Students at Xavier High School in Chuuk, located on the island of Weno in the Federated States of Micronesia.
The Lynch School of Education and Boston College Urban Catholic Teacher Corps have launched a pilot program at a Jesuit high school in the Federated States of Micronesia.
The two-year collaboration, “UCTC Micronesia,” will send teachers to Xavier High School in Chuuk, located on the island of Weno—nearly 8,000 miles from Boston, but a ministry of the Society of Jesus USA Northeast Province.
“UCTC Micronesia is rooted in BC’s 10-year Strategic Plan, and specifically, the University’s goal to increase its global presence,” said UCTC Director Charles Cownie. “We envision this program will actively engage in the ministry of teaching in Jesuit high schools worldwide, providing academically rigorous and experientially rich preparation for Jesuit, Catholic teachers based in the Ignatian formative context.”
The program is modeled after UCTC Boston, which has been involved in teaching in the urban schools of the Archdiocese of Boston since 1997. Like Boston-based Corps teachers, UCTC Micronesia participants commit to a two-year teaching practicum, live in an intentional faith-based community and complete a master’s degree at the Lynch School. The Chuuk-based teachers will also benefit from a unique international experience.
“We envision this program will actively engage in the ministry of teaching in Jesuit high schools worldwide, providing academically rigorous and experientially rich preparation for Jesuit, Catholic teachers based in the Ignatian formative context.”
Requirements for applying to UCTC Micronesia slightly differ from UCTC Boston. While the latter requires that candidates possess an undergraduate teaching degree and teaching licensure, applicants for UCTC Micronesia must have a background in schools or other educational settings, and some international experience, ideally with isolated and rural environments, explained Cownie.Micronesia’s coeducational Xavier High School serves nearly 200 students in grades nine through 12 from the sovereign island nations of the FSM, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Established in 1952, and the first high school in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, XHS is located in a former Japanese radio and communications station. The building was reconstructed, and initially opened its doors to 21 boys; its first female students were admitted in 1976. Dennis M. Baker, S.J., MDiv ’15, of the Jesuits’ USA Northeast Province, now serves as XHS president.
Male students board in an on-campus dormitory; female students live with local host families. English, the second language of most students, is the school’s language of instruction, which closely aligns with the academic programs at American Jesuit prep schools. Although annual, per-student tuition costs differ based on need, $1,480 is the maximum amount charged. The Society of Jesus, the FSM government, and donors subsidize the cost of XHS students’ education.
The school employs an international staff of Jesuits, volunteers, alumni, and local residents. Alumni, including three FSM presidents and two FSM state governors, have assumed positions of influence throughout the islands.
“XHS is considered by many as the best high school throughout the Pacific,” said UCTC Research Director Cristina Hunter. “Its academic goal is 100 percent college acceptance for its graduates; we’re confident that we can partner with them and support them to achieve that objective by raising the quality of teaching—particularly since many current instructors are volunteers—increasing teacher retention, and generally, engaging with all members of the XHS community in the process of continuous improvement.”
“This program can be a tremendous support to XHS students, and an amazing opportunity for passionate teachers who are deeply committed to service to exercise their faith within their profession,” said Cownie.
To learn more about the UCTC Micronesia program, contact UCTC at ext.2-0602 or uctc@bc.edu.
Phil Gloudemans | University Communications