TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough County Public Schools is bringing visiting teachers from Spain into its dual-language classrooms for the first time through an international partnership aimed at filling a critical need for bilingual educators.

The district is taking part in Spain’s Visiting Teachers Program, which has helped place more than 15,000 Spanish educators in schools abroad. This school year, four teachers are coming to Hillsborough County.

One of them is Esther Herguedas, who brings more than 12 years of experience in education.

Herguedas began her career teaching music and later became an assistant principal.

“I believe that education is more than a staple in your school; it’s like living and collaborating with other communities,” Herguedas said.

Herguedas will teach fourth graders at Reddick Elementary, focusing on math, science, and literature in Spanish. She will work alongside an English-speaking teacher as students learn core subjects in both English and Spanish.

“It’s good for the students to build bridges across languages,” Herguedas said.

The district has 90 dual-language educators. District leaders said the new partnership will help fill all vacancies and give more students the opportunity to learn in two languages.

The need is significant, according to the district. Nearly half of the students in Hillsborough County’s dual-language programs are Spanish speakers.

Melissa Morgado, general director of multilingual programs and services, said bringing teachers directly from Spain gives students more than language instruction.

“It goes beyond the textbook and the standards, while making sure they’re also getting unique perspectives that they’re able to be globally educated,” Morgado said.

For Herguedas, the move means adjusting to a new country and a new school system. But she said she is bringing “my energy as well as my experience and other perspectives” to the classroom.

The program will last three years. District leaders said they hope to continue bringing educators from Spain to Hillsborough County in the future.