Middleton High School social studies teacher Andy Hartman has been selected as a fellow in Goethe Institut’s Transatlantic Outreach Program (TOP) study tour.
TOP is a public-private partnership between the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Goethe-Institut and Deutsche Bank AG. As a fellow in the study tour program, Hartman will travel to Germany from June 27 to July 7.
“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.”
He said the professional development study tour is a rare opportunity for educators.
“To me, being selected is both exciting and deeply meaningful because it validates the idea that teachers should continue learning, exploring, and growing just as much as we ask our students to do,” he said.
He’ll return to his classroom in the fall to share his experiences with students in his AP Human Geography and U.S. Government classes.
“The biggest thing I will bring back to my students is a richer, more authentic understanding of the world beyond our classroom walls,” Hartman said. “I want to return with stories, photos, resources and lesson ideas that help students connect what they are learning in class to real people and places. I expect to bring back examples of how Germany and the European Union address topics like sustainability, immigration, urban planning, media literacy and democratic participation. If I can help students become more informed, empathetic and globally minded citizens, then the fellowship will have been worthwhile.”
Hartman said study tour programs are an important professional development opportunity for teachers.
“It is easy for educators to become isolated within their classrooms or communities, but programs like this push us to see new perspectives, ask better questions and challenge our assumptions,” he said. “When teachers travel and learn from other countries and cultures, they return with new ideas, new energy and a renewed sense of purpose. Those experiences make lessons more relevant and engaging for students because they are grounded in real-world examples rather than just textbooks.”