AFTER dedicating 14 years to teaching at Ginger Hill Primary School in rural St Elizabeth, Tashalie Sanderson felt ready for a new challenge that would push her beyond her comfort zone. That opportunity came in the form of the Participate Learning programme, which opened doors for her to become a cultural education ambassador teaching students at an elementary school in the United States.

“At some point in my career, I felt like I had become stagnant and needed to grow and be challenged. Teaching at a small school in deep-rural St Elizabeth did not provide such opportunities,” revealed Sanderson, who now teaches grade three at Cedar Fork Elementary in Morrisville, North Carolina. She applied to Participate Learning and was successful in being selected to join as an ambassador teacher.

Participate Learning implements global education in K-12 schools in the US to fulfil its mission of uniting the world through global learning. The programme empowers educators from around the world to strengthen student outcomes and promote cultural understanding to realise its vision to develop global citizenship among students in American schools.

Now in her fourth year with the programme, Sanderson has embraced both the challenges and opportunities that come with teaching in a new cultural context.

Fully embracing her role as a cultural ambassador, Sanderson has brought Jamaican culture into her classroom through various initiatives.

“My school community is very receptive of having a Jamaican teacher. Sometimes they get overly excited, especially students and parents. They are able to experience the Jamaican culture through conversations, the culture corner in my classroom, virtual meetings with students from Jamaica and cultural events like international night,” she said.

Sanderson in turn has learned new strategies for classroom management. For example, she has become adept at using technology applications and managing learners of varying abilities in her classroom.

“Everything is done electronically, from taking attendance, entering data for students’ grades, reporting incidents and daily communications,” she explained. “While this was initially challenging as someone who wasn’t tech-savvy, I was able to quickly overcome it with the help of very supportive colleagues.”

Her dedication and innovative teaching approaches have not gone unnoticed. Sanderson has been recognised as teacher of the month several times and currently serves as grade chair/team leader for the third-grade team. She has also completed a two-year programme in reading (LETRS) and serves as a trained mentor for beginning teachers.

Looking ahead, Sanderson maintains strong connections with her roots in Jamaica.

“Currently, I share a bond with my former co-workers and visit the school on every trip to Jamaica, sharing my experiences with them and things they may implement in their classroom. I recently decided to mentor a student I met on one of my visits,” she said.

Participate Learning continues to accept applications from qualified educators interested in teaching positions across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Applicants must have at least two years of full-time teaching experience after earning a university degree in education and be willing to commit to teaching in the United States for up to five consecutive years.

Teachers selected to join the Participate Learning programme receive competitive salaries ranging from US$41,000 to US$55,000 annually, depending on experience, academic degree, and school district. The programme, endorsed by the US Department of State, provides medical coverage, airfare, and support throughout the visa process for teachers and their families.

Sanderson believes that Jamaica’s education system should embrace the idea of teachers serving as cultural ambassadors.

“They should encourage more youths to become teachers and represent Jamaica on a global level then return to their country to share their knowledge with teachers and help improve our education system,” she said.

Participate Learning is a global education leader, supporting teachers from over 35 countries to experience teaching in schools across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Since 1987, Participate Learning has partnered with US educational institution with the mission of uniting the world through global learning. The organisation is also a designated sponsor of the BridgeUSA exchange programme.