A Fund For Teachers Travel Grant Example: Panama

Fund for Teachers provides grants to fund educators’ self-directed professional development travel experiences. Here’s an amazing example from Panama!

Teaching Traveling: Welcome to Mirta Valdés-Bradner! Mirta, tell us about your background.

Mirta: I am a National Board Certified World Language teacher with Caroline County Public Schools, a small but mighty rural district on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, I bring a deep cultural perspective to my Spanish classroom, where I primarily teach levels 3, 4, and AP. This fall, I begin my 29th year in education, continuing my lifelong commitment to language learning and global citizenship.

TT: Excellent! Tell us about your funded teacher professional development travels with Fund for Teachers.

M: This past spring, I was honored to be named a 2025 Fund for Teachers Fellow. In late June, I spent a week in Panama City as part of my fellowship, where I attended and presented at the AATSP Language Conference.

During my time there, I immersed myself in the rich cultural heritage of the Afro-Panamanian community—exploring their traditions, cuisine, and history—while also learning about Panama’s strong commitment to environmental sustainability and the extraordinary biodiversity of the region.

TT: Wow! How do you find your travel opportunities?

M: I find travel and professional learning opportunities through a combination of research, educator networks, and resources shared on websites like yours. Over time, I’ve applied to several opportunities —some I didn’t receive, others I was waitlisted for, and a few I was fortunate enough to be awarded.

It takes work and persistence, but it’s worth it. I’m especially grateful to the amazing cohort of colleagues I met through the NEA Global Learning Fellowship last year. They’ve been incredibly generous in sharing information, encouragement, and new opportunities. It’s a reminder that in this journey, it’s important not to give up.

TT: How did you find the money to fund your travel?

M: The Fund for Teachers organization approved my budget proposal and fully funded my professional development experience. This support was especially meaningful to me as an educator working in a small, rural district with limited funding for opportunities like this.

The Fund for Teachers organization — and the incredible staff behind it — provided outstanding guidance throughout the application process and continued support after my return. Their commitment made this transformative experience possible, and I’m deeply grateful.

TT: Tell us one moment from your travels that was particularly powerful.

M: Seeing the Panama Canal in action was truly a highlight of my journey, as was connecting with so many educators — both new colleagues and familiar faces — and exploring the vibrant city of Panama. One unforgettable experience was having dinner and attending a food tasting at Tapa del Coco, one of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, where I had the chance to meet Chef Isaac Villaverde.

His menu offers a modern take on traditional Afro-Panamanian cuisine, and meeting him was especially meaningful because his life and work are featured in a lesson I teach in Spanish III using the Reporteros 3 series by Klett Languages. Bringing that connection to life was an incredible moment — definitely one of the major highlights of the trip.

TT: How have your travels impacted you in your career, and as a person?

M: The love of travel was instilled in me by my father at an early age. He used to say, “Viajar es vivir” — to travel is to live. In the past two years, I’ve been fortunate to experience a deeper, more purposeful kind of travel — one rooted in learning and reflection, always thinking about how these experiences will enrich my students’ lives and learning.

TT: What advice do you have for teachers who are dreaming of travel?

M: I am forever grateful to the NEA Foundation for awarding me a Global Learning Fellowship in 2024, and to the Fund for Teachers for supporting my professional growth in 2025. These opportunities have shown me that at 57 years old, learning truly is a lifelong commitment — and global education continues to inspire both my teaching and my heart.

Do not give up. Take time to reflect on the opportunities that best fit you.

TT: Thanks so much, Mirta! Readers, what questions do you have?