Alumni Spotlight – Laura V.

This month, we are thrilled to shine the spotlight on Laura V., a remarkable alumna from Honduras. Over the course of five years in the program, Laura embarked on a transformative journey, teaching at an elementary school in Burlington, North Carolina. After returning to her home country, she has continued to pursue her passion for teaching, making a profound impact on the lives of students in Honduras. Join us as we catch up with Laura, explore her personal and professional growth, and reminisce about her most cherished memories from her time in the program. Get ready to be inspired by Laura’s incredible story!

Reflecting on her experience teaching in the U.S.

Q: What schools did you teach at and when?
A: I taught second grade at Marvin B. Smith Elementary School for all five years of the Ambassador Teacher Program (2017-2022).

Q: What inspired you to apply to teach in the U.S.?
A: My desire to share my Honduran culture with U.S. students inspired me to become an Ambassador Teacher.

Q: What did you enjoy most about your time teaching in the U.S.?
A: The most enjoyable experience during my time in the U.S. was how inclusive the dual language programs are created to be—how they are open for all students to participate in if they want to learn a new language. It was wonderful to share my Spanish language with them.

What life looks like now

Q: Where are you now? Are you living in your home country or elsewhere in the world right now?
A: After completing the Ambassador Teacher Program last year, I moved to Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Q: Are you still working in education or have you changed career paths? Please tell us about your current job!
A: Yes, I am still working in education. I am currently working at Pinares Academy, a Honduran school with many educational accreditations. There, I am a preschool teacher at the preparatory level.

Q: Do you have any other life updates that you would like to share with us and the Participate Learning Network?
A: I love sharing all of my experiences from my time as an Ambassador Teacher—I constantly recommend the program to fellow teachers and friends.

Share 3-5 facts about your time teaching in the U.S. Think about favorite memories, travel experiences, special moments, accomplishments, or other things that happened during your time with the program.

• I graduated from the Ambassador Teacher Program last year, completing all five years.
• One of my favorite trips was when I went to Virginia with all my family.
• I won a certificate in the Read-A-Thon at my school. My class won the award for the most minutes read!
• My husband joined me in the U.S. after three years, and I loved having him there.
• Another favorite moment was when I had my baby.

Interested in connecting with Laura and following her journey? Connect with her on Twitter here.