2 Applications- My Journey to Teachers for Global Classrooms

Traveling Back in Time to July 20, 2018- Look at that lady.  She sure looks like she's really happy about something, doesn't she? This is the picture that my amazing friend and our school's computer teacher took for me after I found out I was accepted into the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms (TGC) program for the 2018-2019 school year. I was beyond excited to be accepted into the program and so happy to get to actually say "YES!" this year.  Let me explain. I had applied the year before, when the program was not yet affiliated with Fulbright but still just as snazzy. I was accepted and I was thrilled then too....and then my husband got deployment orders. I was also in the middle of the National Board Certification. We have three kids and I just knew I would not be able to devote the time to the TCG program that I knew it deserved AND keep my family going AND teach full time AND become a NBCT. Also, I was a little nervous for my babies to have both parents out of the country at the same time. I declined the fellowship with full intentions to apply again when the timing was better, which turned out to be the following year. I am so glad that I did!  I was accepted again (THANK YOU, Fulbright!!!) and worked with an AMAZING cohort of dedicated educators.

So, what even is TGC? What exactly does this all mean? Here is the official description:
"The Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program (Fulbright TGC) is a year-long professional development opportunity for elementary, middle, and high school teachers to develop skills for preparing students for a competitive global economy. Fulbright TGC equips teachers to bring an international perspective to their schools through targeted training, experience abroad, and global collaboration. Fulbright TGC is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX."

-Be a U.S. citizen, and reside in a U.S. state, territory or campus associated with Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)

-Have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education and experience

-Demonstrate a commitment to continue teaching or working in their field after completion of the program

Here is the link to Frequently Asked Questions about the program.

Basically, I participated in an online, graduate-level course about global education and bringing global perspectives into my classroom. Then I traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with other Fulbright Fellows and to attend a Global Education Symposium. At the symposium, showcased our Unit Plan projects, "talked shop" about global competency, met with our International Field Experience groups, and much more!

Are you a teacher interested in this program?  Here are the requirements:

-Hold a full-time K–12 teaching position in the U.S., a U.S. territory or school associated with Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), including classroom teachers, guidance counselors, curriculum coordinators, special education coordinators, media specialists, librarians, and gifted and talented coordinators and others who spend at least half of their time interacting with students

-Have five years of full-time K-12 teaching experience in the U.S., a U.S. territory or school associated with Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)