If you are a U.S. school official or administrator and wonder what it would be like to have an international teacher at your school, please read on! Greenheart’s Teach USA Program recruits highly qualified and experienced teachers who share a unique global perspective with their host school and students. Our program offers American K-12 schools an incredible opportunity to expose their schools and students to the world. BridgeUSA teachers bring extensive experience and skills to U.S. schools and classrooms.
To learn more about how international teachers benefit schools and local communities, we connected with Jennifer Leynes, Lower & Middle School Principal, Our Lady of Mount Carmel School.
Why does your school host BridgeUSA teachers?
We were actually in need of a math teacher, and Mr. Regalado (Greenheart TeachUSA teacher) just fell into our lap. He applied for a position we had posted, and his interview was excellent. He is our first BridgeUSA J-1 teacher, and he has already made such a positive impact.
What has been the impact for your teachers, students, and community?
Mr. Regalado has made a meaningful impact. Through his teaching, students have not only learned math but have also gained a deeper understanding of culture. They have had the opportunity to meet and speak virtually with students from the Philippines, broadening their global perspective. Additionally, they have been introduced to DaMath, a Filipino version of checkers that incorporates mathematical concepts. Our students have learned so much from him—not just academically, but culturally as well. And it’s not just the students who have benefited; the adults have, too. He has led professional development sessions and shared his culture with the staff, enriching our entire school community.
Our students are truly happy, as they feel like they are number one in the school. They are excited to enter his classroom, eager to learn, and engaged in every lesson. They smile as they explore math, and that joy is all because of him.
Honoring an International Teacher as “Teacher of the Year”
Each year, Our Lady of Mount Carmel is tasked with nominating a Teacher of the Year to compete alongside other nominees. This year, we are thrilled to nominate Mr. Regalado whose impact has been truly remarkable. We are proud to nominate him for this prestigious honor as he takes the next step to compete with educators from across the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
When he joined our school, he came with a vision, not fully knowing what to expect. But it didn’t take long for the students to embrace him. He brought his culture into the classroom, opening the world to his students in new and exciting ways. He made learning math not only fun but also engaging, inspiring students to explore math far beyond the classroom walls. His students are so eager to learn that his classroom often fills with them after school, excited to tackle new challenges and solve problems together.
BridgeUSA Teachers’s Passion for Education and Multi-faceted Influence
This teacher’s passion for math and education extends beyond his students—he also inspires and educates other teachers. He recently led a professional development session for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, sharing his innovative math teaching methods. In March, he will take this even further, hosting an event where other schools will join to witness his creative approach to fostering a love for math.
His influence isn’t limited to academics; he also shares his passion for dance, teaching lower school students to love movement through his hip-hop classes. His ability to connect with students and teachers alike, inspiring joy and learning in all he does, is truly extraordinary.
What do parents Say?
“Mr. Regalado was Cole’s first choice. He is young, energetic, has a great positive attitude in the classroom and most importantly, makes Math fun. I never thought that Cole would be in a Math club, and certainly not in a math club two times a week, but he was so excited when Mr. Regalado brought Filipino checkers to the school. He had the chance to compete in Math tournaments and even taught us how to play at home. Now, he looks forward to Math class, and especially DaMath club. I can see that his knowledge of Math principles has increased since the time that Mr. Regalado has been at the school.” – Middle School 7th Grade Parent
This is what Mr. Regalado’s students said when nominating him for the Teacher of the Year Award:
“I chose Mr. Regalado as Teacher of the Year because in my opinion he is the best teacher! I think he should be the teacher of the year because in math if I’m ever confused, he will always help me understand the assignment. He is one of the nicest teachers in the school, and I think everyone should vote him as teacher as the year!!”
“I am nominating Mr. Regalado because he helps us out a lot in math and is overall a great teacher. There isn’t a specific example I can give you because he does his job well every day.“
“Mr. Regalado has really helped me learn with the skills that he teaches my class. Ever since 7th grade, I’ve learned a lot from him and I’m very thankful for that.
“I chose Mr. Regalado because he is super understanding, and he knows when something is wrong.”
“I’m choosing Mr. Regalado because no matter if we are doing hard or easy things he makes everything fun, and I have improved so much in math because of him.“
“Mr. Regalado because he helps me learn math in a fun way and we also do really fun things in his class.”
“Mr. Regalado is really kind and understanding. When I need help in math, he takes time out of his day and lesson to help me. He also lets me have extra time when I mess up and restart and redo assignments when I get a grade, I’m not happy with. Mr. Regalado has many other traits, but I chose these ones as I think they describe him best.
We thank Jennifer and the parents and students for sharing their insightful experience with our wonderful BridgeUSA teacher, Mr. Regalado! We also thank and wish Mr. Regalado a great rest of his Teach USA Program!
Is your school ready to host highly qualified international educators to contribute to the learning experience of your students and communities? Visit HostGreenheartTeachers.org to apply to host today.
Did you know? 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.