WITH over 26 years of teaching experience and a track record of leadership in St Catherine schools, Camilla Walsh-Reynolds (BEd, MEd) embarked on a new chapter in her career when she joined the Participate Learning programme as a cultural education ambassador in the United States (US).

“I believe I had something special to offer globally as well as being a lifelong learner,” explained Walsh-Reynolds, who now serves as international teacher lead at JW Coon Elementary in Cumberland County, North Carolina. Her extensive experience includes teaching at several institutions in Spanish Town, including St Jago Cathedral Preparatory and Spanish Town Primary, as well as serving as principal at Valley Christian Ministries Preparatory and Bois Content Primary and Infant schools.

Since joining the Participate Learning programme in 2022, Walsh-Reynolds has found that while the fundamentals of teaching remain constant, the American education system offers unique opportunities for professional growth.

“Teaching in the US is not much different from back home in terms of having a lesson plan, learning objectives and goals to be achieved,” she observed. “However, there are a wider variety of programmes, resources, and support provided to the teachers, and the class sizes are smaller. Technology is embedded in the lessons and decisions taken are data-driven.”

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.

Walsh-Reynolds’ passion for education stems from her personal experience with its transformative power.

“I’m passionate about teaching to ensure my students are given the same opportunities irrespective of their circumstances and that they maximise their truest potential,” she said.

This dedication to student success has helped her navigate the challenges of adapting to a new educational environment.

The transition to teaching in the United States came with its challenges, particularly in adjusting to cultural differences and learning new teaching methodologies. However, Walsh-Reynolds credits Participate Learning’s comprehensive support system for helping her succeed. “Participate Learning provides ongoing support and are always just a phone call or e-mail away,” she explained. “They provide advisors for new teachers who assist with sourcing housing, transportation, and other logistics to enable a smooth transition.”

In Cumberland County’s diverse community, Walsh-Reynolds has found a welcoming environment for sharing Jamaican culture. She has integrated various aspects of her heritage into her teaching methods, engaging students in cultural exchange activities while implementing new instructional strategies such as small group learning.

Looking ahead, Walsh-Reynolds plans to return to Jamaica with the knowledge and experience gained from teaching in the United States. “I do intend on returning home and hope that I can not only impact learning in the classroom but also be an advisor to the Ministry of Education to share my expertise and wealth of knowledge obtained from teaching in the US,” she said.

While Walsh-Reynolds has already been sharing her experiences and new knowledge with colleagues teaching in Jamaica, she is already planning on how she will apply them upon her return to the classroom in Jamaica. An example is small group instruction.

“Small grouping, where students are pulled from the group for remediation in areas needing revisiting, is definitely something I will be taking back home,” she explained.

Walsh-Reynolds strongly advocates for expanding these international teaching opportunities. “I would encourage the Jamaican Government to connect with Participate Learning to provide the support to enable teachers to have this opportunity of becoming global ambassadors,” she said. “There is so much to learn to make us better teachers who are being trained by a First World country and in return produce first-class learners.”

Teachers in 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.

Walsh-Reynolds encouraged other educators to consider the programme for their professional growth and development.