Warner School receives funding to host an international cohort of 17 Fulbright Teachers

The University of Rochester’s Warner School of Education and Human Development will host 17 Fulbright Teachers from 12 countries this fall through the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program for International Teachers. 

Fulbright Teacher Exchanges, which are sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs and implemented by IREX, bring international primary and secondary teachers to the United States to take courses for professional development, share their expertise with U.S. colleagues, and share what they’ve learned in their home countries. 

The visiting master teachers will be in Rochester from August 15 to December 11. They come from Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Finland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, the Philippines, Senegal, and Uganda. 

The Rochester program, one of three in the nation, is supported by a $230,000 grant and called “Cultural, Pedagogical, and Linguistic Exchange.” It is led by principal investigator Nicole King, assistant professor, and co-principal investigators Hairong Shang-Butler, associate professor, and Kristen Love, assistant professor. The program will strive to:

• Establish a global network of educators centered on equity principles.
• Refine participant leadership and technology skills to share with schools in their home countries.
• Design and complete projects that center students in pedagogy development.
• Contribute to a database of global pedagogical approaches.
• Leverage cultural and linguistic experiences and resources into lesson design.

According to King, as the world becomes increasingly global and connected, participating in programs that support cultural, pedagogical, and linguistic exchange for educators will become more and more integral to the delivery of equity-based practices.

“As part of the Fulbright selection process, the 17 teachers proposed research projects to implement at U.S.-based institutions, in collaboration with local schools,” says King, “thus, this project offers opportunities for mutual learning both at Warner and with our partner schools. We are thrilled about our partnerships with Dr. Walter Cooper Academy, East High School, Rush-Henrietta, Brighton Central School District, and the Employment and Career Advancement Equity for Immigrants and Refugees. Together, we will welcome and learn with the Fulbright Teachers, as we all grow professionally during their time in Rochester.”

The Fulbright Teachers will complete coursework at the University and collaborate with local teachers through field experiences in schools or a community-based workplace setting, complete inquiry-based projects, attend seminars, and visit local cultural and historical sites. In addition, they will be paired with University alumni and members of the Rochester area community, or “Friendship Families,” to ensure they feel at home and to support community-building and opportunities for cultural exchange.

Faculty from the Warner School will support Fulbright participants through advising and mentoring. Local cooperating teachers will support participants in building relationships at local schools, engage them in teaching opportunities, and help them design and implement their research projects. 

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.