Accomplishments from Cotinga Foundation, 2025
In March of this year, 7 of us traveled to Cayambe, Ecuador. This was our 9th trip as a foundation. Because of the experience of this team, we were able to accomplish so much during our time there.
We spent most of our time at Geovanni Calles (the special education school that is considered a Cotinga School). Each teacher was assigned to 3-4 classrooms for the entire week with a translator. They met with those teachers every morning, and during afternoon break out sessions were able to meet with the same teachers. This created a great relationship of trust and respect and helped us help the teachers so much.
Our theme LAST year was ‘Hay un propósito para todo’ (There is a purpose for everything). This year we expanded on that idea and added ‘De semilla a árbol’ (From seed to tree). Our goal was to teach that EVERYTHING that you do at school should be working toward a goal and this applies to EVERY grade. What is taught in 2nd grade matters when they get to high school. So we wrote documents and presentations on goal writing, which included assessment strategies and curriculum strategies. This taught them easy ways to include learning in everything they do throughout their day and throughout each grade.
The Cotinga teachers used these ideas with each of their assigned teachers every morning, then helped them further in the afternoon breakout sessions. Each evening, Cotinga teacher worked on ideas and questions that they came across in the mornings, so that each day was so pertinent to our Ecuadorian teachers.
We also created easy activities that were ready to go in plastic boxes or plastic zippered pouches. We spent time in the large afternoon group asking for other ways to use those activities, how to modify for a younger student, how to modify for an older student, how to modify for multiple disabilities, etc. All the activities were given to the appropriate classrooms. The Geovanni Calles teachers did a tremendous job participating, coming up with amazing ideas and feeding off of each other. We had great discussions. When we first came to Ecuador, the teachers did not talk to each other and would never answer questions. Sharing between teachers is not something that is done culturally, however they have now seen the tremendous benefit of collaboration. They were given access to a Google Drive of curriculum, digital books and assessments for every level.
David and I spent Monday morning with UDAI (Ministry of Education). Their new Special Education documents and laws were sent to me in January. In working on them, I realized that Ecuador creates things at the top that are extremely different from what is happening in the schools. I also realized that they have no way to implement these ideas and no plans for supervisor or teacher training. UDAI asked if I could please teach them from this document. That was a tremendous goal for the week. On Tuesday, I was able to work with the inclusion supervisors on this document. They each oversee the special education students in 10 schools ranging from Kindergarten to 12th grade, so their impact is crucial. They were so grateful and we made some great progress, but it will take years of Cotinga trips to get closer to these documents and laws.
On Wednesday morning, the entire Cotinga team went to the Ministry of Education building. We presented to 60 General Education High School teachers that had been handpicked from different schools by the Inclusion supervisors. They represented all high school subjects and they have 3-4 special education students in their classrooms. My presentation started with how to support the students, model inclusion and model empathy for all students. I then included the curriculum strategies and assessment strategies that could be applied to every grade and every subject. I modeled units and lessons from math and science and history to show them some ideas.
We broke the teachers into groups by the subject that they teach. The Cotinga teachers each had a translator and moderated a group. We helped the teachers with specific ideas of how to modify the curriculum and assessments for the students. It was a big discovery that they all have students that are as much as 8 years below the grade level. Since the parents get to choose what school their special education child can attend in Ecuador, the teachers have students who don’t know their numbers to 10, but are in Algebra classes. We were able to help with lots of ideas, but it was discouraging that we didn’t have more time. Hopefully, we can continue next year. They were given access to a Google Drive particularly for them. It contains curriculum, digital books and assessments for every level.
Again this year, we were able to give so many needed supplies. All of the students received sets of colored pencils, sharpeners, Cotinga pencils, washcloths, hats, and fun activities. All of the teachers at the school and at the High School seminar received many items: marker sets, pencils, notebooks, and a string backpack to hold everything. And of course, American chocolate for a treat. They were thrilled. We take these simple supplies for granted.
On Friday, we had the amazing opportunity to be involved with World Down Syndrome Day at Geovanni Calles. I was invited (with my translator) to sit on the dias. Cotinga was mentioned and lauded in every speech that was given: not just the teachers that we work with directly, but with higher level directors and administrators in the Ministry of Education. The MInister of Education for the country was scheduled to be there, next to me, but didn’t attend at the last minute.
The presentation by the high school students at Geovanni Calles was gorgeous. It showed us how far the school has come in the last 11 years. The students are joyous and celebrated for their differences. The administrators and teachers at Geovanni Calles have created a culture that we are proud to be a part of, and help in any way that we can. We were so glad to impact ‘the least of these’.