Two Rochester schools will welcome Fulbright teachers from fifteen countries for a semester of cultural exchange

Rochester, New York – This fall, two Rochester City School District schools are opening their doors to the world—literally. Rochester International Academy and School Without Walls will serve as host sites for a group of global educators participating in the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program for International Teachers.

These teachers, 23 in total, are coming from 15 different countries and will spend nearly four months in Rochester—from August 12 through December 10. Their visit is part of a unique international exchange effort coordinated locally by the University of Rochester’s Warner School of Education and Human Development.

“This year’s program brings together teachers from Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Finland, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, the Philippines, Senegal, Taiwan, Uganda, and the United Kingdom,” program coordinators announced. “It’s a rich mix of cultures, experiences, and ideas.”

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Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by the International Research and Exchanges Board, the Fulbright program is designed to provide high-achieving international teachers with deep professional learning. Participants engage in graduate-level coursework, conduct educational research, and partner with local teachers and students through field experiences in public schools.

The Warner School has been selected for the third year in a row to host the prestigious program, a point of pride for both the university and the RCSD. “It’s an honor to help facilitate this kind of exchange,” said a Warner School spokesperson. “It benefits not only the visiting teachers, but our own schools and communities.”

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For students and staff at Rochester International Academy and School Without Walls, the experience promises to be just as rewarding. The visiting educators bring diverse perspectives, new teaching strategies, and opportunities for cultural exchange that enrich the learning environment.

By the time the program ends in December, local educators and students will have built relationships that span the globe. And for many, the lessons learned—from both sides of the classroom—will last long after the visiting teachers return home.