Clemson University hosts international teachers

Published: March 14, 2012

By Raquel Cobb

CLEMSON — Clemson University’s Eugene T. Moore School of Education is hosting, for the fourth year, a distinguished group of international secondary-level school teachers during the spring semester as part of the International Leaders in Education Program.

The program is a part of a professional exchange program funded by an $185,000 U.S. Department of State and Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs grant implemented by the International Research & Exchanges Board. 

The group of teachers, called Teacher Fellows, went through a year-long selection process after being nominated by their home countries, approved through the respective U.S. Embassy and local Fulbright commission, and screened by the U.S. State Department staff. Four host universities were selected to host the Teacher Fellows this year: the University of Alabama-Huntsville, James Madison University, Kent State University and Clemson. Following their education program experience, the Teacher Fellows will return to their home countries and act as teacher leaders to others.

The 16 Teacher Fellows represent countries from across the globe, including Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa and Uganda. They will complete an on-campus academic program as well as an internship at R.C. Edwards Middle School, Seneca Middle School or Seneca High School where they will work with a U.S. partner teacher. The Teacher Fellows will engage in formal and informal activities through which they will learn about American culture and share their own. They will be in Clemson through May.

“We are very excited to have the International Teacher Fellows here at Clemson again this year," said Bill Fisk, professor in the Eugene T. Moore School of Education. "They provide such a marvelous cultural experience for our faculty and students, the teachers and youth in the public schools where they teach and the many community members who interact with them during their five-month stay. This is such a powerful and beneficial program because it beneficially impacts so many people here as well as people from countries across the world.”

The Clemson teacher education faculty responsible for the implementation of the International Leaders in Education Program include Fisk, Megan Che, James Dogbey, Bob Green, Hans Klar, Mindy Spearman, Margaret Warner and graduate student Kate Jensen.

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