This Side Of The Himalayas

Hi, I’m Susan McLaughlin, a National Board Certified teacher and Fund for Teachers Fellow with muddy boots and a carry-on full of books. I teach 4th grade at Waggoner Road Elementary in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, home to the largest Bhutanese-Nepali refugee community in the United States. More half of my students are from families who arrived as refugees.  They’re not just part of the story. They are the story.

Thanks to a generous grant from FFT, I’m on a journey through Nepal and India to follow the threads of the stories my students carry. I’ll be gathering oral histories from those who once called the camps home — tracing tales of resilience, loss, survival, and stubborn hope — and bringing them back to the classroom, where they can finally be seen, heard, and celebrated.

This isn’t just a trip. It’s a living, breathing learning experience rooted in community, culture, and connection. Along the way, I’ll be sharing stories.  Messy, chaotic, meaningful and magical stories from muddy roads, bustling temples, mountain trails.

Some lessons can’t be measured in feet or miles. The real distance is in understanding — in bridging the gap between what we assume and what we’ve yet to learn.  Come walk this side of the Himalayas with me, where education meets lived experience, and every step holds a story.