A group of new teachers will spend three weeks visiting classrooms at four Tacoma schools, with the goal of expanding their instructional skills. What makes this group and experience unique is that the 20 teachers are from Korea.  

In Korea, this group of educators teaches English at the secondary level, and visiting American schools is part of their training. For three weeks in May, they will rotate through several classes to observe and learn about the American education system and culture.  

Teachers at Foss High School, Stadium High School, Baker Middle School, and Giaudrone Middle School volunteered to host Korean teachers in their classrooms.  

The principals at the four sponsoring schools were instrumental in creating a welcoming environment for the visitors. Other TPS leaders provided information on a variety of topics, including the district’s curriculum adoption process in social studies, technology in education, and efforts in recruiting and retaining teachers. Another highlight for our guests was visiting SAMi to learn about the school’s unique program. 

Tacoma Public Schools’ Executive Director of Global Education, Dr. Minh-Anh Hodge, also sees the visit and experience as beneficial for Tacoma students.  

“We are preparing our students to be global citizens,” Hodge said. “Spending time with those from other cultures helps us open our minds and reflect on our worldviews. We can learn from each other while connecting through our common experiences.”   

The Tacoma community and school district are culturally and ethnically diverse. There are 109 languages spoken by TPS families, and nearly 12% of students are currently enrolled in English language learner (ELL) courses. Learning about and celebrating our diverse cultures is an important part of building school communities where all students feel welcome.  

This visit of 20 secondary teachers is through a partnership with the Korean government-supported educational agencies. TPS will also host a second group of 17 elementary teachers from Korea at the end of May. In addition to visiting classrooms, the groups will spend time exploring the Puget Sound region.  

“I am proud of how our administrators and teachers have enthusiastically offered their support to ensure a meaningful experience for our visitors. I hope we can take what we learn and expand our partnerships, these types of experiences and relationships are good for our students, schools, and community.” Hodge said.