The general objective of the program is the improvement and expansion of the teaching of the Spanish language and culture in Indiana, in order to:

• provide professional growth opportunities to teachers;
• foster relations between the people of the state of Indiana and Spain;
• foster knowledge and appreciation of the culture of the two communities; and
• provide students in this program with a bilingual and cultural education that will prepare them for future success in personal, academic, and professional spheres.

The Visiting Teacher Program is designed to bring teachers from Spain to be employed by school corporations in Indiana. The teachers will teach either Spanish language and culture or other subject areas in Spanish in such programs as immersion or content-based language learning programs. The teachers are individually contracted by the school corporation. Through prior agreement with the Indiana Professional Standards Board, Indiana teacher licensing is not required for the visiting teachers, but the school must designate a teacher of record for the visiting teacher.

The Spanish Ministry is responsible for recruiting the teachers. Applicants are screened to ascertain that they possess the necessary requirements to work as teachers in Indiana schools by reviewing the academic preparation and professional experience. In order to be considered for the program, candidates must have the following qualifications:

• hold a five-year master’s degree in philology from a Spanish university for secondary level teaching assignments;
• hold a four-year bachelor’s degree in pedagogy for elementary level teaching assignments;
• have a Certificate in Education which requires a two- to three-year course in education from a Spanish university;
• be proficient in the English language and have an understanding of American culture; and
• demonstrate the ability to teach Spanish as a second language, or English as a second language to students of Hispanic background.

Once a group of teachers has been selected, a representative from the Department of Education travels to Madrid to interview the teachers and to make selections on behalf of participating school corporations; final approval remaining with the hosting school corporations.

The Spanish teachers may be under contract with the school corporation for one to three years. In no case should teachers be employed less than an academic year.

Visas for the teachers coming from Spain will be authorized through the United States Department of State. The Indiana Department of Education is designated by the U.S. Department of State to issue appropriate documents for the Spanish teachers to obtain a J-1 visa.

The visiting teachers are responsible for their housing arrangements, including the cost of the housing. They are also responsible for the expenses of their round trip from Spain to Indiana and their transportation within the U.S.

Schools may need to address the following before the teachers arrive as well as assist them in:

• securing a temporary host/welcome family for the initial days following arrival in the US;
• acquiring a social security number;
• arranging for permanent housing;
• arranging for the purchase or lease of a vehicle; and
• acquiring car insurance and license for the car.

The Spanish teacher should bring with them the following:

• a credit rating;
• an international driver’s license;
• proof of car insurance;
• proof of no traffic tickets or moving violations in Spain; and
• enough money for expenses for food and other up-front expenses.

Estimated up-front costs include:

• car insurance;
• car lease or car purchase;
• apartment deposit due; and
• furniture purchase or rent.