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Spanish Visiting Teachers Program

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Spain through its Education Office at the Embassy of Spain in U.S. are implementing a program of collaboration to promote the study of the Spanish language and cultures in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and foster knowledge and appreciation of both cultures. That collaboration has been developed successfully in other states since 1986.

In August 1999 a pilot program started in Massachusetts, and six Spanish visiting teachers were hired by Boston and Lawrence Public Schools to teach in several schools, both in regular and bilingual programs. That program expanded for the following academic year and in 2002-03 a total of 27 Spanish visiting teachers were working for Billerica, Boston, Chelsea, Dracut, Gloucester, Malden, Masconomet, Mendon-Upton, Methuen, Milton, Salem, Westwood and Wilmington Public Schools. Participating districts employ these certified teachers in accordance with local regulations and policies and pay them in accordance with their experience and certification level. They are exempt from Massachusetts Educator Licensure requirements as defined by M.G.L. c71 § 38G.

Every Spring District administrators travel to Spain, invited by the Ministry of Education, for the recruitment of the visiting teachers for the following academic year. The DOE sponsors their visas and they can stay up to three years, with an option to extend their stay. Prior to the beginning of school the selected teachers receive orientation in Spain and/or the United States.

If your district/school is interested in joining the program of Spanish visiting teachers for the academic year 2003-04, please contact Jacobo Gutiérrez, representative of the Ministry of Education at DOE. His telephone number is (781) 338 3034 and his e-mail is jgutierrez@doe.mass.edu. He can also be reached at the Spanish Resource Center at UMass Boston, telephone (617) 287 5949, and e-mail jacobo.gutierrez@umb.edu.

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