Diversity
UNF Hosts Graduate Students from Belize

This year, the College of Education had the opportunity to host several teachers from Belize in its
classrooms. The teachers have recently been awarded Masters of Arts degrees, after finishing their
coursework at UNF. Although they are all leaving with different experiences, they all have 1 thing in common. As Maria Chablé says, “I grew up in many ways by being part of the College of Education. Of course I got great teacher preparation skills at UNF, but I also experienced life in the US, learned how to use a variety of computer equipment and got to do all of this in a family-style, supportive environment.” Her colleagues echo her opinions.

Maria’s field of expertise is Elementary Reading. She says that one of the best parts of her experience at UNF is being exposed to many different methods and strategies. She also comments that she not only grew within her own area of expertise but also in other areas such as mathematics and sciences. She also takes pride in being able to educate her classmates and US friends about life in Belize. She continues, “The professors here are so dynamic and welcoming. They made me feel right away that I belonged here.”

Lily Celiz is another teacher from Belize. Her area of specialty is technology in the classroom. While she was in the College of Education, she was exposed to new website development software as well as new devices and techniques for teaching. Upon her return to Belize, Lily wants to implement a professional development plan in her school. She says that her most valuable learning is that she is now able to “not just use a computer but to use it as a ‘mind tool’ to help others.”

Belize, formerly British Honduras, is a small country located in Central America. The relationship between UNF and teacher preparation in Belize is over 20 years old.

“The graduate students from Belize added a great dimension to the College.”
-Dr. John Kemppainen, Director,
Student Services

COEHS Leads the Way for Diversity Training

How does managing a classroom and educating students change as the make-up of the student body
changes? How does a teacher build a strong learning environment when the students come from
different parts of the world and have varied lifestyles and home experiences? As the world gets increasingly smaller and classrooms become increasingly more diverse, this issue takes front row importance in education.

Since 1999, the College of Education and Human Services has been hosting its Diversity Conference as a forum for students to discuss multi-cultural issues in the classroom. The objective of the Diversity Conference is two-fold. First it prepares the region’s teachers for today’s diverse student bodies by promoting and fostering differences among cultures. Second, it serves as a professional development opportunity as students showcase their classroom learning in a public setting, giving them practical experience as they begin their careers.

A variety of student-led panels and keynote speakers comprised the program for the 2002-3 Fall and Spring Diversity Conference. The panels consisted of students leading discussion topics on issues such as ‘What Immigrant Students Need to Make a Successful School Transition,’ Assimilate, Don’t Educate: The Controversy Over Multicultural Education’ and ‘Building Bridges Between Diverse Cultures.’ The keynote speaker this year was Mr. Henry Brown, who was selected as Florida Teacher of the Year in 2001-2. Mr. Brown gave a dynamic presentation entitled, ‘The Tapestry of Multiculturalism.’

UNF’s College of Education leads the way in Northeast Florida in diversity training. Over 200 people attended this year’s conference including students, parents and friends. The UNF event is the only conference of its kind in an area that is becoming increasingly diverse and multi-cultural.

“As a College, we are responding to the changing demographics of the classroom.”
-Dean Kathe Kasten

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