Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/154758
WE ARE AEA! • WE ARE AEA! • WE ARE AEA! • WE ARE AEA! Misha Quarles (pictured top right) with some of the dancers from Meninos de Morumbi. Misha Quarles Named Pearson Foundation Global Learning Fellow AEA Member Visits Brazilian Schools This past spring, the NEA Foundation named Misha Quarles, a math interventionist at Thompson Ranch Elementary in El Mirage, as a 2013 Pearson Foundation Global Learning Fellow. With this honor, Quarles joins a unique class of 36 award-winning public school educators who will spend a year building their global competency skills, or the capacity and disposition to understand and act on issues of global significance. "In order for students to be prepared for the global age, their educators must be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and disposition to teach in the global age," said Harriet Sanford, President and CEO of the NEA Foundation. "Our Global Learning Fellows program has an intentional focus on supporting educators as they strengthen their global competencies: investigating the world beyond one's immediate environment; recognizing multiple perspectives; communicating ideas effectively with diverse audiences; and taking action to improve conditions." The fellowship expands on the NEA Foundation's mission to advance student achievement by investing in public education that will prepare all students to learn and thrive in a rapidly changing world. It is designed Fall.13advo.indd 18 to help educators, all recipients of the NEA Foundation's Award for Teaching Excellence, acquire the necessary skills to integrate global competence into their daily classroom instruction, advance pedagogy in their school/ district, prepare students to thrive in the interconnected global age, and thus contribute to the closing of the global achievement gap. The Fellowship builds a structured and collaborative learning experience that supports educators as they acquire global competence skills. A study-tour designed to focus on the themes of global competence, education (both practice and issues of international, national, and state policy) and economics is provided to fellows. This year's tour, from June 19-27, included visits to schools in Brazil in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to provide educators with structured opportunities to observe high quality instruction and to interact with Brazilian teachers and administrators. It also included opportunities to investigate Brazil's historical and cultural significance. The tour was sponsored by the Pearson Foundation and the NEA Foundation and was designed by Education First. Complimentary Portuguese language training was provided to Continued on page 30 18 Fall 2013 x AEA Advocate 8/7/13 2:35 PM