From Selma to Santiago: Lara Munch’s Sabbatical Journey Through Culture, History, and Language

Her travels took her from Alabama to Spain, tracing powerful stories of resilience and education. 

In the U.S., Lara embarked on a southern road trip visiting sites central to American history and Quaker education. She stopped at Quaker schools throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, attended the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Selma, explored Bryan Stevenson’s Equal Justice Initiative memorial and museum in Montgomery, and learned about Susie King Taylor, the educator and nurse honored in Savannah for her pivotal role in advancing education for freed Black individuals. Lara also spent time at the Penn School on St. Helena Island, one of the first Southern schools for formerly enslaved people and a site where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. worked on portions of his “I Have a Dream” speech.

Her sabbatical then took her overseas to Portugal, Spain, and Italy, where she visited a dozen educational and cultural programs, including walking part of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela and visiting the coastal town of Finisterre. She spent meaningful time reconnecting with global perspectives—visiting Lisbon, Madrid, and other historic centers—and even met her daughter Greta’s ’24 host mom from her School Year Abroad Program. Most recently, Lara chaperoned the Middle School trip to Puerto Rico, helping students engage in service, environmental learning, and cultural exploration. Her experiences—spanning continents, classrooms, and centuries—reflect a deep commitment to understanding how place and story shape learning.