Tele-ED: Professional Development Support for Belizean Educators

• In Event: 79.051 - MTCC Roundtable Session 37
  In Roundtable Session: 79.051-4 - New Approaches to Teacher Education in the Caribbean

Abstract

In 2011, the Ministry of Education (MOE) of Belize established enhanced literacy as its primary focus for reform. However, no sustainable framework existed to influence implementation of national goals across individual schools/districts. This qualitative case study examines the influence of Tele-ED professional development networks, a partnership between the MOE of Belize and faculty from Oklahoma State University, on leader perceptions of their professional capacity to implement reform initiatives. Findings indicate that Tele-ED influences leader knowledge and self-efficacy, and it is creating a culture of collaboration to discuss similar implementation challenges across Belize’s six districts. However, cultural norms of a historically practiced “supervisory” model and isolation experienced by many rural districts have created challenges to the effectiveness of Tele-ED.

Authors

• Katherine A. Curry, Oklahoma State University

• Jackie Mania-Singer, University of Oklahoma

• Ed Harris, Oklahoma State University