The impact of two Hamilton Community Schools educators is reaching far beyond West Michigan this summer.
Literacy Coach Jamie Sutherland and Blue Star Elementary first grade teacher Brooke Vruggink recently traveled to the small village of Kimelok, Kenya, where they spent five days partnering with educators through the Kimelok Hope Center to help strengthen literacy instruction and support local classrooms.
Joining a team of eleven education professionals, Sutherland and Vruggink worked alongside teachers serving preschool through sixth grade students. Each morning, they taught and co-taught interactive reading lessons focused on building vocabulary and engaging students through meaningful literacy experiences. In the afternoons, Sutherland led professional development sessions for teachers on interactive read-aloud strategies before collaborating with them to plan future lessons.
One of the most meaningful parts of the trip was providing classroom libraries where none previously existed.
"We brought books for their classrooms as they had none and taught their teachers how to do interactive read-alouds for their students," Sutherland said.
By leaving each grade level with read-aloud books and additional instructional materials, the team ensured that the learning would continue long after they returned home.
For Vruggink, the experience was both humbling and inspiring.
"It was a powerful week to bring what we have been learning in Hamilton to the students at Kimelok," Vruggink said. "We were able to leave each grade level with read-aloud books and other teaching materials to continue to open up the world to the students, and teachers, in Kimelok."
She said the excitement from both students and teachers was unforgettable.
"The joy the students and teachers experienced reading books, learning new strategies and seeing things for the first time is hard to put into words," Vruggink said. "It felt like we were bringing parts of Hamilton all the way to Kenya—we even taught them Blue Star's theme song this year. I can't wait to bring parts of Kenya to my classroom so I can open up the world to my students, too."
While the trip centered on improving literacy instruction, it also became an opportunity for meaningful cultural exchange. Hamilton's educators shared teaching strategies developed in their own classrooms while learning from the resilience, enthusiasm, and perspective of the Kimelok community.
Their willingness to spend part of their summer serving educators and students halfway around the world reflects Hamilton Community Schools' commitment to learning, leadership, and service.
