Inspired by Experience in Central America
On October 9, Byron-Bergen Superintendent Pat McGee arrived in Panama as part of the Professional Learning and Exploration program hosted by EF Educational Tours. McGee joined 34 district leaders from around the country who received scholarships to take part in the program. While in Panama, the group explored the Panama Canal, historic Casco Viejo, Gatun Lake, and an Emberá Indigenous community, and completed a beach cleanup focused on microplastics. The purpose of the program is to highlight high-impact, real-world learning ideas that connect classroom standards to authentic experiences for K–12 students.
“This was one of the most rewarding and inspiring experiences of my educational career,” said McGee. “I left with many takeaways that I look forward to sharing, but the most powerful reminder was the importance of providing real-world experiences for our students. While international travel may not be possible for every child, we can and should continue to find meaningful ways to bring authentic, hands-on learning opportunities to our classrooms and community.”
The Panama itinerary highlighted how engineering, environment, and economics intersect at the Panama Canal; how culture and history shape a modern city; and how community values guide daily life in the Emberá village. Participants also visited EF Educational Tours’ local office to see the safety, logistics, and educational design behind student travel. Each site offered clear educational takeaways —from water-quality projects and data analysis to primary-source history walks and global trade case studies.
“There is so much to learn across all fields of study through first-hand experiences,” said McGee. “Our goal as a district will be to expand access to real-life experiences for all students and develop pathways for teacher-led travel with strong safety and equity support for our students. The goal is simple: ensure every student, K–12, has meaningful real-world learning that builds communication, problem-solving, and connects what they learn in school to the world around them.”
McGee plans to take what he learned in Panama and bring those ideas back to Byron-Bergen’s schools, classrooms, and programs. He will collaborate with teachers, staff, students, leadership, and the Board of Education to create more real-life learning experiences that engage students in meaningful, hands-on ways.
“This idea, ensuring our students are learning through real-life, connected experience, is something we, as a Byron-Bergen team, will be exploring further as we continue to expand what’s possible for Byron-Bergen students.”
