Pasadena ISD and Richey Elementary have extended their reach internationally by being ambassadors and opening their arms to two educators from Uruguay this month. Richey Elementary is serving as a host school through the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Program.

Mario Guimaraens and Beatriz Gonzalez are observing classroom activities at Richey, along with other schools in the district. Both Guimaraens and Gonzalez are principals at their schools in Uruguay. Guimaraens resides and works in Salto, a city approximately 300 miles north of Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. Gonzalez resides and works in Montevideo.

The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late U.S. Sen. James William Fulbright. The Bureau of Educational Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State sponsors this program in an effort to create an understanding of culture between the U.S. and other countries. The organization awards approximately 6,000 grants annually at a cost of about $250 million. These grants are awarded to U.S. students, teachers, and scholars to study, educate, and conduct research in other countries. These two educators from Uruguay will be engaging in similar activities during their stay.

Mary O’Neal, Richey Elementary librarian and Tiffany Bennett, the school’s assistant principal were both instrumental in writing the grant to bring the educators to Pasadena ISD.

“Very few schools around the country are awarded this opportunity,” Bennett said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our students, staff and district to participate and learn about other cultures as well as to heighten our appreciation for the emphasis that our nation places on education and the standards and funds associated with it.”

“I think it’s a great honor – not just for our school but for our entire district,” O’Neal said. In addition, she said that she was very excited because about 30 schools across the U.S. have been selected to participate in the program and that Richey Elementary is one of them.

The Fulbright Program helps educators worldwide make connections with each other.

“As educators working together, we grow from us learning from them and them learning from us.” Gonzalez said. “I want to go talk with the teachers here and share my experiences teaching in the classroom.”

Eventually, Gonzalez has plans to complete her coursework to meet her ultimate goal of earning a doctorate degree in education. In addition, she loves to read and some authors that influence her love for teaching are from the writings of Jerome Bruner, Louise Rosenblatt, and Frank Smith.

Guimaraens has noticed that the student population at Richey is much higher than what he is used to seeing back home. His school has approximately 250 students, while Richey has an enrollment of 753 students.

Guimaraens has plans to retire from educating after 30 years and is pleased with the experience of being part of the Fulbright program.

“The Fulbright Program is a great experience for us to learn about other cultures in other countries.” Guimaraens said.

In the future, Bennett also has a desire to get the Richey faculty involved in the Fulbright Scholar Program.

“We would like to learn more about the Fulbright Scholar Program and see what other opportunities that may be available to the staff and the school for the future.” she said.