Jefferson School Hosts Two-Week Visit by Teacher from Great Britain
Jefferson Primary School students enjoyed a taste of Europe in September. No, it wasn’t any special food that was brought into the school. Instead it was a visiting teacher from Great Britain who provided the unique experience, spending two-weeks sharing stories and lessons from the Old World.
Tara Hannan came to the Huntington School District from her London classroom, actively participating in all facets of life as a Jefferson teacher, from planning and co-teaching lessons to informally interacting with faculty, staff and students.
Ms. Hannan focused much of her efforts on Huntington’s World Communities curriculum, which district English language arts coordinator Angela Berner authored last year. "Huntington is one of the first and only districts on Long Island to be engaged in such an international teacher work-shadow endeavor,” said Joseph Leavy, district director of humanities.
“I would thoroughly recommend the formation of partnerships between schools around the world as a way of developing children’s understanding of different cultures, as well as giving them an awareness of their role as global citizens,” said Ms. Hannan at the conclusion of her visit. “Experiences of this nature benefits students and teachers on both sides and I am eager to continue the communication between Jefferson and Elmhurst (Great Britain).”
Among Ms. Hannan's lessons was a hands-on study of the economic difference between needs and luxuries. Another lesson required students to challenge stereotypes of different 'types of people' based on language, culture, food, likes and dislikes.
"These lessons have not only connected directly with our district and state curriculum, but the very presence of Ms. Hannan has given the students at Jefferson a unique opportunity to experience a person from a world community as their co-teacher,” Mr. Leavy said. “This chance is particularly special for these young learners, many of whom otherwise may never have met a person from Europe so early in their lives who could share with them learning experiences from a very different perspective."
“We’ve been honored to have Ms. Hannan visiting and working with us at Jefferson,” Principal Margaret H. Evers said. “She has been worked closely with the instructional support liaison, Karen Mallo-Rizzo and many teachers, particularly Lucy Marotta and Valerie Galanty.”
The experience developed as a result of Ms. Hannan contacting Mr. Leavy through “Global Gateway,” a British government initiative which assists schools in establishing partnerships with other schools throughout the world.
Mr. Leavy and Ms. Hannan developed a proposal, supported by Huntington Assistant Superintendent Michael O'Brien and ultimately approved by the Board of Education, to have Ms. Hannan work-shadow during September.
“We have been very lucky to have Ms. Hannan here with us helping us to create a partnership between Elmhurst School in London and Jefferson Primary,” Mrs. Evers said. “The hope is to continue a connection with Ms. Hannan’s students in London and Mrs. Marotta's students here.”
Mrs. Marotta thought the visiting teacher’s insights into other cultures allowed Jefferson students “to think outside the box. My students were excited to see her each day.”
Mr. Leavy said a full report on the comparison of the two educational settings will be complete by the end of the semester and presented to Mr. O'Brien's office. Students are sure to long remember their European visitor and Ms. Hannan isn’t likely to forget the youngsters any time soon, either.
All graphics, photographs, and text appearing on the Huntington Public Schools home page and subsequent official web pages are protected by copyright. Redistribution or commercial use is prohibited without express written permission. Comments or Questions? email the Public Information Office