Guiding Discovery for 5+ Years: Honoring Operation Inspire’s Veteran Educators

Behind every success story at Operation Inspire are educators who guide, encourage, and inspire. This year, we celebrate five veteran team members who have each been with the program for more than five years: Astral Battiste, Claudia Eugene, Magdalyn Jules, Raydiance Cherubin, and Ronder Sinanan.

Operation Inspire is centered on project-based learning, which asks teachers to act less like lecturers and more like facilitators. Instead of handing students the answers, they help them uncover solutions through real-world projects. 

This shift from more traditional models requires not only creativity but also deep dedication and skill. These five educators embody that balance, helping students grow while making learning meaningful.

A Calling to Work with Children

For these educators, teaching is more than a job. It’s a chance to nurture curiosity and  confidence.

Astral Battiste, OI Instructor and Team Lead at the Pearl B. Larsen PreK-8 School, has been working with children for 22 years. She described the joy she finds in students’ pivotal moments of discovery. 

 “The smile on their faces when they learn something new, the AHA moments when things click, and their enthusiasm and curiosity [make it all worthwhile],” she said.

Claudia Eugene, OI Instructor and Team Lead at the Ricardo Richards Elementary School, sees her role as both instructor and mentor. She’s been working with children for 36 years and says her favorite part is mentorship. 

“I just love mentoring them, providing advice, and giving them a solid education,” she said. “These are young children you can really mold.”

For Magdalyn Jules, Eulalie Rivera PreK-8 Team Lead, teaching means sharing in a child’s sense of wonder. 

“Seeing a child’s face light up with understanding when they grasp a new concept is incredibly rewarding,” she explained. “Every day [with them is] an adventure.”

Why Operation Inspire Stands Out

Each of these educators has worked in traditional classroom settings, but all agree that Operation Inspire offers something different. The program’s project-based learning approach gives teachers the freedom to guide students through hands-on projects that connect directly to their lives and communities.

“I love how it involves creativity,” said Raydiance Cherubin, OI program coordinator. “It allows instructors to design projects that they are passionate about and that capture students’ interests…. It doesn’t just feel like an extension of school.”

Ronder Sinanan, who has been working with children for two decades, values the way this approach prepares students for life beyond the classroom. 

“It allows students to take ownership of their learning through real-world projects,” the Eulalie Rivera instructor said. “It encourages creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving, which helps them build skills they’ll carry beyond the classroom.”

Jules added that this kind of learning helps students connect the dots between what they study and why it matters. 

“By connecting academic concepts to tangible outcomes, Operation Inspire helps students see the value in what they are learning, inspiring a deeper and more lasting appreciation for knowledge.”

Proudest Moments

The heart of Operation Inspire comes alive in the proud moments these educators carry with them.

For Battiste, one of the highlights was a K-2^nd grade space-themed showcase. 

“They all dressed up as astronauts and presented what they learned to their parents in a learning but comical way!” she recalled.

Eugene loved seeing children engage in activities that went beyond the classroom, especially ones that encouraged fitness. 

“There was one [presentation] in particular where they got them to physically exercise. I loved this one….We, the teachers, were even part of that. I just loved the presentation,” she said.

Jules remembered watching hesitant students transform into leaders through a community garden project. 

“[They] took full ownership, delegating tasks and solving problems independently,” she explained. “Seeing their final, flourishing garden and the pride on their faces was a key moment.”

For Cherubin, the closing showcases stand out every year. 

“Even though I’m following up with [the instructors], they still bring an element of surprise,” she said. “[For example], we had students work with coconuts. They made items from it. They made jewelry, and they did a fashion show… so that was pretty awesome to see.”

Sinanan recalled the pride of watching once-shy students present their projects with confidence. 

“Watching them work together, overcome challenges, and showcase their creativity reminded me of the impact the program has on their growth,” she said. “Moments like these affirm the value of the work we do.”

The Heart of Operation Inspire

Operation Inspire thrives because of educators who see their role as more than teaching. They facilitate discovery, build confidence, and help students solve real-world challenges with creativity and courage.

To Astral Battiste, Claudia Eugene, Magdalyn Jules, Raydiance Cherubin, and Ronder Sinanan: thank you for more than five years of service. Your dedication represents the very heart of Operation Inspire, and your work continues to inspire St. Croix children to meet challenges with confidence and skill.