Fulbright Teacher Exchange alum and high school Spanish teacher Jodi Resch Brownell of Wisconsin has partnered with instructors at Sauk Valley Community College in Illinois and SUNY-Oneonta in New York to create collaborative online learning opportunities. Her team’s project, awarded a $10,000 Alumni TIES grant through the U.S. Department of State, aims to build virtual exchange partnerships between rural schools and their international peers.
Jodi’s commitment to train K-16 rural educators and provide global connections to students in rural school districts has been recognized recently at the state level. In October 2023, Jodi was named 2023 Rural Teacher of the Year by the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance. Reflecting on expanding access to international learning experiences, Jodi said, “Building skills of intercultural competence, empathy, critical thinking, collaboration, language acquisition, and global citizenship will open more doors for student success and participation in the global market.”
Jodi Resch Brownell is an alum of the 2020-2022 Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program, United States to France.
More Alumni Voices
Robert Kenfack
Language Teacher, Cameroon to United States
"I became a technology expert in my country, and I’ve been able to share this knowledge with other teachers in Cameroon."
John Miller
Middle School Teacher, United States to Singapore
"I wanted to see how Singapore used games —particularly with disadvantaged kids—to promote literacy and how they used educational technology."
Baman Kumar Ghimire
Language Teacher, Nepal to United States
"My exchange program sowed the seed of school counseling in me, helping me connect globally and bring hope to many students."
Anthony Adjetey Adjei
Science Teacher, Ghana to United States
"My experience helped broaden my knowledge in getting to learn new trends in education, learn the cultural diversity of the United States, and that of other educators from different countries. I am a better version of myself than when I left the shores of Ghana."
Ana Inés Battaglino
Math Teacher, Uruguay to United States
"For me, being a Fulbright Teacher goes beyond acquiring pedagogical strategies or attending academic seminars. It is about fostering global understanding through education and promoting cultural exchange within our teaching practices."