Fulbright Symposium washington d.c. 2023
Attending the Fulbright Teacher for global classroom symposium 2023 in Washington, D.C., was a transformative experience. There I had the opportunity to engage with educators and administrators from fifty states of the United States, discussing important topics such as educational equity, diversity and inclusion in teaching practices, and global citizenship education. Through various interactive sessions, we discussed best practices for incorporating a global perspective into our classrooms. We also explored how we can support each other in building more equitable and inclusive learning environments where all students can thrive.
The Fulbright Symposium is an annual 3-days event that brings together Fulbright fellows to share knowledge, ideas, and experiences in the field of education. I was excited and nervous to meet with my fellow participants who worked together for a rigorous online course from September to December last year. Finally, we received our invitations and itineraries for the symposium in January. Before the event, I took an early morning flight to Washington, D.C., to get enough time to explore the great museums in Washington downtown. I met with Terry Anderson and Down Meroe in the lobby of The Madison Hotel and immediately felt connected with them. It was so exciting to put names to the faces now. Dawn and I decided to explore the neighborhood and museums. We grab a quick lunch at Immigration Food, a cozy and relaxed eatery that celebrates the American story with its global cuisine. The decoration of the interior was warm and welcoming. We loved their fusion menu of bowls, salads and sandwiches.
All the educators and administrators gathered for an informal meet-and-greet session in the evening. Everyone was eager to find their cohort for International Field Experience and partner teachers. There were four cohorts of Uruguay, Columbia, Morocco, and Columbia. My administrator, Shawn Allen, and I got time to engage informally with other fellows and meet Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board representatives, the U.S. Department of State, alumni of the Fulbright Teacher Exchanges, and IREX. Meeting with my partner teacher Sarah Reed from Alaska and Natalie Carter from Pennsylvania, was great.
After the brief Meet and Greet event, we all moved to The Dolley Madison Ballroom for the official welcome from the U.S. Department of State & dinner. The key speakers were Ethan Rosenzweig, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Academic Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Jamie Sharp, Deputy Director, Office of Global Education Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Michael Trager, Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, and Rebecca Bell Meszaros, Vice President of Global Programs, IREX. They discussed and highlighted cutting-edge solutions and innovative ideas shaping the future for teachers and students.
On the second day of the symposium, Fulbright TGC Participants learned about the International Field Experience, their host country, and the opportunities for learning and collaboration they can prepare for. All participants were grouped with their cohort, and I attended the Uruguay cohort. Our group was facilitated by IREX Staff, Alumni of the Teacher Exchanges, U.S. Embassy & Fulbright Commission Staff. We received information about Uruguay.
In the afternoon, after the scrumptious lunch, we attended the Global Education Resource Fair in Potomac Hall. We had a unique opportunity to meet with organizations and programs and learn about resources, tools, projects, and options available to students and educators in global collaboration and education. The participant organizations included AFS Intercultural Program USA, BU African Studies, Community Catalyst Partners (The International Studies School Network), Digital Promise, English Learning Program, Freedom Forum, iLearn-USA, Institute of Middle East Studies ( George Washington University), Library of Congress, NASEF (North America Scholastic Esports Federation), Peace Corps, Primary Source (Educating Global Citizens), Reach the World, Stevens Initiative, TOP, The U.S. Department of Education, United Nations Association of the National Capital Area, Department of States, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The information from these participant organizations was just fantastic. Networking opportunities with experienced professionals in global education are essential for those wishing to succeed. By connecting with individuals who have already built successful careers in the industry, we gained valuable insights and advice that can help you advance professionally and personally.
Later in the afternoon, we attended the session about Introducing the Global Education Guide & Tools for Sharing the Fulbright Experience. We learned about the Global Education Guide and the final Fulbright TGC Program requirement. In addition, participants received strategies for effectively leveraging the Guide and other tools, like social media platforms, to communicate their learning and Fulbright experiences with their communities.
On the last day of our symposium, Fulbright TGC participants and Administrators had unstructured time to build on the conversations and ideas already underway during the weekend. Later, Fulbright TGC participants began brainstorming their guiding questions for international travel and engaged in discussions about the best ways to leverage the Global Education Guide and Fulbright experience for impact in their schools and communities.
Overall, the symposium was an invaluable experience for me as an educator. I left with new perspectives that will help me create a more equitable learning space for all my students. At the same time, I felt empowered by the sense of togetherness, friendship, and belonging that came from connecting with educators from around the world.
