Removing Barriers to Learning Through Language

Reidsville, Georgia, is a small town covering just 7.7 square miles, about an hour west of Savannah. According to Local Observer Daily, it is best known as a quintessential Southern farming community and as home to the Georgia State Prison. Agriculture—especially the cultivation of Vidalia onions—drives the local economy, and many of Sarah Jacques’ students and their families are part of that workforce.

But not many of those students speak English. Which makes Sarah’s task of teaching them sixth grade science a challenge – to say the least. But Sarah’s main priority is to make these young people, and their families, feel seen and safe. And to do that, she needed to learn Spanish so they could be heard. 

Today, we kick off our seventh season with one of the first 2026 grant recipients to begin their fellowships. Just one week after school ended, Sarah embarked on a 7-week Spanish immersion program and homestay in San Pedro, Guatemala to strengthen linguistic skills, better support ELL students and foster a greater sense of interconnectedness throughout the school community.

Early posts on her Instagram, suggested that Sarah’s one-on-one language lessons were every bit as demanding as the classroom overlooking Lake Atitlán was breathtaking. We invited her to tell us about the experience so far; she agreed; and, thankfully, her Wi-Fi cooperated… for the most part.

Follow Sarah's fellowship on Instagram @science.sin.barreras.

Learn more about Fund for Teachers on our Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn pages and apply for YOUR self-designed fellowship at fundforteachers.org.

Music on podcast: Scott Harris: Clear Progress