International Student Exchange is looking for local families to join their organization. ISE is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the people of the world closer together through high school student exchange and intercultural education. Katie Suggs, a Texas Regional Manager for ISE, spoke about expanding the exchange to Pampa.
“We have a large range of students that have shown interest in staying in small towns,” Suggs said.
As of now, there are two ISE Area Representatives in Pampa: Palma Dorn and Cinthia Cordova. Area representatives are contractors paid for securing student placements and for supervising students throughout their stay.
Dorn spoke about becoming involved with ISE.
“Katie made a post about becoming an area representative,” Dorn said. “I reached out to her and told her I was interested.”
Cordova chimed in with her experience about becoming involved with ISE.
“I got involved because of Palma,” Cordova said. “I knew she was involved with ISE. She told me they were looking for an additional representative in Pampa. I told her I would do it.”
Though Pampa’s involvement with ISE is quite new, there has been many positive experiences.
“I hosted a student in 2022,” Dorn said. “It was fun to learn about her culture. She would cook us meals from her hometown from time to time and talk to us about her home.”
Suggs spoke about the positive reception both from the school and from student interested in coming to Pampa.
“We are looking to place more kids,” Suggs said. “The school is so willing to take exchange students that we need to find more families that are interested in hosting.”
Families interested in becoming a host family can apply at iseusa.org. After filling out an application, Suggs, Dorn, or Cordova will be in touch to further explain the roles and responsibilities of becoming a host family.
For future host families, ISE has compiled a list of commonly asked questions regarding their exchange program. Some of the questions are:
• How long does a student’s program last?
We offer three program durations. 1) 5-month Semester program starting in either January or August 2) 10-month Academic Year program starting in August 3) 12-month Calendar Year program starting in January.
• Where do exchange students live while attending school?
Our exchange students live with volunteer host families within the district. We recruit and screen host family applicants by administering background checks, home visits, interviews, and reference checks in accordance with Department of State regulations and ISE best practices formed over the last 35 years.
• How are student issues handled?
We have a network of local representatives and managers in each state, plus a full-time team of experienced student facilitators who work out of our headquarters to provide support. We also operate a 24/7 emergency hotline in case any issues arise outside of normal working hours.
Suggs has participated in hosting exchange students for five years. Suggs notes that the bonds she and her family have formed with the exchange students are outstanding.
“We take in two exchange students every year,” Suggs said. “My kids love it. They have brothers all over the world. It really has expanded our family.”
Dorn and Cordova spoke about their future with ISE.
“I plan to be a placement representative,” Dorn said. “I would place students and get families to host. Cinthia and I both have a 120 mile radius for placement.”
“I am still going to be an area representative in Pampa,” Cordova said. “However, I am interested in hosting in the future.”
For more information about International Student Exchange, visit their website at iseusa.org.
***Information shared in this article were taken from official International Student Exchange pamphlets.
