A GLIMPSE INTO OUR COMMUNITY TEACH FOR BULGARIA’S IMPACT REPORT FOR 2018/2019 INITIATED AND GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY A GLIMPSE INTO OUR COMMUNITY TEACH FOR BULGARIA’S IMPACT REPORT FOR 2018/2019 Authors: Pavlina Radoslavova, Lyuba Yordanova, Martin Dimitrov Editor: Pavlina Radoslavova Proofreader: P. Trifonova Digital Designer Ivan Panov // [email protected] Printed by: Spektar Printing House Photographers: Ilia Dimitrov, Mihail Novakov, Yordan Georgiev, Pavlina Radoslavova, and Teach For Bulgaria’s archives On the cover: Students from 159 Primary School “Vasil Levski”, Chelopechene neighborhood, Sofia, long-term Teach For Bulgaria partner /zaednovchas.bg /TeachForBulgaria This edition is distributed free of charge. Teach For Bulgaria was awarded as “Best training program” and “Best professional development program” in the Employer of the Year awards for 2018 and it won first place for “Education” in Employer of Choice awards for 2019. The organization has a quality certificate ISO 9001:2015. 2 TEACH FOR BULGARIA’S IMPACT REPORT FOR 2018/2019 AN ADDRESS BY TEACH FOR BULGARIA’S CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER We never stop learning and sharing our experience t Teach For Bulgaria we know that the ers: local stakeholders, teachers and school staff, challenge we have undertaken, namely institutional partners, our true supporters from to provide equal access to quality ed- the business sector, and our partners from the in- ucation to all children, is not suited for ternational network of Teach For All. Aone single institution or organization. It requires We try to introduce the participants in our both collective efforts and everyone’s personal program to representatives of other organizations commitment. and institutions as early as possible, so they can We see our place as an organization which re- find common ground and collaborate in the fu- cruits, trains, and supports teachers; an organiza- ture. We work towards cultivating and fostering Trayan Trayanov tion which fosters a sense of community where agency in our community because agency is tru- Chief Executive both new and experienced teachers along with ly effective when it gradually and organically em- Officer of educational experts and stakeholders are willing powers the entire community. Teach For Bulgaria to work towards change together. We have ac- Teach For Bulgaria continued changing in 2019, quired valuable experience in working with expe- our strategy evolved. On the eve of our 10th anni- rienced teachers and entire schools and we plan versary we expect exciting new opportunities and to invest more effort into this from now on. We initiatives. Our goal is to reach more students and are ready to share our experience and willing to teachers, more people who believe that it is up to learn from others. us to provide every child in Bulgaria with the op- Over the past year we continued investing in portunity to unlock their potential. the development of Teach For Bulgaria’s immedi- This report presents only a small part of all im- ate community as well as in the larger community portant events, initiatives, and stories which il- of all active professionals in the education sector. lustrate that change is possible, it may take ba- We kept learning from our experience every day, by steps, but it most definitely unites us all in the but we also learned from the experience of oth- name of a better future for all children in Bulgaria. 1 2 TEACH FOR BULGARIA’S IMPACT REPORT FOR 2018/2019 MISSION, VISION, GOALS For the success of every child TEACH FOR BULGARIA IS A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION, CREATED IN 2010, WHICH WORKS TOWARDS PROVIDING EQUAL ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION TO EVERY CHILD IN BULGARIA. Teach For Bulgaria’s mission is to recruit, train, TOGETHER FOR A BETTER EDUCATION and develop capable and motivated profession- The two-year program gives our participants the als with the long-term commitment to work to- opportunity to experience the challenges in our wards positive change in Bulgarian education. education system firsthand and map out possible school and system-level solutions. Most of our alumni continue to work towards WHAT WE DO better quality education in Bulgaria long-term by We believe that well-prepared and motivated pro- choosing careers in education, social entrepre- fessionals are the most valuable resource towards neurship, or business. They use what they learn positive change in education. This is why we re- from their experience as teachers as a stepping cruit, train, and develop people who are motivat- stone to a fulfilling career and collaborate with a ed to contribute to every child’s access to quali- wide network of like-minded partners in order to ty education in Bulgaria; quality education which change Bulgarian education for the better in the leads to a functioning economy and a strong so- most effective way. ciety. A GLIMPSE INTO OUR COMMUNITY THE FIRST TWO YEARS A crucial part of Teach For Bulgaria’s work is the Within the two-year professional development development and sharing of more and