How Great Hearts Teachers Grew Abroad Over the Summer

Over the summer, 17 teachers from Great Hearts academies ventured across the globe, funded by Study Funds and winnings from the Excellent Teacher Video Contest. Their travels took them to places like Arizona, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, England, and even Italy. These educators enjoyed the opportunity to grow in their craft, with some even sharing the experience alongside colleagues from their own schools.

Meredith Frey and Luz Puopolo from Great Hearts Northern Oaks, as well as Lauren Park from Glendale Prep, each submitted a video of their teaching to the Excellent Teaching Video Contest last winter. Their videos were evaluated by a panel of judges from the Curriculum and Academics Teams at Great Hearts America and all three won in different categories. The award was up to $5,000 to the program of their choice and they all chose the University of Dallas’ Classical Educators in Rome program for two weeks during the summer break.

Frey shared her reflections on the diverse opportunities she enjoyed in Rome. “I was able to see the Circus Maximus, Colosseum, see the incredible art and sculpture from Michelangelo and Raphael, and learn a greater depth of History that I teach in the Ancient Rome unit,” she said. “I also have a greater understanding and love for classical education because of the program. Additionally, it was a joy to go with other Great Hearts teachers and meet classical educators from around the U.S. and world.”

14 additional Great Hearts teachers were granted the opportunity to study abroad, thanks to study funds provided by the KERN Expansion Grant. After applying through an employee resource webpage and selecting their preferred programs from an approved list, a team reviewed the applications, awarding funds based on the teachers’ responses, feedback from their headmasters, and their tenure at Great Hearts. These educators came from academies in both Texas and Arizona, and have been teaching with Great Hearts anywhere from 3 to 15 years.

Katherine Sockey, a teacher at Great Hearts Monte Vista North studied at The Florence Academy of Art. “I am planning to transfer what I learned to the acrylic paint medium and teach landscape painting to my senior students this year. It has given me a new, concrete method of teaching for a very large area of traditional art,” she said

Denise Norris, who teaches at Chandler Prep, stated that she is really excited about the treasure trove of math resources that she now has access to after her time at Carnegie Learning, The National Institute.

For these great-hearted teachers, the summer study programs have provided invaluable experiences. Whether exploring ancient history in Rome, advancing artistic techniques in Florence, or discovering new methods for teaching math, these educators returned to their classrooms with fresh insights and skills to enhance their scholars’ learning. Their experiences deepened their commitment to professional growth and the broader mission of Great Hearts to cultivate a love for learning and excellence in education. The impact of their summer will continue to inspire both colleagues and students alike, throughout the school year.

If you would like to join an outstanding faculty devoted to personal development and pursue a career with Great Hearts that offers a unique teaching experience, visit https://careers.greatheartsamerica.org.

Do you have a story or know of a story that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts? Please contact jason.moore@greathearts.org.