Head’s Corner

Dear Saklan Community,

As I am sure you already know, Saklan is recognized for the outstanding quality of its faculty. I was recently thrilled to find out that our Science/STEM teacher, Vickie Obenchain has been selected for the 2017-18 Teachers for Global Classrooms Fellowship sponsored by the US Department of State, Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs. The selection process for the program was highly competitive with 76 teachers being chosen from over 450 applications from across the United States. The Teachers for Global Classrooms Program (TGC) is a year-long professional development program for U.S. elementary, middle, and high school teachers to become leaders in global education. Global education is integral to building 21st century skills in students, and teachers are the greatest resource to empower our students as global citizens. The TGC program equips teachers to bring an international perspective to their schools through targeted training, experience abroad, and global collaboration. The TGC program is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), and implemented by IREX, an international non-profit organization.

The TGC program begins with a ten-week online professional development course. Upon successful completion of this course, participants will participate in a Global Education Symposium in Washington, D.C. in February, 2018. At the Symposium, TGC Fellows will collaborate with teachers, administrators and education leaders from across the United States in a two-day conference on Global Education. Following the Symposium, TGC Fellows will travel with a cohort of other U.S. teachers for an international field experience and have the opportunity to meet with school teachers and educational leaders in one of the participating host countries. Throughout their fellowship, TGC Fellows will explore the themes and applications for global education in the classroom and bring these back to their own school and community. We look forward to all the new ideas that Vickie will be bringing back to Saklan as she goes through this prestigious program. Congratulations, Vickie!

Don’t forget Fall Follies next Friday at 10:30AM. This is also the end of the First Trimester which means report cards will be on their way. They will be sent out by mail on the Friday after Thanksgiving Break.

Have a great weekend!

Peter