Former William Smith cross country runner Rebecca Barr '25, MAT '26 is a recipient of a 2026 U.S. Student Fulbright Award to Indonesia where she will serve as an English Teaching Assistant. Her position will begin in August.

Currently in HWS' Master of Arts in Education program and working as a long-term special education substitute teacher at Geneva Middle School, Barr applied to the program because she wanted to teach abroad – an opportunity that will enable her to "both contribute to a classroom and deepen my teaching pedagogies." She will arrive in Indonesia with a diverse portfolio of teaching experience, having served as an elementary and middle school substitute teacher, a literacy tutor, a camp counselor for neurodivergent children, and with student teaching experience in a dual language class.

"As an educator and sociologist, I want to enhance my understanding about how education works across different cultural and social contexts," Barr says. "Receiving a Fulbright is a remarkable opportunity to teach abroad, with strong support from the school where you are placed."

 

Rebecca Barr works with a student at North Street Elementary School.

She looks forward to learning from Indonesian students and teachers in an environment that will challenge her knowledge and experience. "I'm used to teaching with plenty of technology and resources," Barr says. "The relatively limited resources in Indonesian schools will require me to adapt and be flexible in my approach." She notes that most people are non-English speakers, and that she is "excited to support dual language classrooms in a different environment and context."

As a student-athlete, Barr was a three-time Liberty League All-Academic Team member and served as a team captain. She posted a pair of top-10 finishes during her senior year, placing fifth in the CCOC Championships and seventh at the SUNY Poly Wildcat Classic. Barr ran the fastest 6-kilometer race of her career at the 2024 Kara Hall Memorial Invitational in Fredonia, clocking in at 26:09.6.

As an undergraduate, Barr was a Dean's List student and member of the Laurel Society. She graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's in education and sociology. She minored in child advocacy. On campus, she also was a member of the HWS Tutor Corps and participated in the Summer Research Program.

Barr is interested in exploring how systems intersect and shape one another and plans to apply that perspective to better understand the relationship between education and religion in Indonesia. Outside of the classroom, she plans to host informal events centered on music, sports and games to make learning English more accessible.

"I love the community that sports cultivate," Barr says. "An after-school or community group focused on yoga, soccer and other sports will be a great way to learn about different traditions and cultures."

In each of her teaching assignments, Barr has focused on developing culturally relevant education, where teachers and students collaborate to build a classroom environment that is engaging and inclusive for all. After her Fulbright experience, she plans to pursue a career as an elementary special education teacher.

The Fulbright program is the U.S. Government's flagship international exchange program, providing full research grants and English Teaching Assistantships awarded for graduate study, research or teaching opportunities in more than 140 countries.