Librarian Gains Global Perspective Through Exchange to Romania

When Plank Road South Elementary School librarian Julianne Westrich traveled to Romania this spring as part of the prestigious Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms program, she expected to learn about another country's educational system. What she discovered was a deeper understanding of the shared challenges and opportunities facing educators around the world.

Juli was one of 12 educators from across the United States selected to participate in the program's international field experience requirement in Romania. Her assignment took her to the Southeastern European nation for nearly two weeks in April and May, where she joined fellow educators in exploring schools, classrooms, and cultural sites while collaborating with Romanian teachers and students.

"The experience was life changing — on a personal and professional level," Juli wrote following her return. "The opportunity made a significant impact on my perceptions of global education."

The group spent their first five days in Bucharest, Romania's capital and largest city, participating in professional development and visiting schools. The educators came from a wide range of backgrounds—including elementary, high school, theater, art, mathematics, and library education.

"Part of the experience that was a surprise to me was how much I learned from my U.S. colleagues," she said.

Throughout the trip, Juli observed classrooms across multiple grade levels and educational settings. While Romania's educational structure differs from that of the United States, she found many common threads.

"We are all dealing with the same overarching issues," she noted. "Struggling student engagement, AI, lack of attention span, and 'How do we get them to read?'"

One of the most striking observations was Romania's emphasis on multilingual education. Students begin learning English in kindergarten, and many become highly proficient speakers. During one school visit, Juli met a ninth-grade student who reads Stephen King novels in English because "that's how the author wrote it." She also attended a dress rehearsal of Macbeth performed entirely in English by Romanian junior and senior high school students as part of a Shakespeare festival.

The trip also highlighted the practical application of language learning. At one technological high school, Juli observed a gastronomy class that combined culinary instruction with English language learning, preparing students for employment opportunities throughout Europe. Some students even participate in international work experiences, spending time in restaurants in other European countries.

Romania's education system places students on academic or vocational tracks beginning in high school, with placement influenced by a national examination taken in eighth grade. Juli visited both traditional academic schools and technological schools, gaining insight into the benefits and challenges of the system.

As a librarian, Juli was particularly interested in how Romania's recent history influences education. Having emerged from decades of communist rule only a generation ago, the country continues to grapple with issues surrounding information access, media literacy, and civic engagement.

"The weight of communism, only one generation removed, is clear in small actions, traditions, and education initiatives," she said. "The push for access to information, knowledge, and independent thought is clear—but also the concerns about social media, propaganda, and biased news."

Those experiences reinforced her commitment to helping students navigate today's information landscape.

"There is a real fear, born of experience, that the misinformation spread to the youth will impact their future," she said. "Witnessing this reinforced my belief in the importance of media literacy instruction and the value of librarians in the school district."

Following their time in Bucharest, the educators split into smaller groups and traveled to different regions of Romania. Along the way, they experienced the country's rich culture and complex history, visiting sites such as the country's famous mud volcanoes and observing the contrast between urban centers and rural communities.

Despite long days that often stretched to 12 hours, Juli embraced every opportunity to learn from Romanian educators. She also discovered cultural traditions that reflected the country's recent past, including lengthy communal dinners where conversation and connection are highly valued.

"Today's learners are growing up in a very interconnected world," Juli reflected, "one which requires instruction to build student capacity as global citizens."

For Juli, the experience reinforced the value of international exchanges and professional learning opportunities for educators.
"There are great teachers, passionate about what they do and the impact they make, everywhere," she said.

As she brings those lessons back to Webster classrooms, Juli hopes her experiences will encourage students to think beyond geographic borders and recognize their role in an increasingly interconnected world.