Committed to Belizean Catholic Schools
By Rachel Amiri
Claret Sanchez Jacobs, assistant local manager of Catholic schools in the Toledo District of the Central American country of Belize, is an experienced educator committed to helping the more than 4,000 children in Catholic schools to learn and grow. Shaped by decades in the classroom, she now invests her time in administration, ensuring that principals, teachers and students all have what they need to thrive.
“There’s a number of people who help me to make sure that Toledo Catholic schools continue to operate properly, and I am very blessed to say that,” she said.
There are 112 Catholic schools across Belize; 29 served by the Jesuits of St. Peter Claver Parish in the southernmost Toledo District, a vast and largely rural territory of small villages. The students come from diverse backgrounds; while the rural villages are mostly made up of indigenous Maya, Toledo schools also serve Creole and Garifuna populations, among others. Most schools are multi-grade, while others serve hundreds of students with more classes per level. She has committed to quarterly visits at each school during the seven years of her tenure as assistant local manager, traveling as many as two hours over rough terrain to visit the most remote schools.
Jacobs is undaunted by the scope of her work and strengthened by her Catholic faith and the parish and Jesuit community in carrying it out.
Jacobs’ career in education began when she was working as a parish secretary and stepped in to fill a classroom vacancy as a volunteer. Soon, she began teaching first grade. She loved her students and adapted well to the classroom.
“Back then, I had no formal training in education, but I had a supportive staff that worked wonderfully, and they taught me what I needed to know,” she said.
During the intervening decades of classroom experience, she obtained a degree in education from Belize Teachers’ College, University of Belize in Belize City and Stann Creek Ecumenical Junior College in the Stann Creek District, before being invited to move into administration by Fr. Matt Ruhl, SJ, pastor of St. Peter Claver.
“I was scared in the beginning and thought, ‘Why me?’” she said. “Because I believe everything that I do is guided by my God, by our God, I said, ‘I need to discern, I cannot answer immediately. Let me pray over it.’”
Jacobs’ family supported her in putting her skills to use as the first female assistant local manager for Catholic schools in the Toledo District and the travel and work it would entail.
That prayerful commitment to supporting students and educators remains today. School visits help Jacobs to learn firsthand what the biggest needs and opportunities are as she strives to foster sustainable and thriving Catholic schools. During her time as assistant local manager, she has created the Association of Toledo Catholic Principals, prompting collaboration and standardization of calendars, assessments and uniforms. She points to the committed teachers and principals “who are out on the ground and keeping things afloat.”
The challenges can be immense.
In Belize, Catholic schools receive public funds to pay teachers, but maintenance of school buildings and supplies are the responsibility of the local communities. This presents financial challenges, particularly in remote villages and subsistence farming communities where Belizeans’ incomes leave little extra to provide for schools. Many rural schools do not have electricity and may struggle to adequately equip students for learning.
“I always get quite emotional when I think about many of my visits,” said Jacobs. “Some children from one family are sharing one backpack overall with one notebook each.”
At the same time, Belizean Catholic schools enjoy enthusiastic support from their communities. Attendance is quite consistent, said Jacobs, particularly in rural areas. “Parents are aware of the importance of education and so there we see 95% of the students being present on a regular basis,” she said.
Jacobs led a collaborative effort with principals and parents to address student nutrition, which was identified as a concern affecting learning in some of the villages. With funding obtained from Belize’s Department of Education, some communities have been able to come together to provide meals. “With the principal’s guidance, the parents come together and cook the meal for the children, and they get meals,” said Jacobs. She also works to ensure teachers have necessary materials to assist students, including basic supplies like paper, writing implements, notebooks and books.
“I try to be as supportive as I can, but the cooperation is across the board,” she said.
That collaboration has included bringing in outside organizations to provide literacy training for teachers, as well as partnerships with St. John’s College and Saint Louis University to offer training for teachers on learning and other disabilities they encounter in the classroom. Retreats and the availability of a counselor for teachers are other offerings Jacobs has implemented to support her fellow Belizean educators.
“It’s not only about the students, but also about our teachers and principals,” said Jacobs.
Jacobs has been strengthened for her work by Ignatian practices such as a daily Examen and contemplative prayer with scripture, which help her cope with what can seem like overwhelming demands. “That’s something that I learned through the Jesuits, and I got to embrace it. I pull myself away from the hectic parts of my day and I do my Examen,” she said.
The Jesuits of Belize also offer personal support for her work and Catholic education. “They are quite visionary, and they have a heart for our children,” said Jacobs.
“Father Matthew Ruhl, SJ, my local manager, is quite supportive and that pushes me to do what I need to do,” she said.
“I always tell the other managers that I am blessed. I am blessed because I serve a Jesuit parish and the Jesuit priests are very, very supportive,” she added. “They are down to earth, they are willing to hear my cries, walk with me through it and offer the necessary support. I don’t think I would have been able to say that I’m here for a seventh year if it wasn’t because of the Jesuit connection.”
Father Matt Ruhl, SJ, is gearing up for a major fundraiser to benefit Belizean Catholic Schools in 2025, a journey on bicycle across the United States that he is calling the Lighthouse Ride. Learn more and donate on the project’s website.
Featured Image: Fr. Matt Ruhl, SJ, and Claret Sanchez Jacobs.
