Teacher Travels

BRINGING CULTURAL & EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> FROM AROUND THE WORLD BACK TO CALVERT >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Calvert School is committed to recruiting and retaining teachers, staff, and administrators of the highest quality. A key component of Calvert’s ability to retain exceptional teachers is the capacity to provide enriching professional development opportunities. Through travel, research, continuing education, and conferences, Calvert teachers grow both personally and professionally by sharing their experiences with students. Thanks to the generosity of donors who have established endowed funds designed to support faculty and staff, Calvert was able to send several teachers around the globe in 2019. The significant impact of faculty and staff travel is abundantly clear as we read our teachers’ reflections, observe artifacts in their classrooms, and witness the firsthand knowledge they share with our students. Calvert is fortunate to have benefactors whose generous support has provided meaningful opportunities and made endowed faculty and staff funds a philanthropic priority.

Sean Donmoyer | Spain Sean Donmoyer, Lower School Spanish teacher, traveled to Seville, the capital of Spain’s Andalusia region. The purpose of the trip was to learn more about how Spanish is taught in other countries and explore the culture of the region. During the 16-day program, not only was Mr. Donmoyer able to improve his command of the Spanish language, but he also was able to relive the student experience in an immersion-style classroom. Mr. Donmoyer spent time absorbed in lively conversation and dialogue with his peers and teachers. “My time as a student of the Spanish language also reinforced the importance of keeping communication at the center of teaching and learning a language,” he said. Similar to the way the immersion program was directed in Seville, he incorporates a comparable approach in his classroom at Calvert. “I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to travel the world and spend valuable time improving my craft as a teacher, a learner, and a human being.”

Alex Sloane | The Galápagos Islands K-8 Science Coordinator and Middle School science teacher Dr. Alex Sloane made her way to the Galápagos Islands. The chain of islands is part of Ecuador in South America and is situated in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It is an archipelago filled with fascinating plants and friendly wildlife, including giant tortoises and a plethora of sea birds and mammals that allows one to have a close and personal interaction. A large unit of study in Dr. Sloane's classroom is focused on evolution and natural selection. She thought, “What better way to explore naturalist Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution than visiting

Alex Sloane in The Galápagos Islands with a giant tortoise.

the place where his inspiration began?” Dr. Sloane said, “I was able to personalize my curriculum because of all the pictures I took as opposed to those found online.” The trip allowed Dr. Sloane to directly witness one of the greatest wonders of the world and share her unique adventures with Calvert students.

Kristen Handy | Italy Ninth Age girls' homeroom teacher Kristen Handy traveled across Italy, making her way to Rome, Florence, Siena, and Pompeii. In her classroom, Mrs. Handy teaches the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, and Rome, as well as the medieval period in England. Of the many the historic sites she visited on her trip, the Pantheon was definitely a highlight. Throughout its history, the Pantheon’s innovative combination of both Greek and Roman architecture has been admired. On her return, she said, “Students were able to identify unexpected details in a photograph that may have been missed otherwise. I showed them a photo of the Pantheon, and they noticed the hieroglyphics on an obelisk that stands in the same square. They were then able to connect their study of ancient Egypt and apply it to our lesson on ancient Rome.”

Eric Cowell | England and Norway Eric Cowell, Middle School science teacher, traveled to Todmorden, London, and Oslo to learn more about sustainability. In Todmorden, a quaint village in West Yorkshire, England, Mr. Cowell visited the Incredible Edible Todmorden, an urban gardening project whose mission is to bring communities together through actions around locally grown food. While visiting London, he learned how this megalopolis has been recognized as the fifth most sustainable city in the world. In Oslo, the efforts to be more sustainable were recognized by the European Commission, which named the city the European Green Capital for 2019. At each stop, Mr. Cowell learned techniques to share with his students to change their behavior toward the environment and thus become more sustainable and self-sufficient. He tells his students, “There are a lot of small ways to be sustainable. It is hard to break habits, but don’t be discouraged; you can inspire and encourage others to make a change."

