host an international teacher

Host an International Teacher

Add international expertise to your school, as well as a love for learning about the world. Join other top-rated, accredited US primary and secondary school districts hiring international teachers on Spirit’s BridgeUSA Teacher cultural exchange program. Spirit’s international teachers come from all over the world to share their international expertise and culture with your students and staff, while at the same time learning American customs and gaining teaching experience in the United States.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Program Details

Spirit Cultural Exchange is designated by the United States Department of State as a BridgeUSA J-1 Visa Teacher Program sponsor. Spirit helps accredited K-12 schools in the United States host an international teacher and bring the world to their classroom.  International teachers are typically available with credentials in the following concentrations:

  • Spanish Bilingual Education (English/Spanish)
  • General Education (primary grades)
  • Foreign Languages (Spanish, German, French & Mandarin)
  • STEM
  • Special Education

All international teachers commit to sharing their culture with their students and host community in a meaningful way. Community presentations and international nights, as well as virtual classroom exchanges between students at your school and schoolchildren in the teacher’s home country are just a few examples of the impact this program will have on the lives of your students and community.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Requirements

All Host Schools must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a publicly or privately-operated primary or secondary institution for educating children in the United States that offers mainly academic programs and is duly accredited by the appropriate academic accrediting authority of the jurisdiction in which the institution is located.
  • Have sufficient resources, equipment and trained personnel available to provide continuous on-site supervision and mentoring by experienced and knowledgeable staff
  • Assign an experienced and knowledgeable Host School Supervisor, who will be responsible for providing continuous on-site supervision, mentoring and assistance in arranging or identifying quarterly professional development opportunities for the teacher for the duration of the program.
  • Assign a Host School Mentor, who will assist the participant with settling into the community and in identifying personal cultural activities in the area the teacher can take part in monthly.
  • Ensure that participants will have opportunity to participate alongside, share ideas and interact regularly with US citizens during their teaching experience.

Learn more about required qualifications for J-1 Teachers. 

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

Cultural Activities

teach in the usInternational exchange teachers act as citizen diplomats.  They foster public diplomacy by sharing their home culture with US classrooms and communities via virtual classroom exchanges, presentations to civic organizations, community international festivals and more.  Exchange teachers experience American culture both in and outside the classroom by sharing US holidays with new friends, attending community events, and visiting historical sites during their free time.  Cooperating Host Schools support and contribute to these efforts to foster international understanding on a local level.  

PREMIUM PLACEMENT

Premium Placement

premium international teacher placementNeed assistance with J-1 Teacher recruitment?

Spirit’s Premium Placement option offers a full-service option to accredited K-12 schools in the USA interested in hiring an international teacher but aren’t sure how to begin. Select the Premium Placement option and Spirit will access its international network of candidates to identify a qualified teacher that matches well with your school’s requirements.

INDEPENDENT PLACEMENT

Independent Placement

Do you already have an international teacher in mind?

Spirit’s Independent Placement option is available to Host Schools that have already identified a candidate abroad who qualifies as a BridgeUSA Teacher. In this case, Spirit ensures J-1 visa regulations are followed, provides visa support documentation, medical insurance and 24/7 support to participants and cooperating Host Schools during the program.

PROGRAM COSTS

Program Costs

Many Host Schools cover some or all the program and placement fees as part of their teacher compensation package.  The following program fees are due only after a participant signs onto our program terms and accepts an offer from a Host School.  Program fees are due in full prior to the release of the DS-2019 form in support of the J-1 Visa application. Current fees are as follows but are subject to change:

First Year Program Fee: $1990 program fee + $840 administrative fee

Annual Renewal Fee: $1490 program fee per year + $840 administrative fee per year
Due annually with program renewal paperwork.

Optional Premium Placement Fee: $1,500
One-time fee for Host School Placement.  Fee is waived for participants who identify their own Host School without Spirit assistance.

Included in Spirit’s Premium Placement Option
(First Year Program Fees + Premium Placement Fee + Renewal fees billed annually years 2-5):

Placement as a temporary exchange teacher at a qualified Host School in the United States teaching a minimum of 32 hours a week during the academic school year for up to 3 years. Optional one – two year extension possible with Department of State approval.

