Photographs Courtesy of Susan Braun
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My name is Kelly. For the past ten years, I have taught social studies at a middle school in Alexandria, Virginia. I am the department chair for social studies and a team leader. Previously, I attended the University of Virginia where I earned a Master of Teaching degree in secondary social studies education and a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.
Four years ago, I began my foray into the global education arena. Frustrated by the narrow scope of the social studies standards in my state and district, I began searching for a way to increase students’ global competencies. During my quest, I discovered the Global Citizens in Action (GCA) program, which is sponsored by a non-profit organization. I successfully brought this program to my school and have spearheaded its implementation ever since. As part of this innovative year-long learning experience, fifteen to twenty 7th and 8th grade girls communicate with peers in Kabul, Afghanistan using videoconferences and a social networking site. They explore topics such as cultural awareness and understanding, media literacy, current events, and global citizenship. The program builds to a collaborative final project in which students in Alexandria and Kabul share what they have learned with their communities. During the 2014-2015 school year, I participated in the prestigious Teachers for Global Classrooms Program, funded by the U.S. Department of State. As part of this program, I completed a rigorous course on global education and embarked upon an international field experience to Morocco. This website is my capstone project and is designed to share what I have learned during the program with my community. |
Disclaimer: This blog is not an official U.S. Department of State blog. The views and information presented are the grantee’s own and do not represent the Teachers for Global Classrooms Program, IREX, or the U.S. Department of State.