Education students serve international school in Ecuador over Spring Break

Eleven teacher candidates from Liberty University’s School of Education spent their Spring Break serving students at Alliance Academy International, a private Christian school in Quito, Ecuador, where they gained practical experience and simultaneously developed a deep appreciation for the country’s culture. The trip was facilitated by the LU Send Office.

While at AAI, teacher candidates shadowed current teachers and developed and presented a lesson in their classroom at the end of the week. The trip counted toward one of three 30-hour practicum credits required for graduation.

“This international practicum experience in Ecuador provided our education students with a rich opportunity to grow both professionally and spiritually,” said Associate Dean Dr. Laurie Rice, who helped lead the trip. “By living and working in another country, students were immersed in a culture different from their own, deepening their understanding of global perspectives and fostering cultural humility and responsiveness. Within the international school setting, students gained valuable hands‑on classroom experience, applying educational theory to practice while developing adaptability, instructional skills, and confidence as emerging educators.”

As an international private school, AAI instructs students from a wide variety of backgrounds and nationalities. In some classrooms, the pupils spoke as many as six different primary languages. Through interacting with these students, the teacher candidates witnessed yet another aspect of multicultural education.

“Most importantly, this experience allowed our students to serve the Lord through their gifts and calling as teachers — demonstrating Christ’s love through service, relationship‑building, and dedication to the learning and well‑being of children,” Rice said. “This practicum embodied the university’s mission to prepare educators who are academically competent, culturally aware, and committed to using their profession as a means of faithful service.”

At the end of the week, the teacher candidates heard from the school’s executive director, who provided more information about what it may look like to serve as a full-time teacher at AAI or another international institution.

While in Ecuador, Liberty’s team also immersed themselves in Ecuadoran culture by visiting the Intiñan Equator Museum and the Basílica del Voto Nacional Roman Catholic church, riding the TelefériQo cable car, learning how to make empanadas, attending a local church service, and even eating cooked guinea pig, an Ecuadorian delicacy.

On Monday, five teacher candidates from the trip shared about the experience at a School of Education Convocation. Elementary education junior Gracie Gusti said she appreciated the chance to witness how AAI compares with the standard American education system. She encouraged others to consider taking part in a future School of Education trip.

“(The trip) exceeded my expectations,” she said. “The Lord really taught me a lot and showed me a lot across different cultures. I would definitely consider just praying over (going on a trip) to see something different than what we have here. It’s so beautiful to see a different culture and that the Lord loves them just the same. To teach them and to watch them interact with each other was such a beautiful thing. To get to know the people in the country and their culture and food was such a wonderful thing.”

The teacher candidates noted a high level of respect and cooperation between the AAI students and their teachers, claiming the school was much more student-focused than many American educational institutions.

“It was really cool to see how the students would work together and help each other,” special education senior Reagan Lewis said. “If they were struggling to come up with a word in English, other kids would jump in and help them out. That was really cool. It adds to the classroom experience because I was able to pick up on some Spanish words from them at recess when they were super eager to teach me their language as well. That was really sweet.”

Social Studies Education Coordinator and Associate History Professor Dr. Chris Jones, who spent 14 years working for AAI, also spoke at the School of Education Convocation to share his experience teaching in Ecuador.

Rice concluded the convocation by encouraging students to obey God’s calling for their lives, wherever He may lead them.

“All we want you to know is that God can call you,” she said. “If you listen to that calling on your life, you can be open to amazing things He’s going to teach you through the field of education.”