Partners Discuss Professional Development for Teachers, Nurses
A team of faculty, staff members, and students traveled to Haiti recently to continue developing Barry University’s partnership with the Catholic diocese in the country’s northwestern region.
The visit focused on the professional development of Haitian teachers and nurses. Barry’s partnership in Haiti involves support for the Port-de-Paix diocesan Bureau of Education, rural schools and clinics, as well as the region’s nursing and education college, Universite Notre Dame D’Haiti UDERS (United Diocesan Education and Research for Service).
The group also delivered medical and teaching supplies to mobile clinics in schools in the remote western area of the Northwest Department.
The 10-member team represented the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNCS), the Adrian Dominican School of Education (ADSOE), the Department of Communication, the Office of Admissions, and Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI).
Drs. Mureen Shaw and Claudette Chin, assistant professors of nursing, represented CNCS. Tamara LaCroix, an adjunct professor of nursing and doctoral student, translated conversations about nursing education. Agar Joseph, a sophomore studying nursing, supported her. LaCroix and Joseph are native Haitian Creole speakers.
While in Port-de-Paix, the Barry nursing team participated in the graduation ceremony of the Universite Notre Dame D’Haiti UDERS nursing program.
LaCroix, flanked by the other Barry nursing faculty, addressed the graduating students. She spoke about the importance of perseverance and her delight in seeing the nursing profession gain greater respect in her native country.
Shaw noted that the graduating students were fully involved the ceremony, which featured singing, dancing, and giving speeches.
"We look forward to growing this collegial relationship … with continued collaboration between the two universities," Shaw said.
Barry’s nursing team also provided medical care in clinics in Port-de-Paix and Jean-Rabel.
Vladimir Lescouflair, the David Brinkley Television Studio lab supervisor and adjunct instructor, filmed the graduation ceremony. He will provide footage to the Universite Notre Dame D’Hait to be used for promoting programs to potential students.
The education side of the partnership concentrated on collaborative preparation of professional development training for K-12 teachers, which the Bureau of Education will deliver later this year. Sessions will be focused on learning activities in math and social studies that incorporate critical-thinking strategies.
Members of the Barry education team conducted interactive learning activities in five rural schools and met with Aksyon Gasmy, a community organization devoted to supporting children with disabilities and their families and fighting the stigma of disability. Local community nurses and clergy founded the organization after a child with disabilities, named Gasmy, died from neglect.
The ADSOE faculty members were Dr. Lilia DiBello, associate dean for curriculum, instruction, and research; and Dr. Sean Buckreis, an associate professor. Doctoral student Jean Daceus, a Miami-Dade County Public School teacher, who was born in Haiti, served as the translator during the meetings and activities focused on education.
Michael Woodward, associate director of admissions, also supported the education-related activities. An ADSOE doctoral student, Woodward is a former K-12 teacher.
Courtney Berrien, associate director of the CCSI and a former K-12 teacher, coordinated the visit to Haiti and contributed to education partnership.
The trip was made possible by a grant from Project ADVICE (Advancement of Interprofessional Collaboration and Education) in Barry’s CNHS. Berrien, Buckreis, and Shaw were recently awarded the grant toward the Barry/Port-de-Paix Nursing and Education International Learning Partnership.