The Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Fellows pose for a photo with Chelmsford School Committee members on Tuesday, Feb. 25.
by Jen Oemig
CHELMSFORD – Through a relationship with UMass Lowell, Chelmsford Public Schools is once again hosting several Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Fellows.
Fulbright TEA brings international, secondary-level teachers to the United States for a six-week program. The Fellows take academic seminars for professional development at a host university. They observe classrooms, create lessons and share their expertise with teachers and students at the host university and at local secondary schools.
This year, Chelmsford is hosting five Fulbright TEA Fellows – three at Chelmsford High School and two at McCarthy Middle School. They will be staying until March 10.
The TEA Fellows, who are the best and brightest in their home countries, work side-by-side with Chelmsford teachers to provide enriching lessons for students and to learn from one another.
Olha Tsaruk, a language teacher from Ukraine, said she was impressed with not only the facilities and equipment in the district, but also with the teachers.
“From day one, I was included in the teaching process, so I didn’t feel like I was a visitor, observer or guest,” she said. “I felt like [part of the] team, that I could contribute and that I could make an impact.”
Ethel Puyol, an ESL teacher from Argentina, who was paired with CHS Spanish teacher Jessica Ferronetti, echoed Tsaruk’s sentiments.
“I love the school inclusivity,” she said. “I felt welcome and considered a fellow teacher.”
Eda Isler, who teaches English and creative writing in Istanbul, Turkey, was paired with CHS French teacher Veronica Gadbois.
“It was a great experience for me to observe the classes here because I attended different classes like literature, science and biology,” she said. “I work in a STEM-based organization. That’s why I wanted to see different classes.”
Lauren Marsetta, a special education teacher at Chelmsford High School, was partnered with Rose Makondetsa, a special educator from Malawi.
“It has been great to have her here and observing my classroom,” said Marsetta. “She was particularly interested in re-evaluation testing and how the results of those assessments are used to identify students and inform services provided. We worked together on a classroom activity for a substantially separate ELA class, which was a huge hit with the students.”
McCarthy Middle School World Studies teacher Ashley Jean has been working alongside Aliyu Idris Haroon, who teaches high school economics in Nigeria.
He was very open to answering questions from students and shared a lot about his life in Nigeria,” Jean said. “He enjoyed comparing the education systems within our two countries and my 7th graders loved hearing from him. … It was so great to work with him and really see how similar yet different our two countries and education styles are.”
In addition to spending time in the classroom, the TEA Fellows have also been able to experience some American culture.
McCarthy Middle School history teacher Kim Briand said Tsaruk, Carol Simonela Vasquez Martinez from Peru and Lali Terterashvili from Georgia, all visited her to watch the Super Bowl earlier this month.
“They had the full experience of a loud household of family and friends, junk food, beverages, online gambling, new commercials and a half-time show that was talked about for days,” she said.
