Normally Harley is just one of the schools the Fulbright scholars visit, but for the first time, Harley hosted one of the Fulbright teachers for the semester. Sonaleeca Das from India, spent the last four months at Harley, working closely with Middle School science teacher (2010-2023, 2025-present) Carly Rivers P ’40 who works with Grades 7/8 .
During her time at Harley, Sonaleeca offered lessons on Indian food traditions, historical moments, and the diversity and cultural heritage of Indigenous communities in India. She and the students celebrated Diwali together and incorporated scientific modeling into her work with them. She also had the chance to step into a Grade 6 Spanish class—simply to observe—and said she “teachers at Harley are so engaging.”
Coming from a boarding school environment, she was struck by the ease and comfort with which students learn at Harley. “There is joyful learning—learning without stress,” she said. She noticed how open students were with their teachers and how naturally they sought help, describing the environment as “homey” and uniquely supportive.
A New Lens on Teaching
Sonaleeca said she viewed Harley through multiple lenses: as a teacher, as a boarding school educator, and as someone from another country experiencing American education. She was moved by the hands-on learning culture across classrooms and Harley’s holistic approach to student growth.
One experience stood out most: the Grade 8 Capstone projects. She admired how students choose their own areas of passion and build meaningful, sustained projects around them—something very different from what she sees in her home school. “It showed me a new way to channel the energy of students,” she said. “It was motivating for them, and inspiring for others.”
What She Will Bring Back to India
Sonaleeca is returning home with ideas she hopes to implement:
- A Capstone-style project, built around passion and student ownership
- Library culture, especially Harley’s makers corner where students pursue projects over multiple days or weeks
- Deep compassion, which she felt from Harley teachers toward students and hopes to cultivate more in her own school
- Visual Displays, from gallery displays to classroom walls to wellness spaces “The learning here is so visible!”
- Collaborative school leadership, where the Head of School is seen as a partner rather than an authority figure
- Celebratory community traditions, like the Opening Day assembly where students of every age are welcomed and applauded
Sonaleeca donated a selection of books to our library, meeting a wide age and interest range, and included books about Indian Mythology, History, Literature and Language.
