Hello! My name is Chelsea Larson and I am from Minnesota. I grew up there in a small town with my younger brother and our parents. They instilled the importance of traveling when we were growing up, going to a different state every summer. I loved going somewhere new, eating local food, and doing activities native to that area. On the right, you can see me enjoying an empanada in Puerto Rico! Over the years I developed a deep desire to know more about the world.
After graduating high school, I went to college at Winona State University where I met my best friends. I believe having a supportive group of people around you is the key to most things in life! I finished there with my undergraduate degree in K-6 elementary education, and a reading certification. Shortly after I moved back home, I was packing up again to move abroad for a brief time to Italy. I had been placed with a host family, and for the three months I was there and I co-taught English in four different local elementary schools. I learned a lot about myself on that trip. I am so excited to have the opportunity to do something similar with a good group of people in Taiwan!

Along with traveling, teaching has been something I have always wanted to do. I can remember being in 1st grade, knowing the teacher was doing my dream job. Every year of elementary school that passed, I thought that same thing in every room I was in. I had fantastic teachers growing up, and my goal is to have as big of an impact on my students as they did for me. I have taught in all the younger grades, from being a preschool teacher to a long term substitute for 5th grade. Every grade has great things about them, I haven’t been able to pinpoint a favorite yet!

Knowing that working with children is something I will always be doing, in 2022 I acquired my Master’s Degree in Education with a specialization in culturally responsive teaching. Bringing in students’ knowledge of their outside world is the best way I know how to teach. The more connections they can make, the more they will be able to learn. I believe students learn best when their teacher acts as a guide to help them navigate their learning. Being an international teacher, I know I will be learning as much from them as they are from me!
Being able to combine two of my greatest passions gives me a feeling I cannot yet find the words for. Although I will miss my family and friends here greatly, they are excited for me knowing this has been something I have talked about for years. I am ready to get started and make more friends and family in Cornel!
See you soon!
Chelsea Larson