika Frater
- Suzette Pommells
- Tamara Green
- Yanique Thomas
- Yeymi Guerrero López
- Zoraida Cacas