LOS BANOS, CA (August 5th, 2025) – Sergio de Alba, an acclaimed teacher from Los Banos, California, has been selected to take part in the Transatlantic Outreach Program (TOP), an international fellowship sponsored by the Goethe-Institut. This highly competitive opportunity brings together a select group of American educators for a firsthand look at Germany’s modern education system, political culture, and approach to civic life.
TOP, which operates in collaboration with the German Federal Foreign Office and other education partners, aims to strengthen mutual understanding between the United States and Germany. Each year, the program invites U.S. educators to engage directly with German teachers, students, and policymakers, and to explore themes such as sustainability, career and technical education, democratic values, and the integration of immigrant communities.
De Alba, who has previously earned national recognition for his innovative teaching and commitment to educational equity, described the experience as transformative.
“Spending time in German classrooms and speaking with fellow educators gave me a new perspective on the power of public education,” said de Alba. “It pushed me to reflect on my own teaching and think more deeply about how we prepare students not just academically, but to be thoughtful, engaged citizens of the world.”
While in Germany, de Alba visited schools across multiple regions, observed instruction in a variety of subjects, and participated in discussions with government officials and education leaders. The insights he gained will directly inform new curriculum and lesson design in his classroom, materials that will explore global connections, shared democratic values, and the importance of civic responsibility.
Looking ahead, de Alba hopes to share what he learned with colleagues across the district and help spark broader conversations about the value of global education.
“This wasn’t just a professional development trip—it was a call to action,” he said. “Our students deserve to learn in ways that connect them to the wider world, and I’m honored to be a part of that work.”
