Local Adviser Program

What is a local adviser?

Local advisers are experienced Participate Learning Ambassador Teachers who provide guidance to first-term Ambassador Teachers as they adjust to their new communities and teaching positions. They help support new Ambassador Teachers by sharing their knowledge about the local community as well as their experience in being a successful exchange visitor teacher and cultural ambassador. Every new Participate Learning Ambassador Teacher is assigned a local adviser.

Local advisers serve in an advisory capacity and are compensated by Participate Learning. Any serious questions or concerns a first-term Ambassador Teacher may have should be immediately brought to the attention of Participate Learning Teacher Resources.

Local adviser duties

Local advisers offer an additional layer of support for new Ambassador Teachers through the three core duties below.

Greet

Local advisers greet new Ambassador Teachers by:

  • Connecting via email to:
    • Introduce themselves and the community
    • Inquiring about preferences and priorities for housing in the district (budget, family needs, location, transportation, etc.)
    • Providing three temporary housing options (hotel, Airbnb, etc.)
  • Contacting new Ambassador Teachers during their Participate Learning orientation to confirm arrival details
  • Meeting their advisees at the district office or other designated meeting area upon arrival in the community

New Ambassador Teachers should respond promptly to any communication from their local adviser. Local advisers and their advisees should share and save each others’ contact information.

 

Orient

Local advisers orient new Ambassador Teachers to the community by:

  • Advising them on how to get around using public transportation or rideshare
  • Providing an agenda, including a recommended schedule, of items to accomplish before the school year starts
  • Helping locate the following:
    • Their school
    • District office
    • Bank or ATM
    • Social Security Administration field office
    • Grocery store and pharmacy
    • Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office
    • Post Office
    • Hospital, urgent care, or other clinic

 

Monitor

Local advisers monitor their advisees’ adjustment to living and teaching in the U.S. by:

  • Conducting regular check-ins via phone, email, or in person from arrival through the end of January; advisees should respond to these communications to confirm their well-being or to relay any needs or concerns
  • Organizing a social gathering with other Participate Learning Ambassador Teachers during the first semester of the school year
  • Conducting a final check-in in February (although local advisers’ duties end after February, Participate Learning  continues to support all Ambassador Teachers throughout their years in the U.S.)

Expectations for local advisers

Local advisers are an important resource for offering guidance and empowering new Ambassador Teachers as they adjust to living and teaching in the U.S. Local advisers, however, are also Participate Learning Ambassador Teachers themselves! In addition to preparing for the new school year while managing families and other commitments, many local advisers are assigned several first-year advisees. First-term Ambassador Teachers who feel they need additional support can contact Participate Learning Teacher Resources.

 

Expectations for advisees

First-term Ambassador Teacher advisees can help their local adviser by:

  • Clearly communicating temporary housing preferences (e.g., a hotel for under $100/night), and being flexible when considering the information the local adviser provides
  • Finding suitable permanent housing options using the resources Participate Learning provides
  • Being patient and flexible when first arriving in their community. Advisees may need to wait and should be prepared for hot and humid summer weather; we recommend having water, a snack, and something to read
  • Bringing cash to pay for their own drinks, snacks, groceries, meals, or any other immediate necessities; local advisers do not pay for their advisees’ meals or personal expenses
  • Sharing contact information with their local adviser and indicating their preferred method of communication

Become a local adviser!

If you’re a rising second through fifth-term Ambassador Teacher, then you’ve got the expertise we’re looking for! Now that you have knowledgeable experience in your community, we hope you’ll consider becoming a local adviser.

Local advisers play a crucial role in helping new Ambassador Teachers transition to living and teaching in the U.S. They have the unique opportunity to partner with us in actively supporting and monitoring new Ambassador Teachers while earning some extra cash on the side!

 

Current local advisers (and other interested visitors!) can review the Local Adviser Program guidelines online.