By: Carlos R. Phillips II, Ed.D. On June 17, 2024, Dr. Carlos R. Phillips II, Principal of Booker T. Washington High School and the High School for the Engineering Professions (BTWHS/ HSEP), visited Booker Washington Institute (BWI) in Kakata, Liberia for a formal campus assessment and collaboration of the Global Learning Exchange STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics). This will be the second international Global Learning Exchange collaboration between the students of BTWHS/HSEP and students from another country, the first collaboration was with the students of Rydings College, which is located in Karoi, Zimbabwe. Dr. Phillips was invited to visit BWI by Madam Louise McMillan Siaway and Mr. Jonathan Paye-Layleh. Madam Louise Siaway is the CEO of Sehwah Liberia Incorporated, a non-for-profit organization that promotes education through networking and she is a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Jonathan Paye-Layleh served as president of the BWI Alumni Association for five years and he represents the President of Liberia (Joseph Boakai) on the institute’s board of governors. BWI is known as one of the most notable and premiere vocational high school and technical institutions in Liberia, which was founded in 1929. During the visit, Dr. Phillips was able to meet Dr. Nancy Freeman, who is the first female principal of BWI to discuss the school’s rich history and next steps as they plan for their 95th school anniversary on June 29, 2024. As a part of the formal assessment and campus overview, Dr. Phillips conducted several interactive lectures with the students of BWI in their respective programs of study (ex. Agriculture, Plumbing, Cabinetry, Engineering, Accounting, Home economics and Auto mechanics). Based on the discussions with the student groups, he was able to develop a four-year plan to help the students build a state-of-the-art restroom facility on their campus that has “hot water” as a basic necessity. Th is project has been named, “Th e Benjamin Project,” which is named aft er Benjamin Kolleh, a freshman General Building Trade Plumbing design student. Students from each field of study will play an integral role in the formulation […]
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