W&L’s Nona David ’26 Selected for U.S. Teaching Assistantship to Austria An aspiring educator, David looks forward to combining her love for education and language-learning.
Washington and Lee University senior Nona David ’26 has been awarded a U.S. Teaching Assistantship (USTA) to teach English in Austria. At W&L, David is an English major with minors in German and education studies. David is a native of Morgantown, West Virginia, and graduated from University High School.
The USTA Program is administered by Fulbright Austria on behalf of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research. Teaching assistants are placed in secondary schools throughout Austria to teach English language and linguistic skills, serve as informal cultural ambassadors, and promote mutual understanding between the United States and Austria.
An aspiring educator, David is looking forward to gaining classroom experience in Graz, Austria before pursuing a teaching career in the United States. She will be teaching English in a “gymnasium,” which, in the Austrian public school system, is a university-preparatory track secondary school serving grades five through twelve. David will also teach at a specialized school for students training to be elementary school teachers.
David credits her education coursework for her love of teaching, particularly the opportunity to student-teach fifth-grade math at Enderly Heights Elementary School in Buena Vista, Virginia, during the fall semester.
“Sara Hayes [her co-operating teacher] taught me everything I know about being an educator,” David said. “This experience affirmed my love for teaching and inspired me to bring my students to W&L for a field trip on the last day of my semester. This field trip capped off the most life-changing semester and I loved showing my students where I attend school, taking them to a class and eating lunch with them in the dining hall.”
David was inspired to apply for the USTA after taking the course “The Cultural Heritage of Austria,” taught by Debra Prager, associate professor of German and department head, during Spring Term 2025. The course was based in Graz, and the class visited the Fulbright Austria headquarters and met with W&L alumni who are currently part of the USTA program.
“After hearing about the experiences of W&L alumni participating in the USTA program, I was really excited by the idea of combining my love for education and language learning,” David said. “I am proud to be joining a growing collection of W&L alumni who took German courses and are now teaching or have taught across Austria.”
When she arrived at W&L, David did not have plans to pursue a foreign language, but after discovering the dedication and enthusiasm of the German department faculty members, she said it has become “integral” to her time on campus. David is also grateful for the support and guidance she has received from Holly Picket, associate professor of English and department head, who has been “such an inspiration as an educator and a kind and engaging presence,” and Haley Sigler, head of the Education Studies program, who has greatly influenced David’s approach to teaching.
“Nona brings a thoughtful and grounded presence to her work in education,” Sigler said. “Through her extensive experiences in classrooms, she has developed a strong foundation for teaching along with a deep attentiveness to students and learning. She approaches her work with both curiosity and care, and this opportunity feels like a natural extension of the way she engages with others and the world around her. I have no doubt she will build meaningful connections in Austria.”
At W&L, David leads the Burish Service-Leadership Internship Program through the Education Studies Program, and as head intern, she coordinates volunteers for eight local schools in the Rockbridge County area. She is also a community assistant for Housing and Residence Life and vice-chair of the Traveller Safe Ride Program.
With the USTA, David will depart in September 2026 for her nine-month program. Upon completion of the program, David — who will be graduating from W&L with her Virginia teaching license — plans to attend graduate school and ultimately find a position as an elementary school classroom teacher.
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