BEAUMONT, Texas — Beaumont Independent School District is welcoming teachers from overseas to help tackle teacher shortages.
This is the second year in a row teachers from the Philippines are leading classrooms through the J-1 cultural exchange program.
The district says they continue to see success from the program as well as a positive reaction from students.
12News spoke to two of these teachers who tell me this isn't their first time teaching away from home. One has taught in Singapore while the other taught in Saudi Arabia. But it's both of their first times teaching in America.
Wisley Rait and Maria Charisma Bajar are two of the 15 Filipino teachers whoa re temporarily calling Beaumont home.
"Working here and being a teacher is such an amazing experience," said Rait.
The J-1 cultural exchange program is a three-year program.
"It was a challenging and fruitful experience for me. I worked in Singapore for 16 years, the changes in terms of culture, technique and strategies that we are applying in Singapore and over here a little different," said Bajar.
Rait started his career nine years ago in Saudi Arabia, but now he's a second grade teacher at Blanchett Elementary.
"At first they were like 'surprise it's a different teacher where are you from?'" Rait said.
Rait had to find a way to relate to his American students.
"The most important thing is to get a connection with them because they have different backgrounds, different cultures and upbringings," he said.
While cultures may be different, the passion for teaching is the same, according to BISD Human Resource Recruiter Raquel Dontigney.
"The J-1 teachers are very hard working and they love our students," she said.
Not only are these teachers bringing a cultural shake-up to the district, but they're helping fill a need created by teacher shortages.
"Especially math, science and ESL. Those were the targeted subjects we were hiring for," Dontigney said.
Both Rait and Bajar tell 12News they plan to stay on with the district permanently.
"They are just really supportive in different ways. Even my colleagues they never let me down. I had some struggles when I first started but I never felt weak," said Rait.
"I'm teaching kindergarten so when I see and hear my kids telling me 'Ms. Bajar I'm going to miss you' you can feel that they are excited to come to school," Bajar said.
Rait says he plans to have a zoom meeting with his second grade students and his former students back in Saudia Arabia. Bajar is hoping to move with her class and be their first grade teacher as well.