DPI Travel Abroad Opportunities

Travel Abroad Opportunities

• Global Exploration for Educators Organization (GEEO)

GEEO, a 501c3 non-profit organization that runs professional development travel programs designed for teachers, is offering 13 different travel programs for the summer of 2011: India, China, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey/Syria/Jordan/Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa/Mozambique/Zimbabwe/Botswana, Morocco, Argentina/Uruguay/Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Costa Rica and Guatemala/Belize/Mexico.

Educators have the option to earn graduate school credit (3 credits through Indiana University) and professional development credit while seeing the world. The trips are designed and discounted to be interesting and affordable for teachers. GEEO also advises teachers on how to find funding to subsidize the cost of the trips. The trips are open to all nationalities of K-12 and University educators and administrators, as well as retired educators. Educators are also permitted to bring along a non-educator guest.

Detailed information about each trip, including itineraries, costs, travel dates, and more can be found at www.geeo.org. GEEO can also be reached 7 days a week, toll free at 1-877-600-0105 between 9AM-9PM EST. To sign-up for GEEO's listserv, please send an email to listserv@geeo.org with the subject line "subscribe."

• Summer Program in China for Wake, Durham, Orange, and Chatham County teachers

The Center for International Understanding has organized a professional development program in China this summer (2011).   They have secured a grant from the Borchardt Fund which provides significant scholarships for a total of ten teachers Wake, Durham, Orange, and Chatham counties (including Chapel Hill-Carrboro.) The cost for the regular program is over $4000 but with the scholarships that cost per teacher is reduced to $450! Please see the attachments for more information and forward to any teacher you think might be interested.

• 2011 Costa Rica Study Visit

World View has extended its application deadline to February 1st for the 2011 COSTA RICA STUDY VISIT.  During this visit you will learn first-hand about the culture, ecology, and education system of Costa Rica. Your worldview will never be the same! Itinerary includes school visits, ecological excursions (waterfalls, volcanoes, rainforests, and coastal attractions), Spanish language classes, community service projects, Costa Rican cooking, Latin dance instruction, and more! See attached application for details.

Honors and Awards

§         Gilder Lerhman Teacher of the Year Award

Nominate a K-6 teacher for the National History Teacher of the Year Award: www.gilderlehrman.org/nhtoy .  See attached flyer for more information.  If you have any questions, you may contact Jolene Ethridge at jethridge@dpi.state.nc.us or (919) 807-3862 

§         NC Council for the Social Studies (NCCSS) Elementary Teacher of the Year Award

The North Carolina Council for the Social Studies has extended the nomination deadline for the Outstanding Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year.  The new deadline for nominations is January 28, 2011.  Questions related to the application process should be directed to Steven Weber at steven.weber@orange.k12.nc.us or (919) 245-4000, ext. 17501.  The application is available online at http://ncsocialstudies.org/forms.

§         NCCSS Student Teacher College Scholarship

The NCCSS offers a $1,000.00 scholarship to an undergraduate student in North Carolina who will be student teaching in social studies in 2011 or 2012. Visit the NCCSS website for more information:  http://ncsocialstudies.org/forms/