Equipping Secondary Educators Program Partnership (ESEPP)
Funding Partner: Millennium Challenge Corporation
Principal Investigator: Dr. Ana Marty
Project Announcement
October 16, 2026
Florida State University’s Learning Systems Institute (LSI) is partnering with School-to-School (STS) International on the Equipping Secondary Educators Program Partnership (ESEPP) in Belize. This $21.7 million grant, the single-largest investment under the Belize Compact’s Education Project, brings together Belizean and U.S. expertise to strengthen educational leadership, teacher development, and secondary education nationwide.
LSI will provide technical expertise and support to strengthen teaching quality, teacher preparation, school leadership and education quality systems in Belize with the goal of strengthening the capacity of educators and institutions to improve teaching and learning outcomes for Belizean students.
“We are extremely excited to begin work on this five-year program to strengthen every level of Belize’s secondary education ecosystem,” said LSI Director Rabieh Razzouk. “LSI has tremendous experience in teaching through capacity building, working in the secondary education space and working internationally. We also have a wonderful working relationship with School-to-School International and have previously collaborated on two successful multi-million dollar projects in Malawi and Zambia.”
ESEPP will support the Belize Compact’s goal of increasing the number of post-primary graduates with competencies relevant to labor market demand. Working closely with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology and other education stakeholders, the partnership will strengthen existing Belizean education institutions and systems.
The program will focus on four key areas: school leadership, professional development for secondary teachers, pre-service teacher preparation and improved teaching and learning materials. These investments are designed to strengthen the capacity of educators and institutions to improve teaching and learning outcomes for Belizean students.
“We are honored to partner with School-to-School International, the MoECST and Belizean institutions on this important initiative,” said Dr. Ana Marty, who will serve as LSI’s PI on the project. “Through the ESEPP project, FSU will support efforts to strengthen teacher preparation, professional development, school leadership, and instructional quality so more Belizean students graduate with the knowledge and skills they need for future success. We are especially excited to work alongside local educators to build sustainable systems that will continue to benefit schools and learners long after the project concludes.”
The Education Project will focus on improving learning outcomes and workforce readiness by strengthening secondary education and transforming Belize's technical and vocational education and training systems.
The project seeks to help more young Belizeans leave post-primary education with the competencies needed to succeed in further education, training and the labor market, including stronger literacy, numeracy, 21st-century skills and certified technical training.
The Government of Belize and the United States Government, through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), officially launched implementation of the Belize Compact in September of 2026. The compact includes a $125 million grant from the U.S. Government through MCC and nearly $55 million from the Government of Belize to increase the number of high school and technical and vocational school graduates with relevant skills for the labor market and reduce the cost of electricity.
"For our young Belizean, then this must mean a clear path from the classroom to qualifications and from qualifications to meaningful employment,” said Prime Minister John Briceno. “For too long, we hear that we are graduating so many kids from high school, but when they leave the high school, it's difficult for them to get a meaningful job. You know, in many instances, they end up working in a store, and by us being able to align the educational system better with the needs of the economy, I think that we're not only planning for the future, but we are creating better opportunities for young Belizeans."
Dr. Melba Marin-Velasquez is serving as Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) on the project and Dr. Stephanie Zuilkowski serves as a key member of the technical team. LSI will focus on strengthening educational quality assurance systems to support improvements in school leadership, teaching quality, and student learning outcomes.