Timika Baxter Tyson | Morocco and Spain Timika Baxter Tyson, Director of Co-Curricular Programs and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, traveled to Spain and Morocco for a rewarding learning opportunity. The inspiration for the trip was to learn about the Muslim faith and culture. Ms. Baxter Tyson began her 15-day journey in Madrid. For the most part, she navigated solo to experience the cultural riches of Andalusia, the fascinating World Heritage sites in Seville, the imperial cities of North Africa, and the varied culture of Morocco. Morocco is ethnically diverse and offers Roman ruins, elegant Islamic monuments, beautiful beaches, and the high Atlas Mountains. The program allowed for an authentic, first-hand understanding of contemporary Moroccan art, architecture, dress, etiquette, cuisines, language, values, and world views. Ms. Tyson was inspired by the trip

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and eager to share her experiences with students and faculty at Calvert. She noted that although we come from diverse cultures and backgrounds, we have much in common. “No matter what your native language is, we all speak the same one. If you have pictures and social media to share with your group, you can communicate anything with anyone.”

Jason Till | Greece Ninth Age boys’ homeroom teacher Jason Till traveled to Greece for a rewarding learning experience. Part of Mr. Till’s curriculum is teaching students about ancient Egypt and Greece, the Roman Empire, and medieval England. He imagined that traveling to one of the countries would afford him a unique opportunity to bring textbook study to life for his students. The decision to visit Greece was due to its rich history. On his tour, he explored archaeologic sites including Delphi, Marathon, Salamis, and Thermopylae. According to Mr. Till, “The coolest place I visited was Marathon. Seeing such a

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1 Kristen Handy in Italy. 2 Eric Cowell in Norway. 6

3 Timika Baxter Tyson in Morocco. 4 Jason Till in Greece.

5 Paul Libertini in Boston. 6 Casey Briggs in Brazil.

monumental place, turned into a beach for tourists and residences, is incredible.” Mr. Till shared, “When you are able to visualize it yourself and see these places in person, you get a closer connection to the subject you are teaching.” He returned to Calvert inspired to share everything he learned during his days in Greece.

Paul Libertini | Canada and New England Tenth Age boys’ homeroom teacher Paul Libertini cruised his way through history, stopping in Boston, Portland, Bar Harbor, New Brunswick, and Halifax. On his cruise, he visited Boston, where he saw Bunker Hill, Paul Revere’s House, and the Old North Church, where lanterns were hung on that night of Paul Revere’s ride. At the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, he saw the last surviving tea chest from the Boston Tea Party and replicas of two Revolutionary ships, The Beaver and The Eleanor. Mr. Libertini then made stops at Acadia National Park, Saint John, and a museum about theTitanic. His motivation behind the trip was to bring history to life. During the historical unit in class, students learn about colonial America. “You can learn so much in history books, but actually going to these places you learn a step further.” Thanks to this incredible learning opportunity, Mr. Libertini said, “I was able to uncover details that you don’t receive from a textbook.”

Casey Briggs | Brazil Casey Briggs, Seventh Age teacher, traveled to Brazil. As part of the geography curriculum at Calvert, students study South America with a focus on Brazil, Peru, and Argentina. She connected with a friend from Lyon, France, for an opportunity to visit students at a favela in Rio de Janeiro. Favelas are impoverished communities where it is mandatory to be accompanied by a guide for safety. Mrs. Briggs was able to read books, play soccer, and build Legos with the children there. She shared with her Calvert students that “being a child is universal.” She said, “I was nervous to leave my family and travel to an unfamiliar place. As teachers, we encourage our students to challenge themselves and to take appropriate risks.” It is important for students to recognize similar feelings of being nervous. “It helps them understand that they are not alone in these emotions.” Mrs. Briggs is grateful for the amazing opportunity to explore a new country.