LENDING A HAND
Local superintendent joins Lifetouch Memory Mission
TROY, N.Y. » Questar III BOCES, headquartered in Castleton- on-Hudson, has been operating a little shortstaffed this week.
That’s because superintendent Gladys Cruz is currently in the Dominican Republic as part of the 20th annual Lifetouch Memory Mission. Cruz, who returns to the United States on Tuesday, is part of a team of about 50 building an expansion for an elementary school.
The team includes other educators, and employees from Lifetouch and its parent company Shutterfly. The school was built during the 2016-18 mission trips, and this year’s trip will add on a library, a computer lab, and an infirmary.
The Lifetouch Memory Mission operates in Constanza, Rio Grande, DR, where it first built the Cecaini School. Since the initial mission in 2011, the school now has two campuses and educates close to 400 children from
kindergarten through sixth grade. Cruz and her teammates are building the expansion on the second campus.
“I’m excited about it,” Cruz said in an interview before her trip. “It’s a unique opportunity to help a community in need. I’m happy to be part of such a special milestone.”
Cruz got involved with the Lifetouch Memory Missions through her membership in the American Association of School Administrators, where she sits on the executive committee. This is her first mission trip, and she looked forward to the many new experiences it would bring.
“I am bilingual, so I will be able to talk to the community in Spanish,” she said. “I’m looking forward to engaging with them and learning more about their educational systems.”
Cruz also looked forward to networking with the other educators that would be on the trip with her. This year’s team represents 21 states and 3 Canadian provinces. Cruz said she was excited to meet new people, make new friends, and learn new things.
Most of all, though, she was very excited about making a dif ference through hands- on work.
“I like to do things - I like handiwork, I have lots of tools. I think it’ll be fun,” she said. “As an educator, you get very excited when you see a student learn something, but it’s a process that takes a lot of time. This is going to be almost instant gratification - hard work for a week, and then there will be a building.”
During the trip, Lifetouch will also do a picture day for the school. Cruz described it as a special day for the children at Cecaini School, because for many of them it will be their first formal portrait.
“I hope that Lifetouch is able to continue this,” commented Cruz. “It’s an amazing opportunity for communities in need, and a great experience for educators across the country. I hope I can continue to support missions like this, and I’m very grateful to the Board of Educators for allowing me this opportunity.”
To support the Lifetouch Memory Missions, this year and in the future, donations can be made by visiting www. firstgiving.com and searching for “Lifetouch Memory Mission.”