Tuesday, October 15, 2024
This year, for the first time, the study abroad company CIEE invited the Wisconsin Global Educator of the Year award winner to go and observe one of their high school study abroad programs. Jodi Resch Brownell, Spanish educator and 2023-2024 Global Educator of the Year from School District of Crandon, was thrilled to be able to travel to Rabat, Morocco, to see two of CIEE's incredible programs in action. "We were able to learn a lot about Moroccan culture, including a visit to the Hassan II Mosque, an Ashura celebration, a home visit, and plenty of interactions with the students in the program. I was so impressed with their program that I am now trying to encourage my own students to do a summer study abroad," Resch Brownell said.
Resch Brownell was nominated for the award by former Global Educator of the Year, Danielle Chaussee. Resch Brownell reflected on the nomination and how it has informed her teaching. "As teachers, we need to do better at lifting up others and nominating colleagues for such awards. However, self-nomination is also an option so teachers who are making great efforts to bring globally-focused teaching to their classrooms and schools can also go that route. The application process is very self-reflective and makes you realize all of the ways your teaching connects kids to the world."
The Global Scholars program, which Resch Brownell brought to Crandon, is an important vehicle for Wisconsin schools to help students reach the four internationally recognized dimensions of global competence:
- Knowledge of local, global, and intercultural issues
- Respect for diverse perspectives and worldviews
- Effective intercultural interaction and communication
- Actions to improve conditions and collective well-being
Crandon is the smallest school thus far participating in the Global Scholars program, and Resch Brownell thinks it's important that, "our students... [get] to see that people from rural areas can win statewide awards like this and it makes them have more confidence in what they can accomplish."
One way to measure that impact? Student success. This year, four of Resch Brownell's Global Scholars students received the statewide recognition of the DPI's Certificate of Global Competence. This year, statewide the DPI issued 241 certificates, awarded in 40 districts.
And Resch Brownell continues to develop her and her students' global competencies. Working with several university professors, she is trying to bring more international and intercultural virtual exchanges to classrooms through the COIL Rural CommuniTIES project. "If more classrooms engage in these no-cost experiences for students, it will build global bridges for kids of all ages and they will grow up knowing so much more about other countries and cultures," she said. She is also part of the inaugural cohort of the Stevens Initiative's Global Champions, a group that is promoting virtual exchange worldwide.
The Global Educator of the Year Award isn't just an accolade or a prize. For Resch Brownell, it's a confirmation of the importance of global education for all students. "I hope that they travel to new places and are good ambassadors of America. I want them to be curious about other places and cultures and not be afraid to leave their comfort zones," she said, "And I definitely want them to consider the profession of teaching where they can have amazing travel experiences like I have had and use them as teaching tools for their own students."
2024-2025 Global Educator of the Year Award
The Global Educator of the Year Award recognizes outstanding educators at all levels. The program annually honors those who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students as well as demonstrating exemplary contributions to the profession specifically related to global education.
Nominations for this award can now be submitted to the Department of Public Instruction. Please nominate deserving candidates by sending their full name, email address, school name, and a brief rationale for the nomination (no more than 200 words) to pamela.delfosse@dpi.wi.gov. Nominees will receive an application form via email. The deadline for submitting a letter of nomination and a complete application is January 10, 2025.
DPI encourages access to global learning across the curriculum as is evidenced by inclusion of a standard for global competence within the revised Standards for Career-Readiness.