Partners in Education

Through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad program, Towson University will provide an immersion experience in Peru for six weeks in summer 2025 for fifteen in-service educators.

Program Goal

The goal of the project is to enhance educators’ Spanish language competence and to develop intercultural competence and knowledge of Latin American culture. The project has the added purpose of helping teachers create curriculum units for use in their classrooms and schools, and to share in their communities and to disseminate widely.

Participants will also create and participate in teacher learning communities. Dr. Colleen Ebacher, Professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies at Towson University, will work with selected teachers from across the nation to achieve these goals.

Program Activities

The program includes pre- and post-departure activities and a six-week immersion experience in Piura (two weeks) and Cusco (four weeks). The pre-departure communication, planning and orientation will take place online in April-June 2025. The post-immersion activities will be completed by Spring 2026. 

During the immersion experience in Peru from June 20 to August 2, 2025, fifteen educators led by Dr. Ebacher will participate in language study, lectures, interviews, home stays, excursions, workshops and cultural activities as they explore issues central to Latin America. They will learn firsthand about the history, language, culture, art and architecture, indigenous peoples, environment, education, and society of modern Peru.

How to Apply

• Complete the Online Application.
• Upload two letters of reference addressing your teaching activities, skills, and achievements with the application. Applications that are missing one or more letters of reference will not be considered.

Application Deadline

• All materials should be received by December 15, 2024.

About the Reference Letters

All letters of reference should be on school letterhead and must be signed. One of the references should be from your school principal or immediate supervisor and should state that your principal/supervisor will support:

• the implementation in your classroom of the curriculum that you develop in this program
• the dissemination of the curriculum developed.

Both letters should address as many of the following points as possible. Your:

• qualifications as a teacher as well as your experience in the classroom
• instructional skills
• teamwork and collaboration
• adaptability, creativity and/or innovation in teaching
• commitment to education
• dependability
• student outcomes