Each year, the Teacher Travel Award provides educators with the opportunity to immerse themselves in authentic cultural experiences that enrich their classrooms and inspire their students.

This year, we are thrilled to highlight Carol Bak, winner of the 2025 AATSP Exams’ Teacher Travel Abroad with The Pulsera Project Scholarship. She had the chance to travel to Guatemala to learn about its culture and deepen her experience in teaching Spanish in the classroom.

About Carol

Carol is a high school Spanish teacher at Severna Park High School in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, where she brings a unique perspective to language education. A National Board Certified educator and recognized Teacher of the Year, Carol made the transition from a successful career in business leadership and international publishing to pursue her true passion in teaching. This diverse background has enriched her approach to Spanish education, allowing her to integrate global arts and real-world experiences into culturally rich, cross-curricular lessons.

Innovative teaching methods have garnered Carol attention beyond her classroom walls. Her work has been showcased at national conferences, where she shares her approach to authentic, community-building learning. In the classroom, she creates meaningful connections between her students and the Spanish-speaking world, helping them understand that language learning extends far beyond vocabulary and grammar—it’s about building bridges between cultures and communities.

This trip holds special significance for Carol’s teaching practice because of her school’s involvement with The Pulsera Project. She explained that

“It was a fabulous trip, full of unique and engaging experiences which will enhance my teaching for years to come. It was an honor to visit many organizations and meet a variety of artisans and leaders who work in partnership with the Pulsera Project. I returned with a true appreciation for Mayan culture and the beauty of Guatemala.

Your support made it possible for me to appreciate the unique patterns of Guatemalan huipiles, take in the beauty of Lake Atitlan as we crossed the lake by boat, participate in a Mayan gratitude ceremony, and most importantly, interact with the women and men who weave the bracelets that my students sell via the Pulsera Project. As a result, my students will make tangible connections with the people of Guatemala and better appreciate the culture and ideals of this beautiful country, making their language learning more relevant and meaningful.”

Thank you, Carol, for bringing the Spanish language and Guatemalan culture to life for your students, and for the care you put into making that connection so real and meaningful!

About Us

AATSP Exams (NSE) offers awards for teachers, like Carol, who are AATSP members and administer one of our exams. To learn more about this scholarship, along with other teacher scholarships, check out our page HERE.

¡Todos a una! Todos por um!