Teachers from Mexico for the Georgia Project

January 11, GA -Whitfield County schools can teach the rest of the nation something about educating immigrant students, says one congressman.

"I've heard a lot of positive things about what you are doing here. And after seeing for myself, it is everything I was led to believe it was," said U.S. Rep. Sanford D. Bishop Jr., D-Ga.

Bishop represents Georgia's 2nd District, which includes all or part of Albany, Columbus, Dawson and Valdosta.
Bishop toured Southeast Whitfield High School, Antioch Elementary School and Eastbrook Middle School on Thursday. He was there to see how those schools have responded to the influx of Hispanic students. He was especially focused on the role of the Georgia Project, a public-private partnership that brings teachers from Mexico to work in local schools.

"I'm going to do whatever I can do to get the message out about how important this project is. It's not just a Georgia Project, it's an America Project," Bishop said.
Bishop noted that many other communities in Georgia and across the nation are now starting to see their Hispanic populations surge.

"The challenge that you have faced in assimilating and absorbing a diverse new population is now a challenge that other areas face, and I think you've provided a model we can look at that shows us how this can be done," he said.
At each school, Bishop spoke with faculty, staff and students.

"It's great. We want him to see how we are breaking down barriers and trying to get everyone together," said Southeast student Perla Ruvalcaba.

Bishop met with several of the teachers from Mexico's University of Monterrey who are currently working in Whitfield County schools.

Click here to read complete article.