‘Be curious’: A Boilermaker Educator Fulbrighter in Greece
Sara Poulin stands by the Mediterranean Sea on the Island of Syros with the town of Ano Syros in the background. (Photos provided)
From Fulbright scholar to second grade teacher, Purdue College of Education alumna Sara Poulin knows first-hand that being curious has helped her achieve exceptional goals while looking for new adventures. And she continues to apply her own advice: “Be more curious than afraid.”
Poulin (BA Elementary Education ’24) was presented with a big opportunity, wrapped in a package of unknown adventures. Rather than hesitate, Poulin pressed forward, applying for – and receiving – a highly prestigious Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) grant to Greece.
Poulin was awarded the Fulbright ETA by the Athens College Hellenic-American Education Foundation (HAEF) for the 2024-25 academic year.
Her curiosity led to a world of exciting opportunities during her 10-month teaching experience. Along with 12 other Fulbright Scholars from across the United States, Poulin arrived in Greece in late August 2024. The cohort was promptly immersed in orientation sessions to prepare them for the classroom.
“I was part of a wonderful cohort of individuals who were in the program with me,” said Poulin. “We were all in the same school system, and we all lived quite close to each other. It was like our own little community within a bigger community.”
By September 12, Poulin was teaching in one of the two elementary schools under the HAEF program umbrella, Latseio Elementary School, where students took all their courses in Greek, followed by English once a day.
The English curriculum was integrated into the lessons through multidisciplinary instructions. Students received lessons in topics ranging from space and science to pupils in higher grades learning how to evaluate fine art.
“I worked with students from grades 1 through 6, all with varying levels of English proficiency,” explained Poulin, a native of Michigan City, Indiana. Her daily schedule was chockful, with approximately 23 different classes each week, all with a different teacher and class.
“It was such an exhilarating challenge – observing a multitude of teaching styles and encountering so many different learners. I was able to adapt, tailor, and differentiate my lesson plans based on the students I was working with that day.”
Poulin recalled a similar experience during her time at Purdue which was instrumental in her career path. One of her Education professors recommended that she get connected with Klondike Kids Club (KKC), an organization providing academic support in reading, language arts, and math to K-5 students, many of whom were English language learners (ELL).
“It was because of the opportunity at KKC that I discovered my love for working with ELL students. Every day was an adventure, and I received mentoring from the late Rev. Denise (Denny) Frank, the KKC program director,” said Poulin.
“I frequently emailed my Purdue professors for their input on ways to connect with the KKC students. I would then reorganize my files and create binders based on these ideas. This experience truly shaped the teacher I am and allowed me to apply the skills and knowledge from my Purdue classes in real situations.”
Along with her Greek students, Poulin was stretched to develop new skills while leaning on the preparation she received through her Purdue Education degree. One example was coaching a fifth-grade junior forensics speech and debate team. “This was a learning experience for me. The students were eager to participate in debates, impromptu speaking, and duet acting.”
Having English as their second language, Poulin was impressed with the students’ courage to spontaneously debate about a topic “on the spot” to curate an argument. “They allowed me to see communication and language learning as a powerful tool to connect with others.”
With instruction from Poulin and the other ETA teachers, students were encouraged to develop thinking, communication, reflection, and risk-taking skills, nudging them to move outside of their comfort zones while developing new proficiencies. Poulin experienced this during her undergraduate studies.
One distinctive feature of Purdue’s undergraduate teacher education programs is placing students in a classroom or community-based context every semester. Poulin spent time in the classroom for field-based placements beginning in her freshman year at Purdue. “These experiences set me up for success and allowed me to see a variety of learning environments and learners by the time I graduated,” she said.
Poulin is now enjoying her next adventure: as a second-grade teacher in Perry Township, south of Indianapolis.
“Returning from Greece, I knew that I wanted to be an elementary teacher. I am excited to have many ELL students in my class,” said Poulin. “I am utilizing what I learned abroad to connect with my students here, and I am looking forward to learning more from my fellow teachers as well.”
Poulin is enthusiastic about creating a classroom environment where students have opportunities to develop their curiosity for learning. Within her school curriculum, she has taught about ancient Greek Civilization, where she dove into lessons about the great thinkers, the Olympics, and the culture embedded in Greece. This entailed bringing in small souvenirs, Greek olive oil, and books she had collected while in Greece to show to her students. Poulin hopes to further embody the Fulbright motto of creating cross-cultural experiences whenever she can in her classroom and she is eager for the possible collaboration opportunities with the Greek school for her Indiana students.
“Not everything will be in your comfort zone,” Poulin reflected. “There will always be challenges, but I strive to be curious about what could come out of the challenges.”
Source: Sara Poulin
Writer: Jennifer Merzdorf