The best teachers are the ones who never stop learning, and Emma exemplifies this. Her drive for lifelong education is evident in how she teaches technology to students at Hacienda María, a middle school nestled in the mountains of San José Poaquil, Chimaltenango. There on the walls, you’ll find the painted logo of Cooperative for Education (CoEd) weathered by time—a testament to many years of partnership.
The Hacienda María computer lab plaque, recognizing the sponsors who made it possible.
CoEd’s logo painted at Hacienda María.
Since 2004, CoEd’s Technology Program has partnered with Hacienda María to improve technology access and education for the community through the installation of a computer lab, digital resources, and training for technology teachers like Emma. The program is built for sustainability, with a revolving fund model that allows schools to renew their hardware, as Hacienda María has completed three times.
Emma hasn’t only benefited from the Technology Program as one of its collaborating teachers. In fact, she was once a student at Hacienda María and studied in the very computer lab where she teaches now.
Against a backdrop of lively students at the end of the school day, Emma shares the story of her full-circle journey to becoming a technology teacher at Hacienda María. Being a student there ignited her passion for technology and desire to teach children.
“I’ve always had the mindset of teaching technology classes no matter what,” Emma shares with conviction.
Her ambition brought her to Galileo University to study computer science through a scholarship, learning from engineering professionals and academics in courses that helped her develop both practical skills in programming and problem-solving skills that she’s carried into her classroom.
Now, as a teacher, Emma continues to be guided by curiosity, inviting students to express their ideas while participating in discussions alongside them. A lifelong learner at heart, she treats her time with students as educational opportunities for herself too: “They learn from me and I also learn from them.”
Emma hopes to see continued development in her community so that her students will gain the means to pursue their dreams. Although nearly 60% of entry-level jobs in Guatemala require technology skills, there’s a significant disparity in digital education access for students in rural communities. CoEd’s Technology Program equips schools to meet this need, and the resulting change is clear: approximately 95% of students who graduate from the Technology Program find a job or continue their education in high school. With the program, schools are set up for success in supporting multiple generations of students—students who then go on to make a difference in their communities, just as Emma is doing today.
