Charlottesville Branch Teachers Learning Abroad Presentations – March 22, 2025

News

When one says the "proof is in the pudding," that is exactly what our TLABERS, Craig Edgerton (Fluvanna County High School), Ethan Roberts (New Covenant schools, Lynchburg), and Robert Schuster (Tandem Friends School) manifested in their exuberant presentations. Just look at the opening slide – "A trip of a Lifetime." Their excitement and illustrations of how their experiences have reshaped the way they are teaching their students is a testimony to the success of this philanthropy.

If you were there, you witnessed the palpable embodiment of the mission of the ESU. I want to thank the 18 members who attended. They were joined by some of the teachers' friends and children. Having such a turnout honored our teachers who appreciated having a good audience.

Special thanks go out to Debbie Pruett, Chair of the TLAB Committee, who organized the program, and to Constance Paske, Hospitality Chair, who, as usual, baked up a storm, and to the others who graciously provided refreshments. The "Dynamic Globe Theater Duo," Craig (L) and Ethan (R) led the charge.

Their combined presentation followed the format of a play. Below are some of the slides.

They both spoke so highly of their fellow American drama teachers (above left), and the quality of their Director and the Globe actors who schooled them. They raved about the experience of actually reciting Shakespeare from the Globe Theater stage.   

And when they weren't training, they were treated to several actual productions by day, as well as touring London Town. And by night, it was off to the pub or the theater with new friends.

Next up, Robert took to the stage and regaled us with his experience in Edinburgh studying Modernist Literature, pub crawling, and gadding about town and various bookstores. He showed us the nine or ten books he was supposed to have read upon arrival and spoke of the shock when he learned that he was slotted to give a presentation on the second day of school. He was animated in sharing one or two lines about different authors/books, most within the last few decades, none of which had any of us us ever heard.  He picked one of them and said, "this is now on a class reading list." His classmates were from all over the world. He loved gaining a sense of all the different perspectives as they discussed these various books and authors.   

The University center sits at the foot of the citadel, Edinburgh castle. This presentation was particularly poignant for President Williams and the First Lady, as it was the very University where they met, summer of 1970, and were married a year later. The Athens of the North has its own magnetism.

See if you can find Craig and Ethan. Did they have fun? Was it rewarding? Have their experiences transferred to their students back home. A win-win for all! Warms the cockles of one's heart. 

Cheers all. President Phil

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