The international teachers will arrive Jan. 29 and will depart March 14. Education faculty member A.J. Angulo authored the $190,000 grant proposal to renew
the federally-funded cultural and educational exchange program for the fifth year.
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA — For the fifth consecutive year, Winthrop University will
bring high school teachers from around the world to stay on campus for an intensive
six-week program to sharpen their teaching skills.
Called the U.S. State Department's Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA),
the initiative will bring 20 fellows to Winthrop this semester from Asia, the Middle
East, Eastern Europe, Africa, and Central and South America.
Education faculty member A.J. Angulo authored the $190,000 grant proposal to renew the federally-funded cultural and educational
exchange program for the fifth year. The funds will support a series of professional
development workshops, field experiences in Rock Hill high schools, and cultural exchange
activities on and off campus.
"Year after year, this program brings the world to Winthrop and our Rock Hill schools,"
said Angulo. "The enthusiasm and excitement these teachers bring with them energizes
all of us who get to work with them. While here, they get professional development
and field experiences. But before these teachers return home, they leave us with new
perspectives on the world, on teaching and on what it means to be part of the global
community. Our students, faculty, staff, friendship families and local economy all
benefit from this terrific program."
International exchange programs like TEA are designed to meet goals that extend well beyond the classroom. "In this
election cycle," Angulo said, "there's been much talk about the problems and challenges
that exist around the world. What we need, however, is less talk and more constructive
action on the world stage. The TEA program, as we've seen for the last several years,
is action-oriented and responds to this need. It reminds us of the importance of developing
strong, positive and lasting international relationships."
The teachers will arrive Jan. 29 and will depart March 14. During their stay, the
teachers will take customized workshops from faculty in the Richard W. Riley College of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences. Eleven of the teachers will learn about science, technology and math, and the remaining
nine will study English as a second language. Seminars also have been added to their
schedule to enhance their understanding of the region.
While on campus, the international visitors will share information about their culture
during two events open to the public:
* Poster Session, Feb. 16, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Withers/W.T.S. Building, Student Activity Center
* Comparative Education Panel Session, March 1, 7-9 p.m., Withers/W.T.S. Building, Plowden Auditorium
Each international teacher will also be paired with a Rock Hill high school teacher
for all-day, field-based experiences in order to exchange best teaching practices.
When not in classes at Winthrop or local high schools, the international teachers
will participate in cultural exchange activities.
They will learn about American life and culture through day and weekend excursions,
including trips to such sites as the Levine Museum of the New South and Charlotte's
Discovery Place, and weekend excursions to Charleston, South Carolina and Asheville,
North Carolina.
The U.S. State Department's Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program is administered by IREX and will complement Winthrop's Global Learning Initiative and federally-funded WISE/STEM programs.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at 803/323-2404 or at longshawj@winthrop.edu.