more ef- and leadership program all participants receive fective ways to successfully improve students’ professional support in the classroom and in oth- outcomes, and transform classrooms, schools, TEACH FOR BULGARIA er aspects of their work with students from vul- and communities. IS INITIATED AND nerable communities in order to help them im- The organization has built a strong communi- FINANCIALLY prove their motivation and academic outcomes. ty of current teachers and alumni, as well as key SUPPORTED BY The participants in our program work towards partners from all sectors in order to develop and THE AMERICA raising their students’ achievements and aspira- propose new policies and practices for a better FOR BULGARIA tions and broaden their access to opportunities education in Bulgaria which can ensure that every FOUNDATION. for development. child is given the opportunity to be successful. 3 A GLIMPSE INTO OUR COMMUNITY At Teach For Bulgaria we believe that: ● every child has the potential to be successful; ● the people who have an active and long-term engagement to im- prove the education system are its most valuable resource; ● the role of school education is to provide quality instruction to all students to ensure that they are successful in the 21st century; ● well-prepared and continuously supported teachers are the most important factor for children’s success at school; ● every single one of us is responsible for children’s access to quality education in Bulgaria; ● true positive change comes as a result of the joint effort of people and institutions, concrete goals, transparency, and traceability of in- vested resources. Trayan Trayanov Is the BOARD OF DIRECTORS New CEO of Teach For Bulgaria CHAIRPERSON: Evgenia Peeva-Kirova takes up the position Evgenia Peeva-Kirova of Chairperson of the Board of Directors BOARD MEMBERS: This transition was officially announced on September 18, 2019, at a special Tsvetan Lazhanski, Tatyana Naydenova, event attended by current participants and alumni of the program, business Georgi Sidzhimkov, Hristo Manov, Miro- partners, and partners from the civic and public sector. Trayan has been an slav Stoychev, Trayan Trayanov (CEO), Ne- integral part of the organization since its very beginning in 2010. In his new li Koleva (Chief Officer of Public Partner- role as a CEO he will be responsible for Teach For Bulgaria’s overall strategic ships), Ekaterina Gramenova (Teach For development and sustainability. In his previous role as a Chief Program Of- Bulgaria alumna), Rosen Bogomilov (Teach ficer Trayan oversaw the teams responsible for admissions, selection, teach- For Bulgaria alumnus) er training, and alumni development. He was also responsible for the overall monitoring and impact assessment of the program. 4 TEACH FOR BULGARIA’S IMPACT REPORT FOR 2018/2019 Our work STRUCTURE TEACH FOR BULGARIA’S LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM LEADERSHIP AND LONG-TERM WORK RECRUITMENT PROFESSIONAL TOWARDS BETTER AND SELECTION DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION IN PROGRAM BULGARIA RECRUIT- PRELIMINARY TEACHING AT SCHOOL CAREER DEVELOPMENT MENT AND TRAINING FOR TWO YEARS SELECTION OF MOTIVATED Preliminary Ongoing AND CAPABLE Institute Summer training Career orientation Specialized training UNIVERSITY Institute and opportunities and professional GRADUATES and Summer for professional sup- development AND EXPE- Academy port tailored to our RIENCED participants’ career PROFESSIONAL development plans Opportunities WITH DIFFER- for professional ENT BACK- support in specific GROUNDS career tracks TEACHING QUALIFICATION Professional PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT FROM EXPERIENCED SPECIALISTS Communities of Practice BEING PART OF A COMMUNITY OF LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE WITH A SHARED VISION OF BULGARIAN EDUCATION ACCESS TO A NETWORK OF CONTACTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES OF THE GLOBAL NETWORK TEACH FOR ALL 5 5 A GLIMPSE INTO OUR COMMUNITY What is the challenge we are facing? Nearly half of all young people in Bulgaria cannot interpret the meaning of what they read. Tens of thousands of children drop out of school every year. Every fifth young person in Bulgaria is neither in employment, nor in educa- tion and training. Labor shortage stunts business growth in Bulgaria. There is a lack of capable individuals who can work towards improving this reality in the education system in Bulgaria. THE VAST MAJORITY OF BULGARIAN STUDENTS LACK ANALYTICAL SKILLS IS THE SHARE OF STUDENTS WHO PERFORM BELOW THE BASIC LEVEL OF READING LITERACY IN BULGARIA. THIS IS THE LOWEST SCORE IN THE EU. 44% These students do not understand the IS THE SHARE OF STUDENTS WHO PERFORM BELOW meaning of the text, even if they are THE BASIC LEVEL OF MATHEMATICAL LITERACY, WHICH IS EXACTLY 20% ABOVE THE OECD AVERAGE. able to read it. They often struggle with new material or with moderately long These students are unable to apply math in and complex texts. mundane everyday situations such as calcu- lating prices of goods and services in different currencies or comparing two different routes.