Our Teachers
Our Teachers Bring the World to Students
Every great adventure needs a leader. On a Discovery Student Adventure, our carefully selected teachers lead both the learning and the fun. From their curiosity to their kindness to their knowledge—Discovery Student Adventures’ teachers have made their mark in the classroom. And now they’re taking their tremendous talents on our trips. Whether they teach science, languages, art, or physical fitness, our educators all share one invaluable trait: the proven ability to awaken the natural curiosity of young people.
In this shrinking world, our teachers recognize that a global perspective is a must and that lasting insights about other cultures are discovered outside the classroom walls. Lifelong learners themselves, our teachers bring their ongoing scholarship, passion, and engaging personality to the student travel experience. Ultimately, their hopes for their students stretch far beyond grades and test scores—they aim to change lives.
Selection criteria for all teachers leading a Discovery Student Adventure
Because of the important role teachers play in the safety and education of our student travelers, each teacher is required to:
- Be a current or retired educator
- Pass our in-depth application and interview process
- Exhibit dedication to students and their education
- Be in good standing in their school district
- Be able to meet physical requirements for trip
- Provide two letters of recommendation, one from a supervisor and one from a colleague
After selection, our educators have several requirements they must complete prior to traveling with our students, including:
- Comprehensive online safety training
- Certification in CPR
- Background check
- Complete Discovery Student Adventures’ travel best practices training
Meet the Teachers
To give you a sense of the caliber of teachers on Discovery Student Adventures, we asked a few of our expert educators to give you their perspective on the power of world travel for your child’s education.
Linda Rush
Notre Dame
Dallas, Texas
Traveling with students is a way to extend the classroom into the real world. Subjects that seem of general interest in a class setting are greatly intensified when witnessed firsthand as we did in South Africa.
Looking back, I was most surprised by the teamwork exhibited by our diverse group of students. In a short time, they grew in knowledge as they learned about South African culture, history, education as well as the people they met during our two-week journey. They encouraged each other to explore and expand their horizons beyond their comfort zones. They supported each other and exhibited a level of maturity I would not have expected of any high school student. They embraced discovery and learning beyond textbooks.
Jason Cochrane
John F. Kennedy High School
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The excitement, drive to learn, and sheer excitement students showed gave me motivation to extend my classroom beyond the textbook. I was motivated to share my experiences, but also thrilled I chose the right profession.
I was impressed and pleasantly surprised with the speed of relationships built through the experiences on our trip. Sometimes students go a complete trimester without knowing a classmate’s name but on this trip, long-lasting relationships were built within seconds of experiencing eye contact with a great white shark or the rough touch of an elephant’s trunk.
Jennifer Hartman Jensen
Clear Sky Elementary
Castle Rock, Colo.
Curiosity and wonder are what inspire me about traveling with students. The majority of students have a limited number of world experiences. I truly valued the opportunities I had to watch them explore the world around them, ask questions, challenge themselves, and take advantage of every opportunity they were presented.
I absolutely loved sharing the amazing underwater world with my students. Watching them experience the fish and coral for the first time was unforgettable.
In a recent commercial I heard the following: “Who says learning has to happen inside of four walls?” My first thought was our DSA trip to Australia. The lessons that took place on the Earth's largest island over the course of two weeks were immeasurable and will last for a lifetime.
Carol Anne McGuire
New Village Leadership Academy
Anaheim Hills, Calif.
Traveling with my students was remarkable! We saw phenomenal sights in Uluru, tasted strange and yummy new foods, felt animals (our favorite was, of course, the kangaroo), heard new sounds (night crocodiles and morning birds), and smelled what clean air is supposed to smell like (rainforest)! There is no substitute for that kind of learning! I can't wait to do it all again!
Thanks, Discovery Student Adventures, for giving us all this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the world in a whole new way!
Brett Harvey
Cresenta Valley High School
Cresenta, Calif.
When you're a kid, even the most common things in the world hold wonder. That fascination returned when I traveled to China with my high school students. Watching their faces light up with enthusiasm reminded me that there are always amazing things right in front of me to appreciate. At the Beijing Urban Museum, the students unloaded question after question: “How did they build that? What is the dragon symbolic of? What is traditional Chinese architecture like?” They could have spent hours in one room looking at photographs and models. There were also quiet moments, however, when I could see in their faces a sense of wonder at the accomplishments of the Chinese people.
Their hunger for learning infected me as I began to listen more intently to the lessons of our guides and gaze longer at the scenery. At the “Bird’s Nest” Olympic stadium and the Forbidden City I found myself looking up, my mouth hanging open, and my mind racing with thoughts. Traveling with students helped me rekindle imagination and wonder for the world around me.
