# Recognizing Our International Teaching Team **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 12, 2026, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recognizing-our-international-teaching-team/1030019 "2026-05-12T14:35:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recognizing-our-international-teaching-team/1030019/1 "2026-05-12T14:35:45Z")
Because of the teaching shortage, especially in urban areas, an international teaching program was developed and funded to fill the gap. Our team consists of ten people; one from the Philippines and the rest from various African countries, the most being from Ghana. We set up a recognition event this morning to recognize and thank them for this year of service. We set up an international zoom chat linking our event here with family and friends in the various locations I named. It is going pretty well right now. A good use for tech! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recognizing-our-international-teaching-team/1030019/2 "2026-05-12T17:11:14Z")
That’s really cool. How did you select those countries to pull candidates in from? ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recognizing-our-international-teaching-team/1030019/3 "2026-05-12T17:41:10Z")
FIrst of all, they have to be countries that our government allows. If Einstein taught in Iran, we’d be out of luck. Secondly, they have to be countries that will allow their educated people to leave and work here. We had a few refuse because, quite frankly, they are trying to develop an educated, qualified nucleus of people, and they do NOT like losing them to another country. Finally, if they meet the qualifications, they have to sign up for the program. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recognizing-our-international-teaching-team/1030019/4 "2026-05-12T17:47:14Z")
That’s pretty cool! If nothing else, it’s a great way for kids to get familiar with people from other countries and cultures. How old are the students they are teaching? I remember in middle school in the early 90s there was a teacher from Germany. I never had him but my brother did. He was the most popular teacher at school by far! ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recognizing-our-international-teaching-team/1030019/5 "2026-05-12T17:49:55Z")
We’re a K-8 district, so you’re looking at an age range between 5-13. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recognizing-our-international-teaching-team/1030019/6 "2026-05-13T00:04:52Z")
I imagine that there’s also a requirement for English fluency? A lot of Catholic churches in the US are also getting priests from Africa. Our head pastor is from Tanzania, and our assistant pastor is from Uganda. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recognizing-our-international-teaching-team/1030019/7 "2026-05-13T12:54:28Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I imagine that there’s also a requirement for English fluency? Yes, out of necessity. If you are from Ghana and all you can speak is Twi, that isn’t going to work. LOL ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recognizing-our-international-teaching-team/1030019/8 "2026-05-13T12:55:08Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > the most being from Ghana. Over the years I worked with three different math(s) grads from Ghana. The program they were in (they all knew of each other!) was very development + go find opportunities focused. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recognizing-our-international-teaching-team/1030019/9 "2026-05-13T12:56:35Z")
My SiL is a globe trotter and, out of the several African countries she has visited, she likes Ghana the most and has been there 3 times. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recognizing-our-international-teaching-team/1030019/10 "2026-05-13T14:37:53Z")
Yeah, they had me convinced to visit, but good intentions and all that…