Brecksville high school math teacher doubles as a world traveler

by Laura Straub

Elena Acciardo is a Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School math teacher by day and a travel consultant by night. After the lesson plans are made and the tests are graded, the Brecksville resident plans custom trips for people exploring the world through Global Tides Travel.

“I just try and treat everyone like I was planning a trip for someone in my own family,” she said.

And her family has been on their share of trips. Acciardo’s love for traveling began when she was young, as she traveled with her mom and six older siblings. However, a new world opened up to her six years ago, when she began planning travel professionally. Acciardo has made it her goal to visit at least two new countries each year.

“I have been invited to experience travel products around the world that I would not have been able to otherwise experience,” she said.

That includes trips to Machu Picchu, Morocco, Amsterdam, Galapagos, Thailand and many more. Her most recent adventures were to Cambodia and Vietnam, which included a river cruise down the Mekong that Acciardo described as magical.

“Really, it has been a great journey, no pun intended,” she said.

No matter what country her journeys take her to, there is always one place Acciardo loves to visit.

“I always like to visit schools, as I am teacher,” she said. “I am always interested in education and believe the children are the heart of every country.”

During the river cruise on her most recent trip, Acciardo had the opportunity to visit elementary and middle schools in small towns and villages along the route. She was interested to find that all students wore uniforms and attended classes for four hours, six days a week.

During her visits, Acciardo even helped review the students’ work in their classrooms. She said she was impressed with their mathematics skills, which only confirmed her belief that math can be a universal form of communication. She added that the students were equally intrigued by their American visitor.

Acciardo describes her two jobs as having the best of both worlds. They sync well together and feed her passion.

“As educator and travel consultant, I have a desire to experience as many cultures as possible,” she said.

She has her sights set on Africa for her next trip.

Throughout her travel, Acciardo said she has learned that Americans take a lot for granted, but each trip has made her richer.

“They say that travel is the only thing you can buy that can make you richer, and I am a believer,” she said.

 

Featured image photo caption: During a trip to Peru, Elena Acciardo (l) visits Machu Picchu.