Branham High School in Willow Glen is home to global educators

Branham has a diverse staff and faculty from a variety of backgrounds, with rich experiences to share with students and the Branham community. Several teachers have lived and worked overseas, hailing from Honduras, India, South Africa, Spain and the Ukraine.

This year several staff members were involved in international exchanges to gain personal insight into educational systems in other countries and to further enrich the educational environment at Branham. U.S. history teacher Matt Zehner spent three weeks in South Korea as a participant in the 2007 Summer Fellowship in Korean Studies. Principal Tom Utic visited and worked with educators in several schools in Mendoza, Argentina this summer as a part of the Fulbright Administrator Exchange program.

English teachers Rachelle Burnside of Branham and Claire Harris of Cardinal Wiseman High School near London, England switch places for the current school year as participants in the Fulbright U.S./U.K. Teacher Exchange program. Each of these educators was selected as a participant in an exchange program for his or her strong professional background and eagerness to share their expertise and learn from others. Their experiences will help enrich schools in both their home and host countries.

The Fulbright Teacher Exchange was established in 1924 to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen relations between the United States and the wider world.

There are great benefits for both schools and teachers involved. The teachers will be exposed to different teaching methodologies and approaches and have the opportunity to enrich their own teaching while living in a new environment. There is enormous potential for broadening pupils' perspectives on the wider world by developing links at class or whole school level.

Educational exchanges have proven to be enriching experiences for the participants and the organizations they work with. Branham High School is fortunate to have staff members bringing their insights from three different continents with vastly different cultures here to San Jose. Each of these educators are eager to share their personal experiences with students and community members and make play their small part in creating links between countries.

Courtesy: http://www.willowglentimes.com/