Four Alpine Education Association members volunteered to teach in China during their recent summer vacation. There were 85 applicants for the China Travel and Teaching Program, and the AEA teachers were among the only 10 lucky educators who were selected for this unique opportunity. These AEA members are: Diane Thayer, Foothill Elementary 4th grade teacher; Cheree Davis, Shelley Elementary Music teacher; Susan LeBaron, Shelley Elementary 2nd grade teacher; Anita Babb, Greenwood Elementary Reading Recovery teacher.
The China Travel and Teaching Program was first established by a former Minnesota teacher and citizen of China, Songtang Mao. He observed that teaching strategies in America and China were vastly different, and he wanted veteran teachers from both countries to experience the best of both teaching styles. Children attending this boarding school program are cared for entirely by their teachers, who may be in charge of up to 20 children.
