Okkodo High School Band Director Max Ronquillo Jr. has received a Fulbright Teacher Exchange award for the 2026-2027 academic year from the U.S. Department of State.
The Guam Department of Education announced Ronquillo’s selection on Sept. 21. He is among approximately 2,500 U.S. citizens participating in the Fulbright Program during the 2026-2027 academic year. Fulbright participants teach, study, and conduct research abroad while developing professional networks and international partnerships.
Ronquillo applied for the program in Feb. 2026. He learned he had advanced as a finalist in July and received confirmation of his selection in August.
He said he was looking for his next opportunity after completing his graduate studies through Harvard Extension School in 2025.
“I’m a teacher, but I always love learning,” Ronquillo said. “I was just trying to find other opportunities to keep the craft sharp, so that I could be effective for my students.”
Ronquillo has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Guam and completed graduate studies through Harvard Extension School. He also holds a Master Educator Certification in Fine Arts from the Guam Commission for Educator Certification.
Ronquillo is also president of the Guam Philharmonic Foundation, a position he has held since 2017. His professional background includes being an ordained minister, music education, conducting, and military service.
Ronquillo said the Fulbright Teacher Exchange appealed to him because of its focus on cultural exchange and his openness to learning more.
“I’m a big advocate for cultural exchanges,” Ronquillo shared. “That was the focus and center of this entire program, is getting teachers to visit other countries and learn about education systems of other countries.”
The Fulbright Teacher Exchange is a yearlong program with four phases. Ronquillo is currently in Phase One, completing a required online course. In Phase Two, Ronquillo will attend a symposium for participating teachers on the U.S. East Coast in Feb. 2027.
Ronquillo expects to learn which country will be his host country in Jan. 2027. As part of the program, he will then spend approximately two to four weeks in his assigned country learning about its education system.
Phase Four, the final component, requires him to develop a published educational resource, which he described as a visitor’s toolkit for the country he visits.
According to the Dept. of Ed., the Fulbright Teacher Exchange program provides K-12 educators with opportunities for professional development and exposure to educational practices. The program also encourages participants to share their experiences with colleagues and students after returning home. Ronquillo said he plans to share the resource with his students at Okkodo High School, GDOE, and the broader Guam community.
“And that’s the whole idea of this program, is making the world just a little bit smaller through education and bridging where we can, sharing great tools that may be applicable here in Guam,” Ronquillo said.
The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 and is marking its 80th anniversary in 2026. The anniversary coincides with the 250th anniversary of the United States. The program provides opportunities for participants from 160 countries and locations to study, teach, and conduct research abroad.
Fulbright opportunities have also connected Guam educators and institutions with international academic exchange in previous years.
In 2019, an Oceanview Middle School social studies teacher received a Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program grant. According to information from the Fulbright organization at the time, this teacher was one of approximately 76 U.S. citizens selected to participate in the program during the 2019-2020 academic year.
In 2024, the University of Guam hosted Fulbright Visiting Scholar Dr. Maciej Lisicki, a physics professor from the University of Warsaw in Poland. Lisicki was among approximately 900 faculty members selected for that year’s Fulbright Visiting Scholars program and visited UOG as part of the program.
Ronquillo said his experience as a teacher in Guam has shaped his path and may have also contributed to his selection.
“I say don’t cut yourself short. I never thought I’d get to go to Harvard,” Ronquillo shared. He encouraged other Guam educators to consider applying for professional opportunities, even if they initially seem out of reach. “There are opportunities out here, and maybe even more so being from Guam.”
For Ronquillo, continuing to learn is connected to his responsibility to his students and to the profession.
“Education is the field that creates other fields,” Ronquillo said. “The world needs teachers, and we do it for the outcome, not the income. It may be a challenging profession, but very, very, very rewarding.”
Ronquillo’s Fulbright Teacher Exchange will continue through the 2026-2027 academic year. His host country will be announced in Jan. 2027, followed by the international portion of the program.
For Ronquillo, the exchange represents another stage in a career built around education, music, and cultural exchange. His work is another opportunity to continue learning as he brings more knowledge back to his students and the Guam education community.
