2025 cohort of educators
DIANA DEGNAN LaFON
Organization: Notre Dame Preparatory School, Baltimore, MD-USA
Subject: 9-12 English/Humanities, College massage therapy, Middle school drama.
“I believe that it is always a crucial component of teaching to continually challenge ourselves as teachers and mentors.”
Tricia writer
Organization: Notre Dame Preparatory School, Baltimore, MD-USA
Subject: 9-12 English/Humanities, College massage therapy, Middle school drama.
“I believe that it is always a crucial component of teaching to continually challenge ourselves as teachers and mentors.”
TETE COBBLAH
Organization: WTIG team, (USA, Ghana)
Subject: Director and Founder of Witness Tree Institute. Retired Educator.
“As an agent of change, what gives you joy? Do you hear anything that interrupts lives? What do you see that upsets equilibrium? If in your day to day life- in your family, city or town, classroom or living room- you’ve heard desperate cries before or witnessed lives fade from injustice, what are you going to do about that?”
Elsie Pontes
Organization: Presbyterian College of Education, Akropong-Akuapem, Ghana
Subject: Student teacher-Technical Studies
“By introducing me to a different world of teaching and learning, as well as clarifying some notions I may have about the world outside of mine, I hope to benefit personally and professionally from the WTIG experience.”
KWASI NTIM AGYEI
Organization: Kpohe D/A Basic, Kpohe -Prampram, Ghana
Subject: Integrated Science and Creative arts Grades 7 -9
“ I am excited about working with an American team of teachers. Working in a team encourages personal growth, collaborative problem solving and leads to better outcomes.”
GIFTY BEDIAKO
Organization: Papao community Presby. Basic School, Ghana
Subject: Science, Religious and Moral Education Basic 7
“I hope this WTIG experience opens me up to new pedagogical strategies I can use in the classroom.”
idris abdul-aziz
Organization: The Carroll School, Wayland, MA-USA
Subject: Upper School Counselor (8th/9th grade) & Art
“Students often internalize the pressures of their own society or family which can result in them feeling trapped and as though there is only one way of doing things. Knowledge of other cultures, other options, and other approaches to work, behavior, and happiness, can help me provide evidence to my students that they have choices in their life.”
kiyah
Organization: Park School, Brookline, MA-USA
Subject: Grade 5 Humanities
“This experience could be life changing for me on many levels: as a teacher in a predominantly white independent institution, and a mother of two young black men.”
DELA AWUTEY
Organization: Osuwem R/C Basic School. Osuwem, Ghana
Subjects: IT, Visual arts, Math
“Through the WTIG program, I have come to realize how important experiential learning is to educators; how cross-cultural experiences can create genuine dialogue about learning, friendship and understanding among different people and cultures.”
david duane
Organization: Princeton High School, Cincinnati, OH-USA
Subject: 9-12 Govt, U.S. History, African Am. Studies
“In my African American history class, I am looking for more ways to include African history and also an understanding of Africa today. There are many things I would like to add to my curriculum.”
ELIZABETH UPDIKE COBBLAH
Organization: WTIG team (USA, Ghana)
Subject: Art Education (retired)
“At Ananse Kwae, I was reminded of Agya Koo Nimo’s story of an old man planting trees which he may not live to enjoy, but he plants them “for the pleasure of those yet unborn.” WTIG looks forward to returning to Prof. Opoku’s sanctuary and supporting efforts to create restorative natural spaces where trees are allowed to grow.”
phoebe nartey
Organization: Fayerweather Street School, Cambridge MA-USA
Subject: Director of IT, Digital Citizenship
regina detmmer
Organization: Film building – Lincoln, MA-USA
Subjects: Visual arts, Film and Global Education
“I know this trip would have an impact- building connection with the cohort, visiting cultural and historic sights, learning about Ghanaian arts, and gaining an understanding of the people, systems, values and idiosyncrasies that help define Ghana’s identity.”
Katherine sorel
Organization: Presby. College of Education, Ghana
Subject: Student Teacher-Mathematics & ICT Grades 7 - 10
“ I am excited about meeting the American educators in my cohort. I look forward to learning from them and also sharing.”
patience obeng
Organization: High Tech Elementary Chula VistaTeaching, California-USA
Subject: 5th /6th grades
“I want to bring in an awareness of African cultures into my teaching practice in the United States and inspire my students to invest in our shared connection to the land of Africa.”
kristen jackson
Organization: Accra College of Education, Accra, Ghana
Subject: College Music Education
“Music is everything about living. Even the cry of a baby is music. Ghana is imbued with the rhythm of drums and singing which are vital to our very existence.”
madeline vukson
Organization: Chestnut Hill School Chestnut Hill, MA-USA
Subject: Kindergarten, SEL, Math, ELA, Social Studies
“ I hope this trip will allow me to grow as an educator. The more I learn about people the more skills I bring to the classroom. When I think about the workshops that are provided, I can already envision myself being able to speak and share my experiences more clearly with my students.”
melissa
Organization: The Carroll School; Waltham, MA-USA
Subject: Director of DEI, History, Social Studies (4th, 5th grades)
“ As a teacher and administrator the takeaways from this trip are sure to inform my teaching and learning practices in dynamic ways.”
nancy f
Organization: Chestnut Hill School, MA-USA
Subjects: Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Grade 6
“ I hope that my understanding of another country will deepen. That my cultural awareness and responsiveness is honed as a result of this trip and program.”
seth akomeah
Organization: Fayerweather Street School, Cambridge MA-USA
Subject: Director of IT, Digital Citizenship
ELISE MOTT
Organization: Fenn School, Concord, MA. WTIG team (USA)
Subject: Social Studies
“I am happy to be working with WTIG this summer, albeit remotely. WTIG is doing what education needs now- immersing teachers in meaningful experiences that translate into honest and useful classroom conversations and curriculum.”
FAMETTA JACKSON
Organization: Hope Tolson Public Charter School, Baltimore, MA-USA
Subject: Math & Writing
“I would like to develop an African Culture Writing curriculum for American schools I would also like to share my experiences with other educators to introduce new teaching strategies I will learn from my experience.”
Phoebe Nartey
Organization: Beaver Country Day School, Chestnut Hill, MA-USA
Subject: Math 9-10
“As a Math teacher, I hope to be inspired to create multidisciplinary projects for my students.”
MERRILL HAWKINS
Organization: The Park School, Brookline, MA -USA
Subject: 6th grade English/Social studies
“ The 6th grade social studies curriculum I teach is designed solely around Africa. Much of this content aligns very well with the proposed itinerary and workshops, especially in the areas that I wish I knew more about, for example, the continued effects of the Atlantic Slave Trade and colonialism on Ghana today.”