Teach for the Philippines welcomed Teach For All CEO and co-founder Wendy Kopp this week as she visited the 25th network partner of the global Teach For All network from May 2-3, 2013. Through her two-day visit, Ms. Kopp had the opportunity to meet the members of the Teach for the Philippines team, the Department of Education, business leaders, and the 2013 Cohort.
Ms. Kopp’s visit kicked off yesterday with a meet-and-greet with the Teach for the Philippines team at the office. She sat down with the members of the team for about an hour for a chat, where the team was able to ask her questions about her experiences with Teach for America and Teach For All. Wendy was very generous about sharing her experiences so that Teach for the Philippines could learn from them.
Wendy Kopp with the Teach for the Philippines team.
After the chat with the Teach for the Philippines team, Wendy graced the joint membership meeting among members of the Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, and Philippine Business for Education as the Guest of Honor and speaker. Held at the Manila Peninsula, the event was attended by members of the three organizations mentioned above and our friends from the media.
Wendy Kopp addresses the members of the private sector.
Throughout the event, Ms. Kopp shared her insights on education from her years working with Teach for America and Teach For All. Afterward, she participated in an open forum discussion with the members of the business sector, who were eager to know more about the Teach For model, which has been adapted through the 27 members of the Teach For All network.
After the joint membership meeting, Ms. Kopp made her way to Ateneo de Manila University to meet Ateneo de Manila University President Fr. Jett Villarin, S.J., Vice President for Social Development Atty. Jaime Hofileña, and Professor Ramon V. Sunico, who is also a member of the Teach for the Philippines Board of Trustees.
L-R: Atty. Jaime Hofileña, Elizabeth E. Zobel, Wendy Kopp, Fr. Jett Villarin, S.J., Margarita L. Delgado, Prof. Ramon V. Sunico, Clarissa Isabelle Delgado.
Her last stop for the day was Summer Institute, where she got to meet our 2013 Cohort. Her two-hour stay with the Fellows was highlighted by an interactive question-and-answer session, where the Fellows would ask Wendy a question, and after answering each question, she would ask a question back at the Fellow in an effort to get to know them.
Wendy Kopp addresses the Fellows.
The session ended with the Fellows feeling more energized and inspired as they enter the second half of Summer Institute. Wendy Kopp’s presence at Summer Institute could not have come at a better time as the Fellows had just been given their school assignments for their Fellowship program this week.
Wendy Kopp with the 2013 Cohort and the Teach for the Philippines team.
This morning, before Wendy left for the United States, she met with one of the biggest supporters of Teach for the Philippines, the Department of Education (DepEd), where she sat down with DepEd Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro and several DepEd officials to talk about the state of education in the Philippines.
L-R: Margarita L. Delgado, DepEd Sec. Bro. Armin Luistro, Wendy Kopp, Elizabeth E. Zobel, Clarissa Isabelle Delgado.
At the end of her visit, Wendy tweeted her support and commended Teach for the Philippines, adding that she is very much open to coming back to the Philippines in the future.
Teach for the Philippines would like to thank Wendy Kopp for leaving her mark on us by sharing with us her invaluable expertise and insights, as we move towards leaving our mark on our country.
All photographs taken by Lance Katigbak.