On August 11-14, 2015, the U.S. Department of State and IIE welcomed a group of 48 U.S., 17 international teachers, and 18 program alumni to the
Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program Orientation Workshop in Washington, DC. The orientation kicked off Tuesday evening with a welcome reception and remarks by
Dr. Christie Gilson, member of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Sessions began on Wednesday morning with opening remarks from
Evan Ryan, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. Throughout the week Fulbright Teachers, alumni and staff engaged in discussions about cross-cultural communication, developing global competence, and about how best to meet the needs of underserved students. Throughout the week teachers also engaged in in-depth discussion with fellow grantees regarding educational systems in participating host countries, preparing to live abroad, and about how to apply what they learn in their home schools after the program ends. One of the many highlights of the workshop was a panel presentation by five Fulbright Distinguished Teachers who shared details about their own Fulbright program experiences abroad.
Workshop participants also had the opportunity to explore Washington, DC by taking part in a U.S. Capitol Tour and a DC Monuments by Night tour. The orientation workshop closed with a celebratory dinner and 'culture night,' where U.S. and international Fulbright Distinguished Teachers were encouraged to present their culture in a unique way. Finnish and Indian teachers shared songs and poems with participants. A teacher from Chile impressed the crowd with a traditional dance and U.S. teachers shared regional culture. It was a productive, fun and educational week with the teachers.
