Middle school humanities educator Amy Robbins, Ph.D. has completed another chapter in her Fulbright journey - this time to India! Amy, who spent the last year as a Fulbright Scholar through the esteemed Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program (TGC)—a yearlong professional development experience designed to help U.S. educators bring a global lens to their teaching, has just returned from her second adventure through this program (the first being her trip to Finland last summer - you can read about that here!).
Amy’s experience took place this summer in India—first in New Delhi, and then in her host community of Kolkata. Amy joined a cohort of passionate educators from across the country in this competitive program. Her journey began with a rigorous, semester-long online course focused on global education best practices, followed by an in-person professional development workshop in Washington, D.C.
In New Delhi, Amy and her cohort participated in workshops and panel discussions on India’s education system, history, and culture. They also had the chance to visit key cultural and historical sites, including the Mehrauli Archaeological Park and the Taj Mahal—experiences that added meaningful context to their professional learning.
Amy then traveled to Kolkata alongside two fellow educators—Ms. Kim Warren from Utah International Charter School and Ms. Olivia McKeller from The Global Village Project School in Georgia. Together, they were hosted by Ms. Sharmila Sengupta, the headmistress of Barisha Janakalyan Vidyapith for Girls, a government school serving students in grades 5–12.
While in Kolkata, Amy co-taught classes, led cultural presentations, engaged with local teachers and administrators, and immersed herself in the rhythms of Indian school life. Beyond the classroom, she was welcomed into the broader community, exploring local customs, traditions, and sites of cultural and historical significance—deepening her understanding of both education and life in India.
Throughout the program, Amy has been reflecting on her experiences and sharing insights through her blog, Learning Beyond Borders. You can follow her journey here: learning-beyond-borders/travel.
We are incredibly proud of Amy’s commitment to global education and her continued efforts to bring these valuable perspectives back to Watershed. Her experiences will no doubt enrich our community and expand the horizons of the students she teaches!