  • Development or review of Teacher Program Offer in cooperation with the Host School ensuring that it meets with program regulations
  • DS-2019 to support the application for a J-1 Teacher visa
  • Regulatory Compliant Medical and Accident Insurance
  • 24-hour support from Spirit’s experienced staff
  • Program application processing, screening, and vetting to ensure regulatory compliance
  • Skype interviews to screen applicant for qualifications
  • Orientation materials on a variety of important topics
  • Assistance in identifying and arranging cultural activities
  • Monthly Check-Ins with Spirit to ensure successful program
  • Mentor assigned at Host School who will provide guidance on settling in, community, professional development support and cultural activities
  • Supervisor assigned at Host School who will provide general on-site monitoring
  • Travel validation after arrival for DS-2019 form

Included in Spirit’s Independent Placement Option
(First Year Program Fee + Renewal fees billed annually years 2-5):

Includes all of the above EXCEPT Host School placement. The Host School offer provided to Spirit will be reviewed to ensure regulatory compliance.

Not included in either program option:

  • SEVIS or visa application fees, airport transfers, international airfare, domestic transportation in the US, daily public transportation to and from the Host School, housing fees & deposits, spending money and emergency funds.

Other fees may apply. If participants choose to work with a domestic placement agency or Spirit international recruiting partner, they should confirm directly about their additional fees, and what services each fee covers.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Spirit's Teacher Program?

Spirit’s Teacher Program is a J-1 visa cultural exchange program monitored by the U.S. Department of State to foster peace and diplomacy across nations. Exchange teachers gain professional education experience by teaching in the US as part of a 1-3 year cross-cultural exchange. As lead teachers in K-12 classrooms across the US, international teachers offer a unique resource for global learning to American students and schools.

Does Spirit place international teachers on a J-1 visa in my state?

Spirit Cultural Exchange sponsors international teachers on a J-1 visa in the following US states:

Arizona
California
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Louisiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
New York
Oregon
Texas
Virginia
Wisconsin

What are the requirements for schools that want to host international teachers on J-1 visas?

All Host Schools must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a publicly or privately-operated primary or secondary institution for educating children in the United States that offers mainly academic programs and is duly accredited by the appropriate academic accrediting authority of the jurisdiction in which the institution is located.
  • Have sufficient resources, equipment and trained personnel available to provide continuous on-site supervision and mentoring by experienced and knowledgeable staff
  • Assign an experienced and knowledgeable Host School Supervisor, who will be responsible for providing continuous on-site supervision, mentoring and assistance in arranging or identifying quarterly professional development opportunities for the teacher for the duration of the program.
  • Assign a Host School Mentor, who will assist the participant with settling into the community and in identifying personal cultural activities in the area the teacher can take part in monthly.
  • Ensure that participants will have opportunity to participate alongside, share ideas and interact regularly with US citizens during their teaching experience.

How long can teachers participate in the program?

International teachers can participate in Spirit’s Teacher Program in the USA anywhere from 1-3 years. After 3 years, teachers can apply for an additional 1 or 2-year extension from the Department of State for a total of 5 years.  Extension applications are not guaranteed.

What subjects are taught?

Participants teach as lead teachers in K-12 classrooms in subjects including General Elementary, Science, Math, Special Education, World Language and Spanish Bilingual Education. At the pre-kindergarten level, participants are only able to teach in a language immersion program.

How do teachers get certified in the US?

The first step in becoming certified to teach in the USA is for teachers to complete a foreign credential evaluation proving their level of education in their home country and the US equivalent. This step is required for international teachers prior to interviewing at a Host School. Spirit works with Host Schools to provide guidance to participants to ensure that teachers receive proper certification before school begins.

What experience do international teachers need to have?

Spirit’s international teachers must have at least two years of teaching experience, a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Education, Teaching, or their academic subject intended to teach, and be qualified to teach in their home country.

What is Spirit Cultural Exchange?

Spirit is a J-1 Visa sponsor designated by the U.S. Department of State for the BridgeUSA Teacher, Intern, Trainee and Work/Travel Programs. We provide high quality recruitment, screening, monitoring, and support of all exchange participants on our J-1 visa programs.

Get Started as a Host School

Apply Now to Host a Teacher

What host schools say…

We have greatly enjoyed welcoming J1 teachers into our schools and being able to learn more about one another’s cultures. We have worked with several J1 agencies and Spirit is definitely one of the best! They are knowledgeable, helpful, communicative, and prompt.- Host School Administrator, Arizona

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