Schenectady teacher trades places with English counterpart
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
By Michael Goot (Contact)
Gazette Reporter
Photographer: Barry Sloan
Sarah Davies of England, left, and Meredith Bernadt of Rotterdam Junction, pose for a photograph Monday at Meredith's home.Text Size: A A A
SCHENECTADY — When students walk into Meredith Bernadt’s fourth-grade classroom at Central Park International Magnet School this fall, they will be hearing the English accent of Sarah Davies leading the lessons. Meanwhile, Bernadt will be teaching third grade at Parks Primary School in Hull, England.
Bernadt and Davies have not only switched jobs for the coming school year but lives as well. Bernadt will be living in Davies’ house and Davies will live in hers. Both are recipients of a Fulbright Teacher Exchange grant that will allow them to teach in each other’s country. The program is very selective with just 60 U.S. citizens participating in the 2010-2011 academic year.
Davies has been in the United States for a few weeks getting acclimated and Bernadt is leaving today for Hull, a city of about 262,000 in northeast England.
Bernadt, 31, is excited about the opportunity. “I get to see how education works in another country, and my students here have the benefit of having an exchange teacher to teach about different cultures and diversity in the world.”
Bernadt and Davies had previously applied to the program but funding had been cut in Britain and the Fulbright program was not able to find a suitable match for Bernadt. This time, however, everything aligned perfectly.
Both are veteran teachers. Davies, 34, has eight years of teaching experience and Bernadt is starting her 10th year. But they are preparing as if they were fi rst-year teachers.
“We both know we’re going to experience a little bit of culture shock,” Davies said.
Both districts are urban school districts with a high percentage of low-income students and a transient population. Davies thinks there will be more similarities than differences.
“Kids are kids no matter where we go,” she said.
This is Davies’ first trip outside Europe. She was prompted to apply to the program because the idea of living in another country appealed to her. After arriving in the United States, she and her husband have been able to do some sightseeing to Niagara Falls, Gettysburg, Toronto and Montreal.
“It’s huge. Everything is really big,” Davies said. “The people are very friendly. Everyone has been so lovely, so kind.”
Bernadt said her parents, who still live in Scotia, have “adopted” the Davies.
“We’ve been a bit homesick. I feel like we need so much help with things, things you take for granted,” Davies said. “We’re finding that everything we do, we’ve got to give ourselves a little bit longer for.”
Everything is different, including the light switches, according to Davies. In Great Britain, they turn switches down to turn on lights.
Davies is attending the district’s three days of professional development this week, which will help her get acclimated to the school. She said she is hoping to teach the students to overcome stereotypes about British people.
“People keep asking me about muffins and tea, although tea is very important,” she said.
People also think Britons are obsessed with soccer, which her husband wasn’t dispelling, as he watched a game while she was being interviewed.
“You thought you were getting away from it,” Bernadt joked.
When Britons think of Americans, Bernadt said they probably think of big cars and fast food. Also, there is a stereotype that maybe the students are less reserved than their British counterparts.
Bernadt also anticipates a learning curve. “For me, it’s not having a car. I’m so used to having a car here and jumping in and going everywhere I want,” she said.
She also anticipates having difficulty understanding the children’s accents.
“It’s a lesson in flexibility and humility to put yourself back on that starting block,” she said.
Bernadt will also have to catch updates on her beloved Yankees online. Davies will get to experience a snow-fi lled winter.
Bernadt said this exchange fi ts in perfectly with the international theme of the school. Although there have been guest teachers from other countries at Central Park and what used to be Howe International Magnet School, Bernadt said this is the first direct exchange of a teacher.
The two plan to stay in touch through the Internet and Skype and are even talking about getting the two classes involved in a joint project. Bernadt’s Schenectady classes are “looped,” meaning she has the same students for third and fourth grades. So, the kids will already know her from last year.
Bernadt said she is grateful for the support of the Schenectady City School District administration to allow her to pursue this opportunity.
The teachers are also looking forward to sharing their experiences with their students when they return to their respective countries.
The kids are enthusiastic about her arrival, according to Bernadt.
“I’ve gotten e-mails from my kids: ‘Is she here yet?’ ”
