A foreign language teacher at Westchester Academy for International Studies, 901 Yorkchester, is one of only two Texas teachers selected by the Toyota International Teacher Program to attend a two-week study trip to Costa Rica this winter. Diane Nizza, who teaches French, Italian and Spanish at the district charter school, and teacher Diana Bradford of San Antonio will visit the biologically diverse Latin American nation from Feb. 24 through March 7.
As part of the program, the two teachers will research methods in sustainable agriculture at Costa Rica’s EARTH University and speak with leaders in ecology and biological diversity at La Selva Biological Station, one of the most studied tropical forests in the world. Costa Rica is dedicated to the protection of its natural resources.
Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Toyota International Teacher Program exposes educators in all disciplines to the diversity of people and ecosystems globally as a way to “inspire the creative teaching of international, cultural and environmental themes in U.S. schools and communities.” So far, 500 teachers nationwide have taken part in program activities.