Filipino teachers make impact on US community schools

Teachers from Philippines make impact on Minot classrooms

Lindsay Miller

kfyrtv.com (USA)

02 November 2024

MINOT, N.D. (KMOT) — Minot Public School students have been gaining a new perspective on culture with the addition of several Filipino teachers to the district.

Beverly Cavite is a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Minot North from the Philippines. She said she found difficulties in adjusting to things like the weather and conversational English.

A handful of Filipino teachers are educating students in the Minot Public School District and say the community has helped with the transition to the United States.(KMOT-TV)

“We speak English, but it’s not more conversation English, so it was challenging for the first year,” said Beverly Cavite.

Jodelyn Daan is another Filipino teacher in her second year teaching Science at Minot High. She said she enjoyed seeing snow but found struggles with the weather and moving around town.

“In the Philippines, we have a lot of public transportation, and here there is Souris transportation, but it’s not all the time, so you have to have a driver’s license,” said Daan.

Despite the challenges with adjusting to life in the U.S., these teachers have been making a positive impact on their students.

Minot High student Tyler Bavilla said he enjoys taking their classes and that they provide a fun learning experience.

“Most of them, they are fun but not as fun as her,” said Tyler Bavilla.

Tyler’s classmate Kinnlee Meier pointed out how caring they are for their students.

“I really love having her, cause she always asks me how I am doing, and it always brings a smile to my face,” said Kinnlee.

First-year Science teacher Marjorie Nellas said the Minot community has been very helpful with her transition, as she struggled with transportation and the time zone adjustment of more than 10 hours.

“The community are welcoming and friendly, those kind of vibes kind of helped me adjust quite fast, and also knowing that I have Filipino community here,” said Nellas.

Dr. Laurie Verbitsky, a Spanish teacher at Minot High, has been helping the teachers adjust since the first one arrived in 2022.

“When the district has hired a J1-Visa teacher, then, I’ve been helping with getting them settled, finding them housing and transportation,” said Verbitsky.

They’re bringing lessons to the Magic City, from a world away.

The teachers are on a J1-Visa for up to five years.

The teachers we spoke with said they don’t plan on leaving the Magic City before their five years are up.