A group of 21 secondary school teachers from 20 different countries is spending six weeks at Kent State University as part of a Fulbright professional development program for foreign educators.
The Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program is sponsored by the United States Department of State, funded by the U.S. government, and administered by IREX and Kent State. Teachers in the program participate in academic professional development at a host university.
Kent State’s Gerald H. Read Center for International and Intercultural Education within the College of Education, Health and Human Services successfully applied for the grant to be a host university for the Fulbright group.
Kent State Today was able to spend some time getting to know the program participants.
Piret Sadam, who teaches English in her home country of Estonia, said she was grateful for the opportunity to develop herself as a teacher. She has taught English for 20 years and organizes theater productions for fifth- and sixth-grade students at home in Viljandi, Estonia.
Sadam said she has particularly enjoyed performing field experience in Hudson City Schools.
“Hudson schools are amazingly equipped. The teachers are fantastic, and the experience has been very impressive,” she said.
Amanda Johnson, Ph.D., director of the Read Center, said Kent State has hosted the program before and she is pleased the group comes from such a diverse array of countries. The teachers, who teach English or math in their home countries, come from Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Algeria, Armenia, Georgia, India, Jordan, Kenya, Laos, Moldova, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Tunisia, Uzbekistan and Ukraine.
“The Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) program is a vital initiative that not only enhances the professional development of educators from around the world but also enriches Kent State University and the surrounding community,” Johnson said. “By fostering cross-cultural understanding and collaboration, the TEA program empowers educators to bring diverse perspectives and innovative teaching practices back to their home countries, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and globally engaged educational landscape.”
In addition to taking English language and math courses at Kent State, each visiting teacher is assigned to a school classroom in Northeast Ohio. They spend one day each week observing and sharing their knowledge and expertise with local teachers and students.
“They really get the sort of deep dive into K-12 education in Ohio, specifically secondary education,” Johnson said. “We partner them with either language teachers or math educators.”
The teachers are at public high schools and middle schools in Kent, Streetsboro, Aurora, Hudson, Kentston and Stow-Munroe Falls districts.
Ravi Kumar Sankranthi, of Khammam, Telangana, India, said he heard about the program from a fellow teacher who had previously been in the program, and he was excited for the opportunity to take part.
“It is one of the world’s best teacher exchange programs, which is why I am proud to be here,” he said.
Sankranthi said he was learning a great deal, particularly about available educational technology, and enjoyed his classroom experiences in Kent City Schools.
The trip is Sankranthi’s first time leaving India, and he marvels at the American lifestyle.
“The lifestyle is different. The food is different. The way we drive is different,” he said.
While here, Sankranthi is trying to take in as much of the country as he can and spent the recent fall break exploring Los Angeles and San Francisco in California. Another highlight for him was attending a production of Les Misérables in Cleveland.
“I have been exposed to the other side of the world and it makes me proud that I can share this knowledge back at home,” he said. “This program is going to help me in many ways, both professionally and personally. It has added so much to my knowledge.”
As an educator, he is looking forward to sharing what he has learned with his students and fellow teachers.
Tamar Tsanava, of the nation of Georgia, also made her first venture to the U.S. and experienced her first plane flight to get here.
“The first days were tiring and exciting. It’s a new world for me,” she said.
Georgia is a developing nation, and the manufacturing and technology she has seen on her visit have amazed her, Tsanava said.
An English teacher at home, Tsanava applied three times before she was accepted into the program and said her persistence has paid off.
She is spending her classroom time in the Kentston Local School District that serves Bainbridge and Auburn Townships in Geauga County, Ohio. “It is very different from my school. Every supply that a teacher would need you can get there. This is the place that every Georgian teacher has dreamed of,” she said.
Tiberius Barasa of Kisumu, Kenya, is also making his first visit to the U.S.
“It is a very, very exciting experience – amazing people, amazing environment – and I came at the right time, the weather is good,” Barasa said.
He praised Kent State for its warm environment. “People are willing to help and willing to welcome visitors.”
At home, Barasa teaches English to students ages 14 to 17, and during the program is spending time in the Streetsboro City Schools in Portage County.
The program lectures and his time in the classroom both have helped to expose him to recent technology and teach tools that he is anxious to try out at home.
“I’m learning a lot that I will be able to take back to my country,” he said. “I know this experience is good for me.”
Barasa particularly enjoyed attending Kent State’s Homecoming celebration in September, with its parade, marching band performance and football game.
“It was an exciting experience. I loved everything,” he said.
While at Kent State, the group toured nearby sights including Cleveland, Niagara Falls, and Ohio’s Amish country. The group arrived on Sept. 11 and will depart on Oct. 28.