School Principals who will travel to the U.S. Photo U.S. Embassy

Under the auspices of the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), a group of seven Bolivian principals and academic coordinators from local schools will travel to the U.S. under the Leadership Exchange Abroad for Principals Program (Global LEAP Program), an initiative that is being carried out by the American Field Service (AFS) in Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela.

The program will engage the delegations of secondary school principals in intensive three-week-long residencies in Bose, Idaho, starting October 12, 2007.  The program will encompass leadership and professional development training, work shadowing, civic participation, and homestays.  Main program goals are to strengthen secondary school education through professional development opportunities and expanded interaction among principals from different regions; increase participants’ awareness of the diversity of the United States’ democratic society; offer participants ways in which they can share this increased knowledge in schools and communities when they return to their home countries; and develop productive relationships between educators in the United States, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Venezuela that will provide opportunities for increased mutual understanding. 

The Bolivian delegation includes Bertha Beltran, Principal, La Paz Luis Espinal Camps school;  Jannette Medrano, Principal, La Paz “Colegio del Sur”; Susana Soliz, Elementary Division Director, La Paz San Calixto School; Luis Quiñajo, Education Unit Coordinator, La Paz Luis Espinal; Jenny Salas, Academic Training Programs Coordinator, La Paz San Calixto School;  Rosario Calvi, Principal, Cochabamba “Federico Froebel” German School; and Mary Angulo, Academic Director, Cochabamba Laredo School.