Families seeking a unique education for their child, hands on experiential learning, small classrooms, with a diverse student body using US curriculum implemented by qualified degreed Namibian teachers, CLAPS is for you. Slater is a career educator that recently relocated to Namibia due to her husband’s employment. She visited Namibia late 2016 and being an avid newspaper reader was surprised to r
ead so many articles and editorials on school shortages and teacher shortages throughout the country. So when she returned to the United States to close out her job as the Afterschool Principal for Prospect Hill Academy Charter School, she decided to fill a need in her new country by opening a school. Slater knew that any school would not be sufficient. The effects of colonial power still hovers over many institutions and while many advancements and changes have occurred, Namibia is still in need of creating home grown leaders to sustain the rich culture from pre-colonial days. Therefore Crescent Learning Academy Private School will have a strong focus on building leaders beginning with pre-primary. Slater recognizes that some process and procedures from the US education system would benefit the learners of Namibia while others, she knew to leave behind. Slater has done extensive research and participated in numerous professional developments that emphasis the importance of culturally proficient curriculum. However she is currently volunteering weekly at several schools and learning centers and have not observed cultures integrated into the daily school life of the learner. Crescent Learning Academy Private School teachers will receive professional development around enriching the academics of learners through cultural expansion. As mentioned previously, Mrs. Slater currently volunteers in several schools within the Khomas Region. Slater observed the lack of funding for children with special needs. Because she is a former special education teacher, the Crescent Learning Academy Private School will also specialize in hard to reach, hard to teach students. Slater education and experience qualifies her to provide consistent professional development workshops to her staff paired with classroom observations and supports. Slater is excited and grateful to live in a country that provides a religion and moral curriculum to learners. Religious curriculum is not a part of the US federal education system. She is hoping to use this curriculum to teach learners to respect and appreciate each other as faith-based servants regardless if the person is Muslim, Christian, or Jewish. As children get to know each other, learn and share stories and traditions of their faith, lifelong lessons of peace, respect, and community will be established for a better Namibia. Although Crescent Learning Academy Private School is a fee based school Mrs. Slater wants children from informal settlements to have the opportunity to a quality education; therefore, she will be establishing a scholarship for informal settlement children beginning in the 4th fiscal year of the school operation.
