ACIS Life Changers: Meet Elsbeth

We’re excited to kick off a new ACIS blog series where we spotlight traveling teachers who have been true life-changers in the classroom! Get to know their stories and discover how educational travel can have enormous ripple effects for students, educators and their communities.

Our first spotlight is Elsbeth, an educator from Maryland who has taught for 18 years. As the Director of Visual and Performing Arts, she teaches music and musical theatre and directs the middle and upper school musicals.

The Decision to Start Traveling

“I began traveling with students in 2013 with ACIS when the opportunity arose. My own study abroad experience for a semester in Milan shaped how I learn and how I see the world, and I wanted my students to have that same opportunity and also have a stepping stone to studying abroad.  I hoped travel would extend their learning beyond the classroom: hearing new languages, encountering other cultures firsthand and coming home with a stronger sense of themselves as global citizens.”

The Impact of Elsbeth’s Travels

“Travel asks students to adapt, solve problems and navigate unfamiliar places, and they return more confident and independent learners. Learning together is a big part of what makes it special. When students experience art, music and culture in the places where they were created, the learning becomes real and personal in a way a textbook can’t match. Many of my students have gone on to study abroad after that first trip because it showed them they were ready.  It is a true joy to stay in touch with them years later and still talk about this experience that meant so much to them. 

Former students often tell me that traveling with their classmates and teachers was so meaningful and they come home with a different lens and a wider sense of what is possible. Over the years, I heard from so many of them that they would be studying abroad. One student who traveled with us to Spain in high school is now studying abroad in Madrid, and she chose the program because of that trip. Another, who traveled with us from Lucerne to Rome, is studying in Rome and says that journey gave her the confidence to live and study in another country. And one former student who traveled with me on two ACIS trips is now my colleague, helping to lead our new middle school global learning program. Watching her bring those experiences to a new generation of students has been a true full-circle moment.”

Learn More About Educational Travel

Expressions of Faith and Creativity

“As a Catholic school, we also see these trips deepen our students’ understanding of their faith and our history. Visiting the St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican and other landmarks gives them firsthand context for what they study at school. Our founder lived in Rome, so when we visit there, standing in the places she knew connects students directly to our school story. They bring that experience home and share it with our school community. For me, these stories show how far a single trip can carry a student’s learning.  It also inspires them to dream of their next global adventure.

The arts come alive through global learning and educational travel in the same way. My students have danced the tarantella in Sorrento and learned traditional Greek dance in Athens. They stood in the ancient theatre at Epidaurus to learn about performance acoustics, walked the galleries of the Prado in Madrid and visited Venice’s La Fenice opera house. Experiencing the arts where they were created gives students a new understanding of the music, dance, theatre and visual art we study, and a deeper appreciation for it.

For me, these stories show how far a single trip can carry a student’s learning. It also inspires them to dream of their next global adventure.  I also feel fortunate that I have shared these experiences with so many students and colleagues over the years so that they may can continue to help build our global learning program and provide more opportunities for students in the future.”

Elsbeth and ACIS in Partnership

“ACIS treats each trip as a personalized educational experience, not just an itinerary. The relationships I’ve built with ACIS staff and tour managers, along with the community of teachers they bring together, give me the support I need to design meaningful learning and experiences for my students. That partnership is what makes these trips what they are.”

We’ll be sharing more life changer stories in the weeks to come. In the meantime, be sure to check out our step-by-step guide to planning your own ACIS adventure!