Meet one of our International Coordinators, Brittani from Texas! After her family hosted their first exchange student during the previous 2022/23 school year, Brittani joined the Aspect team as an International Coordinator in early 2023. Since then, she has been doing an outstanding job supervising 16 students. In addition to her role as an International Coordinator, Brittani is also a full-time teacher while raising two children with her husband! Brittani’s secret to success lies in communication and the use of social media, where she shares a variety of content that is both entertaining and informative. Her videos are a blend of fun and educational, filled with tips and tricks for host families, exchange students, and International Coordinators. We are proud to have her on board and cannot wait to see what she continues to accomplish in the future!
Please tell us about yourself!
When I was in college, my parents hosted a German college student, Johannes, and I have a sister who lives in Estonia. Both my husband, Ryan, and I are teachers. I’m a third-grade teacher and Ryan’s a middle school World Cultures and Texas History teacher, so it’s always been important for our two kids to learn about different cultures and traditions. In 2019, we were fortunate to take our family to Estonia and Sweden, but hosting an exchange student in our own home during the last school year 2022/23 was a perfect way to get to know another culture without leaving home.
What inspired you to become an International Coordinator?
Five months into hosting our student Candela from Spain, our coordinator, Kara, asked if I was interested in being more involved. She knew I was hooked! We had the time of our lives with Candela. While hosting, we spent more time together as a family – – eating meals together, watching movies, just hanging out and laughing a lot while showing Candela all things TEXAS.
How do you recruit potential host families? What is your recipe for success?
I’m pretty active on social media and I enjoy sharing my hosting experiences and coordinating experience on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. I also believe word of mouth is one of the best ways to promote Aspect and the exchange experience. I talk about hosting with everyone I meet.
Do you help host families to pick out the perfect student?
Sometimes I share a particular student and I have a potential family reach out and say, “We want to host THAT student. She or he is perfect for us.” Other times, I find a family first and then I help them pick out a student. In those situations, I always look at the activities and interests in the student’s profile. Will they be a good fit for the family’s lifestyle and the school they will be attending? It’s nice to have similar interests/activities so you have something in common from the beginning.
What advice do you have for someone who is thinking about becoming an International Coordinator?
A successful coordinator is someone who is able to support both the student and host family throughout the exchange by helping resolving communication problems, giving advice, being a listening ear, and planning activities and experiences. So my advice for someone who is interested in becoming an International Coordinator is that you are trustworthy, reliable, and supportive.
What do you enjoy the most as an International Coordinator?
The students! I am mentoring 16 students from 8 different countries.
I love seeing them grow and change throughout the 10 months they are here. I live for that moment when a host parent or student or both realize they hit the jackpot with one another. The moment when the student and family have settled into a routine, where neither can imagine a world where the other one isn’t there – when they realize the gift they’ve both been given during this exchange.
It’s rewarding to help a student through a difficult start and then to see them thriving. I get excited when they are successful! I love getting to see my students participate at their schools in sports, theater, drumline, etc. The connection I’ve already formed with them has been the most meaningful part of this process and I’m going to be sad to see them go home.
Would you also like to work with students from across the world? Join the Aspect team as an International Coordinator! We are always looking for great candidates in many communities, large and small, across the U.S. For more information about the International Coordinator position and how to apply check out our website!
