Leslie Durgin recently joined Greenheart as the Director of our BridgeUSA Teacher program, also known as Greenheart’s Teach USA program and shared with us some of the aspects of the program that make it so impactful not only to the international teachers, but to the schools, the communities, and the students.
What is Greenheart’s Teach USA program?
This amazing program is providing a transformational experience for international teachers to sharpen their professional skills and participate in cross-cultural activities in schools and communities, across the United States and return to their home school after the exchange to share their experiences and increased knowledge of the United States and the U.S. educational system.
International Teachers Add Value to Communities
After spending the last 12 years as an administrator in a private school, I fully understand the value these teachers add. They contribute to the community by bringing a new perspective, cultural awareness, providing current schools with knowledge and professional development opportunities, and so much more. In more diverse communities, their impact is even greater with many students finding comfort in seeing someone who looks like them and who embodies the same cultural values.
School Staff and Students Benefit from Hosting International Teachers
In early October, I was able to visit a few of our host schools in Milwaukee and meet with several of our teachers and a few administrators. The schools were beyond thrilled with the Greenheart teachers they had hired and could not say enough positive things about how much value they added to their communities. They are dedicated, knowledgeable teachers who bring so much passion for education and for sharing unique cultural identities. School administrators, colleagues, and students loved the cross-cultural projects that the international teachers integrated and enjoyed learning about their culture through food, photos, and holiday traditions. Sharing this information with the students, co-teachers and administrators helps develop mutual understanding and is soft diplomacy in action.
International Teachers Feel Welcome
The teachers also spoke about how the community had been so open in bringing them into the fold and making them feel welcome. They spoke about attending baseball games, festivals, and other events and how integrated they felt in the community.
Greenheart’s Teach USA program is Life Changing
These programs are life changing for every person who is involved. I am so honored to be a part of this program and look forward to learning more from the teachers and administrators as they move through their journey. Greenheart is truly connecting people and planet through exchange opportunities like these, and I am so proud of the work we do.
If your school is ready to bring life changing added value to your students and communities, visit HostGreenheartTeachers.org to apply to host today.
And don’t forget, if your school participates in one or more of Greenheart’s cultural exchange programs, your school will be eligible for up to $4,000 in grants as a Greenheart School. Details at GreenheartSchools.org.