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Ventura Yolanda Yaxón Martín

Teacher (2023 Fellow)

Community: Caserío El Xolbe, Cantón El Tablón, Sololá, Guatemala
School: Colegio de Educación Básica Impacto, Empoderando Mujeres

As an academic coordinator and mathematics teacher at MAIA, Yoli, embodies a commitment to quality education and community empowerment. Grounded in family values, she is close with her siblings, and recently celebrated her marriage. Yoli’s teaching journey spans from public to private institutions. At MAIA she passionately guides students and fellow educators. Yoli’s quest for knowledge took her to Cuba and Canada on a linguistic scholarship, inspiring her dedication to quality education in her community. 

Currently pursuing a Master’s in Mathematics Didactics at San Carlos University, she is also actively involved in a collective focused on leadership and linguistic skills development. As a member of Mathkind, Yoli conducts workshops for rural mathematics educators, advocating for education in mathematics. Her commitment extends to leading projects aimed at empowering young women and showcasing their talents at events like the CIMAT Fair. As a Maya Kaqchikel woman, Yoli aspires to develop a science curriculum linked to Maya culture, nurturing educators’ abilities to lead in classrooms and contribute to MAIA’s passionate team efforts. 

Eager to enhance her leadership skills and improve education in her community, Yoli joined the ConnectED Fellows Program.

 

Problem: During the pandemic, the principal in Yoli’s community obtained tablets and laptops. However, due to unreliable internet, these devices remain unused. As a result, both teachers and students are restricted to traditional educational materials, hindering the progress of education in adapting to modern standards.

 

Solution: Today the school has a technology center equipped with a virtual library of open educational resources (RACHEL). In addition, this center provides students and teachers access to a SMART TV and additional laptops, allowing simultaneous device use for the entire class. The project has significantly improved the teaching and learning process, enhancing student motivation and improving their technological skills.