One new thing about me this school year is that I am navigating a lot of uncertainty in Utah’s language immersion education. This year, the state ended funding and support for foreign language immersion programs, so decisions about curriculum and textbook selection, program planning, and teacher assignments have shifted to individual school districts. For both administrators and teachers, it has been a process of learning as we go and figuring things out together.

Despite the uncertainty, this experience has reminded me how important it is for educators to be flexible, collaborative, and willing to take leadership. It also motivates me to think more intentionally about how I can support students and other teachers through change. I’m hoping that what I learn from this course will give me additional tools and perspectives that I can bring back to my school and district.

After completing the certificate in 2027, I hope to share my curriculum and experiences with other elementary educators in my school and beyond. I would like to present at professional development sessions, with the goal of helping teachers bring more accurate, diverse, and meaningful perspectives on Africa into their classrooms.