Spanish Exchange Teachers Open a New World to Dallas ISD Students

At Chapel Hill Preparatory Academy in Dallas ISD, second-grade ESL teacher Laura Moreno and her husband, fifth-grade math teacher Pere Valls, are expanding their students’ horizons as part of the Visiting International Teachers Program. Originally from Spain, the couple is in their second year of a three-year contract, bringing a unique cultural exchange to the classroom.

Moreno and Valls encourage their students to embrace the world beyond Dallas, sharing Spanish traditions, expressions, and even their passion for soccer. “They are happy to see someone from a different continent so far away,” Moreno said. Valls humorously added that students might remember him for his love of Barcelona FC as much as for his teaching.

Their presence has sparked curiosity among students, helping them connect with a different culture while learning English as a Second Language (ESL). As Moreno put it, “These big experiences take you out of your comfort zone, but they make you live life to the fullest.”

Moreno and Valls’ two children, who attend the same school, are also gaining a unique experience. Both were born in Reno during an earlier exchange, giving them dual citizenship.

Their goal is to inspire students to see the world as their classroom, encouraging an open mind and a curiosity about other cultures. As Valls noted, “When you travel to another part of the world, you need to open your mind.”