I am pleased to remind you about initiatives designed to support your foreign language programs.
As a result of the Department's agreements with the Ministry of Education and Science of Spain, the Department can assist schools and districts in hiring teachers from Spain for the 2007-2008 school year. All of the teachers who have been accepted to teach in the Commonwealth have taught for at least three years in Spain, are fluent in English, and have been interviewed by Massachusetts' foreign language administrators. Many also have experience teaching in countries outside Spain.
In the past, such teachers have held positions in foreign language and two-way bilingual programs. American educators in our schools have found that having teachers from other countries on staff has enormously increased students' and teachers' understanding of language and cultures. In addition to bringing an international presence to schools, these teachers have assisted with student exchanges and a variety of other cultural programs. Currently there are approximately 25 exchange teachers from Spain working in Massachusetts public schools. They hold J-1 visas for up to three years and are exempt from Massachusetts licensure requirements as defined by M.G.L. c71, § 38G.
You can find information on other programs, including placement of assistant teachers from Spain, summer courses at Spanish universities for teachers and high school Advanced Placement students, and Materiales, a magazine for teachers of Spanish, at http://www.mec.es/sgci/usa/en/home/index.shtml.
I encourage you to contact the Spanish Advisor, Soledad Outes, at 781-338-3034 or soutes@doe.mass.edu to learn more about hiring a Spanish teacher or participating in these study programs.