Middleton High School social studies teacher Andy Hartman was selected as a fellow in the Goethe Institut’s Transatlantic Outreach Program, according to an April 7 announcement. As part of this fellowship, Hartman will travel to Germany from June 27 to July 7 for a study tour focused on education, sustainability, government, and civic life.
The program is considered an important professional development opportunity for educators. It allows teachers like Hartman to learn from international experts and bring new perspectives back to their classrooms. The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District aims to prepare students for global challenges while fostering local inspiration, according to the official website.
“The fellowship is essentially an all-expenses-paid opportunity to spend two weeks in Germany learning from experts in education, sustainability, government and civic life,” Hartman said. “I’ll have the chance to meet with educators, policymakers, and community leaders and see firsthand how Germany and the broader European Union approach issues such as environmental sustainability, democracy, civic engagement, and preparing students for a global future.”
Hartman said that being chosen is both exciting and meaningful because it affirms the idea that teachers should continue learning just as much as they encourage their students. He plans to return with stories and resources that will help his AP Human Geography and U.S. Government students connect classroom lessons with real-world examples: “The biggest thing I will bring back to my students is a richer, more authentic understanding of the world beyond our classroom walls,” he said.
Programs like this are designed not only for individual growth but also benefit entire school communities by making lessons more relevant. “It is easy for educators to become isolated within their classrooms or communities,” Hartman said. “When teachers travel and learn from other countries and cultures… those experiences make lessons more relevant and engaging for students because they are grounded in real-world examples rather than just textbooks.”
According to the official website of Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD), MCPASD promotes community engagement through extracurricular activities and leadership opportunities; maintains facilities supporting education from early childhood through high school; achieved top ACT composite scores among public non-charter schools in Dane County; serves both Middleton and Cross Plains area in Wisconsin; emphasizes programs in literacy, math, social-emotional learning; understands student backgrounds; develops abilities preparing them for global challenges while fostering local inspiration; Dr. Dana Monogue has served as superintendent.
