Legacy Elementary Hosts International Guests

“There’s a concept in learning. ‘What I hear, I forget. What I see, I remember. What I do, I know.’” Daniel Chengo, Kenyan Educator

Daniel Chengo

Legacy Elementary welcomed some very special guests to their campus on Friday. Three Kenyan educators from Malindi near the Indian Ocean took a 20-hour plane ride from Africa to see what education was like in the United States, specifically Frenship ISD.

Legacy principal, Cheryl Booher, and teacher, Karen Moorhead, have traveled to Kenya over the last few summers to work with teachers and students in Africa. Moorhead was a Beaumont Foundation scholarship recipient and used the funds to go to Kenya on this learning experience.

“We had the opportunity to tour their schools in Kenya, talk to their teachers and share ideas. This year they got to come here,” said Moorhead. “My favorite part of my trip there was seeing the schools and how the kids were so eager to learn. They were sponges.”

Daniel Chengo, Duncan Ziro and Titus Ziro of Kenya toured the campus, visited classrooms and participated in a roundtable discussion with a group of Legacy teachers. Some Legacy students chose to write letters and draw pictures to send back to the students in Kenya.

Duncan Ziro

Daniel Chengo is a retired teacher and now serves in full-time ministry. Duncan Ziro teaches literacy, agriculture and business practice at the Caris Foundation International. Titus Ziro teaches leadership training, dress making, a parliament program and computer sciences at the Uzima Training Center.

“This is my first time in the United States and I have been welcomed very well,” said Duncan. “Everything moves so fast. It’s much different than in Kenya where we walk everywhere. You are blessed with great facilities and teaching materials in the U.S. If we don’t have something we need, like chairs or bean bags, we make them by hand out of plain materials.”

Duncan’s favorite part about the U.S. so far? Eating bacon!

Legacy teachers had the opportunity to have a Q&A discussion with the Kenyan educators that lasted about an hour. Chengo, who is retired and the oldest in the group, had several words of wisdom for the Legacy teachers.

Titus Ziro

“One thing I want you to remember about children is that they learn in an environment where there is play,” said Chengo. “Learning is a process and there are conditions for effective learning.”

“I can’t wait for the opportunity to go back to Kenya,” said Booher. “They are all so appreciative of what teachers do. It changes your perspective on everything.”

In addition to their visit to Legacy, the Kenyan trio made stops to Lubbock Christian University, the National Ranching Heritage Center, local churches and stores during their two-week stay in the United States.