For our International Coordinator Spotlight, we’d like you to meet Heather from Utah! For more than 20 years, Heather has matched over 400 exchange students with host families and knows exactly how to make the perfect pairing. This year, she’s supervising 33 students while teaching part-time and raising a family! As a former exchange student herself, Heather values the support Aspect offers to students, host families, and International Coordinators. With her passion and dedication, we’re so lucky to have her as part of the Aspect family!
How did you become an International Coordinator?
Craigslist! About 22 years ago, I saw an ad to be a coordinator for a student in Utah. At that time, I thought that exchange students weren’t even allowed in Utah, but I went ahead and filled out the application anyway. I thought this sounded too good to be true! And it was true! They actually allowed exchange kids back in Utah due to legislation that had passed for funding. It was kind of serendipitous because, all of a sudden, between June and August that summer, I placed 14 or 15 kids. I used to find host families purely by cold calling. I would get a list of phone numbers from schools and cold call all of them. I did that until about two years ago or so, and then I started doing it all through repeat families or from posting on Facebook.
What do you enjoy the most as an International Coordinator?
I like helping people solve problems, so when there are challenges, such as moving a student, it becomes a puzzle that needs to be solved. I have a group of 33 students, and I teach half-time, so it can be crazy! I remind myself that everything is doable, and you’ve got to balance life correctly to avoid becoming overwhelmed. I stay on top of things and enjoy making changes happen.
How do you manage to stay organized while supervising 33 students and teaching part-time?
I like to keep everything streamlined so that I can look at my calendar and know where I’m at. For example, at the Welcome Orientation with the students and host families, I pass around a page where they select a date for our monthly contacts. I always send a reminder in the morning for the monthly contacts and I try to always write my reports on the same day that I have contact with the student and family. I also send around a link with different dates that I have pre-selected for host parents to sign up to host a group activity each month. Then I ask those host parents who signed up to send an e-invite to me so that I can share it with the rest of our group.
How do you help host families to pick out the perfect student?
I read over the student letter, teacher recommendations, and the parent letter. I glance over the students’ more detailed information in the application, so I can offer up those items to the family as well and discuss a more detailed image of the student’s life. I typically ask host families, “Do you have a language or a country preference? Do you participate in any sports? What is really important to you? What do your weekends look like? What do you enjoy doing?” Then I can more easily go through the student profiles and find someone that would potentially be a good match. Sometimes a student profile pops out at me, and I’m like, “Yep, this one is going to be in my group!” and then I work on finding a family to match this particular student. (Read about Iqra, one of Heather’s students, and why she’s grateful to be placed with her host family)
What advice do you have for someone who is thinking about becoming an International Coordinator?
It takes time! Like, if you want to change your body composition, it’s not all linear. There are ups and downs. Sometimes you’re going to be heavier on the scale, and other months you’re going to be lighter. But ultimately, you will see the changes, and that will lead to a positive payout.
With exchange, I think it’s the same because you’re going to have a system in place, and over time, your system will pay off. I always say Facebook is my go-to because you can find new groups and find people that will match with the students you have. I think it’s just finding out what times are best to post, how often you can post and recruit, and just sticking with it and learning what’s most efficient.
Why did you become involved with student exchange?
I was actually an exchange student myself three times! The first time in high school, then as an undergraduate, and finally during my master’s, so it was something that I always knew I would get involved in on the other side. When I was in Spain as an high school exchange student, I did not have anyone there to support me. If I had a coordinator, I didn’t know about it.
I feel like we have a pretty solid support system within Aspect Foundation. I’ve known the staff at Aspect for decades now. It really feels like family. I really enjoy the camaraderie and when we get to see each other during manager meetings or training conferences. It’s a great way to feel rejuvenated and just have that connection with other like-minded people!
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!
