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The Argentine Elementary School Principal is on loan to the Deming Public Schools in an exhcange program with Ruben S. Torres Elementary School Principal Patricia Gamez Torres. "This program is just like a student exchange program where Mrs. Molina stays in my home," Gamez Torres said.
Funded by the U.S. Department of the State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the exchange program fosters mutual understanding between educators of the United States and educators of other countries around the world through cultural, academics and professional exchange. The program is implemented by the American Councils for International Education.
Molina and Gamez Torres met in early October in Washington D.C., along with educators from Mexico, Thailand, and Brazil. During their stay in Washington, educators participated in leadership workshops. The educators were encouraged to eat together and go out together to build cross cultural relationships.
The two-way exchange program requires an educator to host another educator for three weeks. The U.S. Grantees organize the program schedule for their International guest based on shared interest and the opportunities that are available in their home, school and community. One of the goals for the project is the hopes to build a bridge between countries.
"There are not enough American educators participating in this program as there are from other countries," Gamez Torres said.
Molina is here on a 26-day exchange. She will start her return to Washington D.C., then on to Argentina November 5th.
"I have learned a number of things I will implement when I return to my country such as a system approach to managing a building, scheduling and different ways to problem solve," Molina said. "The Deming Public Schools have been wonderful and I want to thank everyone."
Gamez Torres travels to Argentina for three weeks in June of 2012 where she will be a guest in Molina's home. Gamez Torres will participate in Molina"s school in the same manner Molina has at Torres Elementary.
"I have learned through this opportunity of networking with other countries, that the bottom line is we all have the same problems in our schools, however,  educators are passionate to improve education across the world!" Gamez Torres said.
Any educator whether administrative or teacher interested in the exchange program can go to http://www.americancouncils.org/es, or e- mail edseminars@americancouncils.org.

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TerrY Meyers/Headlight Photo
Silvia Molina, right, an elementary school principal from Argentina, shares ideas on different teaching skills with Patricia Gamez Torresat Ruben S. Torres Elementary School