England bound | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

At the end of August, the 24-year-old Catonsville resident will be heading to the Wembley area of greater London to teach fourth grade at Lyon Park Junior School. She will be switching places with Michelle Hunt of the Lyon Park as part of the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program.

"I'm excited not only about teaching in another country but living in another country, meeting new people and seeing how another country runs its education system," Ms. Sansone said yesterday.

She is one of approximately 450 U.S. educators who will travel abroad next school year through the program, according to county school spokesman Bob Mosier.

This will actually be Ms. Sansone's second visit to England. She went for a three-week "mini-mester" in college.

"That was the first time I ever left the country and I really liked it. That gave me the bug for traveling," said Ms. Sansone.

"When I began teaching I thought teaching abroad would be an awesome experience."

Ms. Sansone said for 80 percent of students at Lyon Park, English is a second language. Many of the student's families come from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

"I just want to show them that being American is a positive thing and maybe I can help dispel some of the negative stereotypes about Americans," said Ms. Sansone.

"Some of the kids think all Americans know famous movie stars. I hope to show them that an American is the same as any other person."

She said among the things she'll miss are her friends, family, school, principal, and of course, her Boston terrier.

Her husband was able to transfer with her and the two will be gone until early August 2009. Ms. Sansone was also excited about the opportunity this will present for her students in Glen Burnie.

"My students have already learned about cricket and rugby through letter writing (with Ms. Hunt's students)," said Ms. Sansone.

One of the greatest differences Ms. Sansone noticed about the British is their attitude toward leisure.

"I find already that it's not as fast paced as here. They have more appreciation for taking time for yourself and family," said Ms. Sansone.

"I think sometimes that gets lost a little bit here."

The Fulbright program is recognized internationally as a flagship educational exchange program and is sponsored by the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Since its establishment in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program has provided approximately 286,500 educators who have studied, taught, or researched abroad and 178,340 students, scholars, and teachers from the countries who have engaged in similar activities in the United States.

The program currently operates in 155 countries worldwide, said Mr. Mosier.