Each year, the British Council sends hundreds of teachers to travel the United States and learn the way things are done stateside.

This year, a group of 11 young British teachers decided Sussex Technical High School was a cut above the rest.

Because of its progressive curriculum and high-tech hardware, teachers from the United Kingdom chose to spend their entire winter break at the Georgetown vocational high school.

“The British Council usually visits three to four schools across the United States, but the council was impressed by Sussex Tech,” said school public relations official Carolyn O’Neal. “So they’re staying a week here.”

Through the Teachers International Professional Development program, the group landed in Baltimore Feb. 14, and headed straight to the Brick Hotel in Georgetown. They visited the beach and Cape Henlopen State Park, but Feb. 17, the teachers from Harrow, England, a town just outside London, sat in on classes and toured the school.

They were visiting to study how Delaware delivers vocational education and to establish an international network to share ideas.

Pattiva Cathell, student activities coordinator, welcomed the teachers, who have specialties from adult literacy to business instruction.

Cathell said part of what makes Sussex Tech a successful vocational model is its ties to local businesses.

For the auto body track, local dealers and shops donate paint, cars and parts to help students learn basic mechanics. Cathell said some Sussex Tech students who specialize in digital design or auto diesel instruction move on to national technical programs.

“We are very proud to host these British educators. We take every opportunity we can to expose our students to matters of the world and to encourage them to open their minds to the possibilities it holds,” said Jamie Carlson, a Sussex Tech history teacher who helped coordinate the trip.

Visiting teacher Monique Berry specializes in civics and citizenship. She said Sussex Tech and her home school have about the same number of students – roughly 1,000 – but Sussex Tech is four times larger than her school.

“The facilities are top notch. The site is fantastic. The atmosphere is what made us decide to come here,” Berry said.

“It is truly outstanding that British teachers have the opportunity to observe firsthand the successes of Sussex Technical High School,” said Sharon Memis, director of the British Council in the United States. “Through this sort of collaboration, it is our hope that British and American teachers can learn from one another’s best practices and strengthen schools on both sides of the Atlantic.”