Teaching Together

In the heart of Arusha, Tanzania, nestled against the backdrop of Mount Meru, lies the School of St Jude. Founded in 2002 by Australian Gemma Sisia, the school began with a simple but powerful mission: breaking the cycle of poverty by providing free, high-quality education to bright and underprivileged students.

Ms. Sisia, who had been inspired by her experiences working in Uganda in East Africa, saw firsthand the barriers that prevented many children from accessing education. With the support of donors and a firm belief in the transformative power of education, she established St Jude’s as a tuition-free school designed to serve students who were disadvantaged but academically promising.

Opening in 2002 with just one teacher and a handful of students, the school has since expanded into a multi-campus institution that serves approximately 1,800 students. It provides both primary and secondary education, ensuring that students receive a comprehensive and challenging curriculum. In addition to academic excellence, St Jude’s instills a strong sense of leadership and social responsibility, aiming to develop leaders who will contribute to the improvement of their communities and country. From its modest beginnings, St Jude’s has now become a beacon of educational opportunity for students living in poverty.

Admission to St Jude’s is highly competitive, with thousands of students applying each year for a limited number of spots. Students are selected through a rigorous process that includes academic testing and home visits to assess financial need. For families, gaining a place at St Jude’s is a life-changing opportunity. As a result, students at St Jude’s approach their studies with dedication, aware of the responsibility they carry to uplift their families and communities.

Greensboro Day School was invited to join three other schools—Culver Academy, The Galloway School, and Louisville Collegiate School—in a teaching and professional development partnership. This partnership is based on the shared belief that education is most effective when teachers learn from one another—across classrooms, communities, and continents. 

This collaborative partnership is captured in the Swahili phrase Kufundisha Pamoja, meaning to teach together. This idea captures the mutual respect and shared purpose that defines the partnership.

“Greensboro Day School has a long and proud history as a private school with a public purpose,” said Head of School Dr. Tracie Catlett. “This partnership with the School of St. Jude is a great way to add a unique global perspective to that legacy.”

Plans to send GDS teachers to Arusha were put on hold because of the pandemic, but three GDS teachers made the inaugural journey in 2023. Another group, including Head of School Dr. Tracie Catlett, made the trip in 2024. Four teachers will travel to Arusha this summer, with plans to send teachers on an annual basis.

GDS teachers spend three weeks in Tanzania, two of which are spent immersed in St Jude’s classrooms. Our faculty co-teach alongside their St Jude’s peers, allowing them to exchange educational perspectives. Professional development is also an important part of the experience, with time for GDS faculty and their co-teachers to discuss pedagogical strategies, classroom management, and many other aspects of teaching and learning.

Counseling Department Chair Bridget Gwinnett, who traveled to Tanzania in 2023, was struck by the professionalism and dedication of the St. Jude’s teachers. “The teachers are wonderful,” she said. “They want to hone their craft and be good teachers. They understand their mission and they know that what they do is really, really important.”

While the exchange is centered on education, our teachers also have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture and daily life of Arusha. They are able to shop at local markets, visit with families, and learn about Tanzanian customs and traditions. Our teachers report that these experiences are crucial in helping them understand the challenges and joys that shape the lives of St Jude’s students and their families. By visiting students’ homes, our teachers witness firsthand the profound impact that a St. Jude’s education has on these families, many of whom make great sacrifices to support their children’s learning.

Stephanie Shoaf, who went on the exchange in 2024, said that the experience reaffirmed what she loves about education. Stephanie said that she was able to share some of her ideas to enrich classroom teaching while also taking away new ideas about how to structure the classroom experience.

“I came back grounded and inspired,” she said. “Working in tandem with someone else in a classroom setting that doesn’t have many of the things we take for granted really helps you reevaluate what is most important. It gives you a strong understanding of what your educational philosophy is.”

For the teachers who have traveled to St Jude’s, it’s the kindness, warmth, and curiosity of the students that provides the most lasting memories. “They make you feel so special,” said Bridget. “They see you during lunch and they scoot over so you can come sit next to them. They are so welcoming and curious about you and they are so proud to share their own culture with you.”

“They were just like our kids [at GDS],” said Stephanie. “They would act silly during recess or want to talk to you about the music that they listened to or things like that. The hopes and dreams of their whole families are on them, and they take that seriously, but they’re still kids.”

Education, at its core, is about connection—between teachers and students, between schools and communities, and across oceans and continents. Through the concept of Kufundisha Pamoja, our educators are not just teaching together; they are fostering a spirit of collaboration that transcends borders and enriches everyone involved. The partnership between Greensboro Day School and the School of St Jude is a testament to the power of education to unite, inspire, and transform lives—one classroom at a time.

We are grateful to Angela Shoemaker from Louisville Collegiate School for providing photography.