Kateřina Kallus Brychová is a high school
teacher. She teaches English at Gymnázium Brno nicknamed "Jaroška." In the summer of 2023, Kateřina participated in the Fulbright SUSI Program (SUSI stands for Study of the US Institutes for Secondary Educators) aimed at school administrators interested in sociocultural understanding, equitable learning communities, and diversity and inclusion in U.S. education and society. Participants from 20 different countries representing five different continents spent four weeks of the program at California State University in Chico. They took part in multiple seminars and workshops facilitated by university faculty, as well as external experts, toured numerous sites throughout Northern California, and visited schools to explore varied educational paths in California. For the fifth and final week of the Institute, the participants spent a couple of days in Chicago, Illinois and in Washington, D.C. to experience different regions of the U.S. and to hear from more educational experts and policy makers. Inspired by a responsible approach of her American colleagues, who genuinely believe that: "If a kid’s talent is not recognized and supported, it will be a loss for all. If kids are let to fail, it's a failure of the school system," Kateřina returned back to the Czech Republic energized and reassured about her life-long mission in education.
Ready, steady, go!
On June 7, 2023, I landed in Sacramento, California, ready for the adventure. The weeks before my departure were rather hectic: processing maturita exams, wrapping up grading, passing my classes and projects on to my colleagues who were really kind to take good care of them. At that moment I wasn't yet fully aware of the fact that what I was going to experience would be my American dream come true. Five week long total immersion in education, the subject that matters to me most, in the company of people to whom it matters most, in a country where education matters.SUSI life
SUSI is a mosaic of events and activities which focus on various aspects of the US education system. The backbone of the program are workshops conducted by educational experts of CSU Chico on topics such as how to approach diversity in schools, how immigration influences the schools, how bilingual education is promoted, how equal opportunities and access to education are maintained, how special education and inclusion work, how new teachers are trained and the experienced ones supported in their endeavor, how the schools are run from the management perspective, how new approaches are implemented in the school policy of the state and how high-quality teaching is guaranteed by the state.
The fact that the participants of SUSI were educators from 20 different countries spanning over five continents meant that besides finding out about how California is doing in this high-stakes game, we had the chance to share and compare what is happening in education all around the world.
The fact that the participants of SUSI were educators from 20 different countries spanning over five continents meant that besides finding out about how California is doing in this high-stakes game, we had the chance to share and compare what is happening in education all around the world.
What is more, we visited local schools and talked to local educators who are actually living it on a daily basis. What was fascinating to observe is that US teachers take their jobs with huge responsibility for the future of each and every student, they see themselves as changemakers whose work has an impact on the future success of their country. Unless all kids get multiple chances to succeed despite their family background, physical, mental or social disadvantage, their potential will be wasted and their American dream will not come true. If a kid’s talent is not recognized and supported, it will be a loss for all. If kids are let to fail, it's a failure of the school system. Simple logic. We visited charter schools, public schools, an alternative secondary school which takes care of the kids who have lost motivation to study, and a youth homeless shelter. We observed a school board meeting and got the opportunity to talk to school management of secondary schools in Chico, Sacramento and Chicago.
Chico life
I especially enjoyed the chance to focus on my own learning rather than teaching. There was a lot of theoretical and practical input in various areas, such as inquiry based learning, digital literacy or cooperation between school and parents. We worked in teams on proper educational research and honed our presentation skills. Besides the academic content, there was Chico, the backyard of US, with its experiential potential: we spent one day with a host person, we were invited to community events, went to a local church, had dinners with local families, got a number of opportunities to chat about life and everyday issues. We went to a yard sale, swam in a lake in the park, experienced a full moon ceremony and celebrated Independence Day. I found out that Americans are addicted to ice cubes and they never leave their homes without a folding chair in the boot of their car. I slowly understood that the enthusiasm I see around is genuine, the readiness to take action and do one's best to live one's dream is a lifestyle, and that democracy goes hand in hand with huge personal responsibility and respect for diversity.
Explore California
Now and then we all switched to a school trip mode, boarded a Chico State school bus and went for a trip to San Francisco, Sacramento or Mount Lassen National Park. Thanks to these trips, I figured out how the state of California was founded and how its run, where the Gold Rush started, how the Pacific railway and Golden Gate Bridge were constructed, and that the huge sequoia trees in the Muir Woods were only rescued by the joint initiative a small group of stubborn women.
Discover America
After four weeks in tiny Chico, we were ready for the hustle and bustle of Chicago. Well, it was noisy, busy, crowded and totally fascinating. The city architecture is captivating, your neck hurts from looking up, and if you take the high speed lift, you can switch views from frog to bird in no time, just like in schools you need to focus on details with the big picture in mind. I was forced to brush up on my knowledge of American history in the exquisite museums in Washington D.C., to name a few, National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Museum of the American Indian, US Holocaust Memorial Museum and Air and Space Museum. We saw all the famous sights and had a tour of the US Capitol where I felt really proud to be Czech when I encountered a bust of Václav Havel in its very heart.
SUSI family
SUSI gave me the opportunity to learn first hand, expand my knowledge of the USA considerably and update my understanding of current issues. I gained huge amounts of inspiration from sessions by Play for Peace (https://www.playforpeace.org/), Feeding Nations through Education (https://www.feedingnations.org/) and Youth Service America (https://ysa.org/). I strongly believe we teachers can empower young people and are obliged to inspire them to think big and aim high. Now back in my school I try hard to live up to it despite all the odds.
I am grateful for the SUSI experience, which only now am I able to see in all its complexity and depth. I value each and every gem of the mosaic skillfully crafted by Dr. Zartmann, Heather and Terri who guided us throughout. I am privileged to claim that my SUSI family live all around the world, and though far away, we are very close to one another. Many thanks to the Fulbright Commission and the US Department of State for making my American dream come true.