Quality Instruction
We employ experienced teachers from Honduras, the United States, and all over the Western world in order to provide our students with a fully-bilingual education and an informed worldview.
Innovative Tools
We regularly utilize various technologies such as projectors, online platforms, and other pedagogical resources in both elementary and secondary in order to streamline the educational process.
Relevant Courses
We believe that relevance is paramount to captivating our students everyday in the classroom. In order to effectively learn a given topic, the students must understand its application in the professional world.
Our Platforms
Ever since schools around the globe began closing in mid-March of 2020, our staff has fought hard to continue providing an integral education to our students. These efforts to adapt to online learning have come at great cost to our teachers and administration in the form of late nights and long weeks. Nevertheless, it’s all been worth it. Keep reading below to learn about some of the ways that we have adapted to online learning.
E-stela
E-stela is the principal resource we have been using to educate our primary students. Our primary teachers use this powerful and versatile tool to communicate with their students, give/receive assignments, as well as apply exams.
Google Classroom
Google Classroom has been the cornerstone of our learning environment in secondary. Our teachers use this resource to conduct class forums, give/receive student assignments, and even apply exams by means of Google Forms.
Loqueleo
Loqueleo is a new literature project aimed at children and young adults. This initiative is designed to engage and inspire young readers, offering a curated selection of books that cater to various age groups and interests for an enhanced quality of eductation.
-OUR STORY-
Founded in 2005 by Dr. Sandra Hércules, Minerva School was created to provide an integrated bilingual education from the very beginning.
Developing a brand-new school is never an easy project, especially deep in the mountains of rural Honduras. Nevertheless, through the persistence of many dedicated individuals, Minerva has continued to grow.
We changed buildings in 2008 and again in 2012 to our present-day location. Minerva now has more space and facilities than ever before, including a modern auditorium, multiple classroom buildings, an innovative kindergarten building, a science lab, two sports courts, a large courtyard, and even a variety of vegetable and flower gardens.
We currently enroll about 500 students ranging from preschool to 11th grade. (Most Honduran high schools, like Minerva, finish in 11th grade.) Minerva has also opened its doors as an early stimulation center for kids 1 and 2 years of age.
We witnessed our first senior class graduate in June 2012, and since then each graduating class has been larger than the one prior. Many of our alumni are currently enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs throughout Central America, the United States, and even in Russia and Taiwan.
Minerva by the Numbers
While Minerva has certainly been expanding since we opened just over a decade ago, the quality of education our students receive has also taken leaps and bounds.
Years in Operation
Teachers
Students
Core Values and Implementation
We strive to apply our core values in every facet of what we do, including in our academic philosophy, community involvement, and ongoing teacher education.
CORE VALUES
Our core values of integrity, responsibility, and perseverance must drive everything we do. These values lie on the “road less traveled”, yet they are the underpinning of the road on which we travel. We achieve these core values through our academics, community involvement, and teacher education.
ACADEMICS
Our pedagogy is centered on quality instruction, innovative tools, and relevant courses. While these principles are invaluable, there is still no substitute for our teachers’ dedication. At the end of the day, our teachers are the DNA of our institution, and their devotion fuels our success.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Our goal is to give back to the local community on a consistent basis—and in lasting ways. In addition to regularly participating in annual city-wide cultural events, we host a Christmas show at Minerva every December. This Christmas show is our largest event of the year, and we work hard to give the parents a show worth attending!
TEACHER EDUCATION
We provide periodic enrichment workshops for our teachers so as to support them in their responsibilities as professional educators. We desire that our teachers would finish their contract with Minerva School comprehensively better off and more versatile than when we hired them.
Life in Honduras
Gracias is called “The City of Blessing” for good reason. Many consider Gracias to be the safest town in all of Honduras, not to mention the fact that it is surrounded by all kinds of stunning natural beauty. Keep reading below to learn about some of the interesting things to do in Gracias and throughout Honduras on weekends and breaks.
CENTRAL PARK
Take a stroll to the Central Park to buy a cold drink at Plaza Café, eat some ice cream at Sarita, do some souvenir shopping, get some work done, or just meet up with a friend. (Located in Gracias)
FUERTE SAN CRISTÓBAL
Come experience this historic monument that towers above the rest of Gracias. It was originally constructed as a military stronghold, but now serves as a wonderful tourist destination. (Located in Gracias)
AGUAS TERMALES
Grab a short taxi ride to Aguas Termales and soak in your choice of five natural hot spring pools. Finish off the night with a delectable meal from the Aguas Termales restaurant. (Located 15 minutes from Gracias)
MOUNT CELAQUE
If you are the very-adventurous type, you can take a hike up the highest mountain in Honduras. This hike is 11 miles round trip with a total elevation gain of 6,791 feet. (Located 15 minutes from Gracias)
LA CAMPA ZIPLINE TOUR
Take a flying leap on the longest zipline tour in Central America. This tour consists of seven consecutive ziplines totaling an astonishing four kilometers in length. (Located 45 minutes from Gracias)
LAKE YOJOA
Spend a few days swimming, canoeing, and paddle boarding at the largest lake in Honduras while eating and sleeping at the comfortable D&D Hotel and Brewery. (Located 3 hours from Gracias)
COPAN RUINS
Spend your weekend exploring these awe-inspiring Mayan ruins dating back to 600 AD while staying at the award-winning Iguana Azul Hostel and Restaurant. (Located 4 hours from Gracias)
TELA
Tela is home to some of the most-beautiful beaches in the world, and it is the perfect place to spend your spring break while staying in one of Tela’s many affordable hostels. (Located 6 hours from Gracias)
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have additional questions that are not addressed here, please submit your inquiry using the contact form below.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL WORK WEEK LOOK LIKE?
Teachers arrive at school around 7:00 a.m. and leave around 3:00 p.m. It is normal to spend at least a portion of each week doing lesson preparation outside of school, as teaching is a truly-demanding (yet gratifying) job.
ISN’T IT DANGEROUS TO LIVE IN HONDURAS?
Gracias is actually considered by many to be the safest town in all of Honduras. The homicide statistics that people read about exist primarily because of gang-to-gang violence in the bigger cities like San Pedro Sula.
HOW MUCH IS THE MONTHLY SALARY FOR INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS?
Pay is dependent upon education/experience and will be discussed during the application process. Nevertheless, every teacher is paid more than enough to cover his or her daily expenses.
WHEN DOES THE SCHOOL YEAR START AND END?
Teachers generally start working the first week of August and finish the third week of June. We also hire several ESL teachers each year to teach from January–July for a program called “Nivelación”, which exists to raise the English level of new students.
WHAT IS THE LIVING SITUATION LIKE FOR TEACHERS AT MINERVA?
Teachers are welcome to live wherever they choose, but free housing is available at “SAHER”, a beautiful apartment building/hotel owned by Minerva, which finished construction in 2016.
WHAT IS THE RATIO OF HONDURAN TEACHERS TO INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS?
It varies from one year to the next, but the ratio of Honduran teachers to international teachers is about 3:1 during the typical school year, with a combined total of about 30 staff members.
DO I HAVE TO KNOW SPANISH TO WORK AT MINERVA AND LIVE IN GRACIAS?
Most international teachers cannot speak Spanish when they arrive, and they quickly learn to get around just fine. However, if you do speak Spanish already, your adjustment to Honduras will be even easier!
WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO TEACH AT MINERVA?
Teachers must have either a bachelor’s degree or a TEFL/TESOL certification; applicants with alternate professional experience that demonstrates appropriate competency will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
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Contact Us
Please get in touch with us by sending an email to shandyhh@minervaschool.org.
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