Ismael Tacaxoy

Project: Increase Student Motivation and Active Learning Through Technology

Quote: “The world is diverse; we live in different countries, we come from different cultures, but we never cease to be human.”

Favorite Book: Life is a Dream by Pedro Calderón de la Barca

Favorite Activity: Exploring nature

About: When deciding his profession, Ismael asked himself “What is a career I can choose that allows me to support my community?” Recognizing the importance of quality education, Ismael saw the positive impact he could make on the education system as well as the lives of students as a teacher. Ismael began his career as a teacher in an agriculture school and then later moved to Pachichaj Canton School, where he currently works as a principal and teacher. Additionally, Ismael teaches in a nearby basic-level cooperative school, leads a religious youth group, represents the teachers’ union, and promotes activities with the indigenous authority that supports youth.

To Ismael, being a leader means being of service to others, thinking outside of the box, and breaking traditional norms while helping and motivating others to do the same. Ismael takes initiative in the classroom providing the necessary support and is continuously learning and developing new skills. His passion for promoting social entrepreneurship and empowerment programs for women and young leaders, as well as contributing to building solutions to social and educational issues within his community led him to ConnectED. Ismael hopes to leave a lasting impact on his community so that young people are inspired to become agents of change.

“Each one of us has a story to tell, and that story is a fabric that we embroider every day, in every detail, until we have an entire fabric reflecting how we want to see our community, our children, and education.”

Problem: Students are lacking the motivation to continue their studies due to outdated teaching methodologies resulting in low attendance rates. As a result of traditional education, many students don’t go to school consistently and instead, support their families by working. In many cases, parents are unable to see the value in the current education and do not require their children to attend.  

Solution: To make learning more fun and interactive, Ismael created virtual classrooms where teachers can utilize projectors and televisions to promote interactive learning rather than rely solely on books and chalkboards. Additionally, Ismael remodeled a classroom to create a school technology center equipped with a Smart TV, desks, and computers.