The American Wendy Kopp (Texas, 54 years) received excellent training from her childhood and does not forget it.Aware of the great opportunity that life gave him, in 1989 he dedicated his career thesis at the Elitista University of Princeton to devise a plan to create a national body of professors that formed the most disadvantaged to be the leaders of tomorrow.Her academic work did not end in a drawer like as many, but she began to lift the non -profit organization Teach for America (teaches for America), Teach for All (teaches for everyone).This ambitious project that recruits and form teachers is already present in 61 countries through a network of autonomous entities and last Tuesday, the Wise 2021 Educational Innovation Award of the Qatar Foundation, published as “The Nobel Prize of theEducation "and endowed with 500.000 dollars (just over 441.000 euros).
If Wall Street recruits the best students, why not the teaching? Kopp wondered.That summer of 1989, the activist met with philanthropists, educators and everyone who wanted to listen to her.And from the beginning his idea turned on.He was able to raise just over 2.2 million euros and enlisted 400 new teachers who trusted their purpose.In the United States now there are 5.000, but if those committed in the 61 countries are counted, the 100 figure is reached.000 university graduates in 31 years (in the last 14, with expansion around the world).Teachers undertake to teach at least two years and 75%, according to their calculations, continue for a long time in teaching or working against inequality in other areas.
“The social pressure for university students to make a professional career is enormous, so the selection process of teachers who make our partners is difficult and almost aggressive.There is family pressure, especially for students in the technology sector and among those who come from poor environments and have managed to study, "says Kapp in the educational meeting of Doha, which the country attends invited by the organization.In Finland and Singapore, where the teacher's trade is very prestigious and salaries are acceptable, being selected is an honor reserved for very few bright graduates, but it is not the usual.In the country of Kopp, United States, 70% of teachers feel "frustrated and stressed," according to a 2017 University of Yale University survey.
What is the KOPP recipe to enlist charismatic graduates?“The good students are convinced with the message that it is a great opportunity to change the world, to impact society and have responsibilities very soon in their careers.They are told that they enter a force of leaders who share their conviction in the need to change the system, "he explains about his method, which in 2007 began to export in the world.In Spain they are present through the NGO begins by educating, which has worked according to the entity with 50.000 children in 10 years.
Kopp argues with optimism that the mentality of the graduates is changing: “In my generation, people only thought about earning a lot of money and now many promising boys want to transform the world.The challenge is to reach them when the consultants, banks are interested...I think the priorities of this generation have changed and that has an incalculable value ".The activist argues that "there have always been people willing to be part of something that makes difference and organizations like ours give them that opportunity", but now, more than ever, the challenges "of inequality, public health, sustainability, of sustainability, of sustainability, grow of sustainability, grow of sustainability, of Justice...". Y para afrontarlos, piensa, se necesita gente “con pensamiento crítico y empatía".
Training for two years
Teach for All does not finance organizations, but in each country the entities seek funds from foundations, individuals or administration.And the recruitment of teachers, who receive training during a summer and support for two years with a professional development program, adapts to each place. “Durante esos dos años los profesores están muy centrados en los chicos de su clase y sus metas, y ellos mismos sufren una transformación al ver las potencialidades de sus alumnos, lo que los lleva a buscar soluciones a esa desigualdad".
The ideal professor does not have to be, for Kopp, the one that best notes in the career.“The best leaders are able to work with their students, their families and the community with a clear vision, optimizing the available resources. Por eso buscamos potenciales líderes que sean perseverantes en los retos, con capacidad de motivar o incentivar a otros o de resolver problemas", enumera.And is excited about the answer he has received worldwide.“For example, from Chile a whole movement in Latin America has been launched. Lo que se necesita es gente determinada a hacer algo similar en sus países y les ayudamos, integrando su organización en nuestra red", continúa.She lives in Manhattan with her husband Richard Barth, at the head of an Educational Foundation (KIPP), and her four children, but the organization does not have central offices.“We have 150 people traveling around the world, a global team. Hasta la pandemia yo viajaba muchísimo", recuerda.
A UNESCO report this week estimates that countries have barely allocated 3% of extra funds aimed at dealing with pandemic, a percentage that worries Kapp. Pero se muestra positiva, no solo por la implicación de las nuevas generaciones que enseñan, sino por las innovaciones pedagógicas inspiradoras para sacar el potencial de los escolares: “Esta generación tiene habilidades para rehacer el mundo".
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