Two local educators are among several teachers expected from within the territory and the wider eastern Caribbean that will have the opportunity to pursue scholarships in Coastal and Marine Ecology.
They are Jian Jeffers and Joseph Wells.
This is thanks to a joint partnership between the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College’s Centre for Applied Marine Studies (CAMS), the Marine Resources Development Foundation (MRDF) and its MarineLab Programme.
This was confirmed in a media release from HLSCC which said the programme will be delivered in Florida, USA.
“Based in Key Largo, Florida, MRDF’s MarineLab is a facility that supports access to hands-on coastal and marine ecology education for teachers and students. MarineLab has hosted week-long teacher training workshops to educators from throughout the United States since the 1980’s, exposing thousands of educators to unique marine ecology opportunities,” the release stated.
Speaking on the partnership, Founder and President of the Marine Resources Development Foundation, Ian Koblick said, “Getting teachers to excite students about our oceans may be our best chance to save our seas.”
Head of Marine and Maritime Studies at HLSCC, Susan Zaluski added, “The workshop provides a unique opportunity to encourage dialogue between educators from Caribbean islands. Teachers can play an important role in supporting climate resilience initiatives in the region through student education and involvement.”
Dean of Workforce Training at HLSCC, Marva Wheatley-Dawson said that while the ocean is what divides the islands of the Caribbean, it is also part of what we all have in common.
Jeffers and Wells will be a part of the cohort of Caribbean teachers attending the July workshop in Key Largo, where they will represent HLSCC’s Mangrove Nursery.
Ms. Jeffers, a science teacher at the Elmore Stoutt High School, also works part-time for the mangrove nursery project. She said “she is looking forward to collaborating with other Caribbean educators and bringing back elements from the workshop that will enhance student learning at home in the BVI.”
Meanwhile, Wells, who works full-time for HLSCC as the Department of Marine and Maritime Studies’ Workshop Manager, said the duo would make a presentation to the other attending educators about the HLSCC Mangrove Nursery Project at the July workshop.
Teachers interested in attending the workshop should contact the Head of Marine & Maritime Studies, Ms. Susan Zaluski at szaluski@hlscc.edu.vg.