The RITE (Rotary Intercountry Teacher Exchange) program was started in our District by Ralph and Armida Hight in 1996. It began as a joint project of the Rotary Clubs of West Wichita and West Sedgwick County–Sunrise and has grown to involve additional clubs in our District. In 2010, Dalia Hale (WSC-Sunrise Rotarian) and Shelli  Kadel (former WW Rotarian) took on the responsibility of organizing this program. The Inbound portion of the project includes receiving teachers from Panama and Argentina for 4 weeks mid-January to mid-February and involves lining up host families, planning activities and school schedules. The Outbound portion involves selecting and sending teachers from the Wichita area to Panama for 4 weeks during their summer break.

Today, our Outbound teachers will share about their experience in Panama this summer.

Ms. Katie Brinkman has been serving as a Spanish teacher at Wichita Southeast High School since 2018. She holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree from Kansas State University. In addition to her academic achievements, Katie is an avid traveler and lifelong learner. Her travels have taken her to Panama, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, London, Switzerland, Belgium, and Mexico. For three consecutive years, Katie has excelled as a RITE teacher in David. She has played a crucial role in maintaining continuity in the teaching program and has contributed significantly to the seminars. Her creativity has enabled her to make the most of her time with teacher participants, showcasing her talents effectively. These experiences have honed Katie's Spanish language skills to a proficient level, allowing her to excel in various contexts related to Rotary, teaching, and relationships with teacher participants. Furthermore, her expertise has empowered her to support teachers beyond the RITE seminar.

Ms. Gaby Amparan is an English Teacher at Wichita North High School. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Emporia State University. Gaby began her educational career in the Wichita Public Schools at Hadley Middle School and moved to North High after a year teaching 8th grade English classes. She now teaches 9th grade English which includes some classes with high-needs students. She brings another asset to North High as she is a fluent Spanish speaker.  This allows her to use her Spanish skills to help communicate more clearly with parents. Gaby led a seminar in David with teachers of English in the area schools along with some who teach in the Comarca (reservation). This experience has allowed her to improve her skillset as a teacher.  Being a RITE teacher has allowed her to improve her teaching toolbox. She wants to reach beyond her home building and push forward to help inspire students and other educators.