In August 2011, Beck received the California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence, one of the nation’s most prestigious awards for public educators.
The
fellowship is an expansion of the NEA Foundation’s annual Awards for
Teaching Excellence (ATE) program and a continuation of its mission to advance
student achievement by investing in public education that will prepare
all students to learn and thrive in a rapidly changing world. It is designed to broaden how the Fellows, all ATE recipients, navigate the global age to better prepare their students for success in an increasingly interconnected world. It includes:
- Pre-tour global learning orientation and country-specific travel preparation;
- Group
study-tour abroad focused on comparative education systems,
collaborative thinking, and development for globally-minded professional
outcomes;
- Online
course designed to integrate global learning into classrooms, schools,
and local communities (e.g. lesson plans, presentations, etc.); and
- Post-tour creation of curriculum integrated with global competency skills.
In
preparation, the Fellows have completed an online course that has
provided them with a framework to contextualize their experiences in
China by examining the impact of China’s historical and cultural
legacies on contemporary Chinese society and educational system.
“In
order for students to be prepared for the global age, their educators
must be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and disposition to teach in
the global age,” said Harriet Sanford, President and CEO of the NEA
Foundation. “Our
program has an intentional focus on strengthening each educator’s
global competencies: investigating the world beyond one’s immediate
environment; recognizing multiple perspectives; communicating ideas
effectively with diverse audiences; taking action to improve conditions.”
In
partnership with the Pearson Foundation, the NEA Foundation will share
the Fellows’ experiences and observations through blog posts and photos
as they travel. The NEA Foundation will also select and share curriculum
and other teaching tools that they create after the tour.
Gay Beck - Highland Elementary Kindergarten Teacher in Alpine School District |
Names and photos of the 2012 NEA Foundation Pearson Foundation Global Learning Fellows are posted on the NEA Foundations's website. The tour is sponsored by the Pearson Foundation and the NEA Foundation, and is designed by Education first. The 2013 ATE awardees will be invited to participate on a similar trip next year in another country.
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About the NEA FoundationThe NEA Foundation is a public charity supported by contributions from educators' dues, corporate sponsors, and others who support public education initiatives. We partner with education unions, districts, and communities to create powerful, sustainable improvements in teaching and learning. Visit www.neafoundation.org for more information.