2013 Global Educator Award

Recently I was surprised to have been nominated and then awarded the 2013 Global Educator Award by VIF.  As we were having our final party for the year they came in and presented the award (plaque, money for global resources and a paper weight globe) and asked the students what they had learned this year that was global.  The students talked about other cultures, people and places.  They talked about different languages, land forms, bodies of water, weather, currency and animals.   How important it was to be globally minded and what it means to them was also discussed.  I want to thank all of our blogging and skyping buddies from around the world.  We are able to learn and collaborate with you which makes this award possible.  Thank you for contributing to my success as a global educator!  School is out now so we will not be posting as much until August, 26th.

This is the press release from them.

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Brenda Todd wins global education resources for Rocky River Elementary School


MONROE, N.C. (June 6, 2013) — VIF International Education is proud to announce that Brenda Todd, a second grade teacher at Rocky River Elementary School, has won the 2013 Global Educator Award. Todd will be honored as one of the top international education teachers in the state.
“I am a globally-minded educator and the children have learned a lot about the world during the past two and a half years,” said Todd. “I enjoy helping children learn and this award is just icing on the cake.”
Todd has been a teacher for more than 15 years and has been at Rocky River for six years. As a member of the Global Gateway program, Todd brings international education into her classroom on a daily basis – encouraging student achievement. Ongoing Global Gateway professional development courses and access to the Connections Resource Library™ helps Todd effectively integrate international content into her core instruction. Through the learning center, Todd works to understand and investigate the world, connect with others and integrate global content in the classroom.
Todd won the award based on her commitment to teaching second graders and promoting global awareness. Next year, Rocky River will have additional resources to support international education as a reward for Todd’s hard work and dedication.


“Todd is an inspiration for other teachers,” said David Young, CEO of VIF. “In order for students to succeed in the global economy, it is important for them to understand the importance of cultural perspective and how to collaborate with people from different countries.”
In its fourteenth year, Global Educator Awards recognize outstanding educators who demonstrate a dedication to inspiring students, colleagues and community members to understand the world’s languages, its cultures and the diverse perspectives of all people. VIF’s international education programs are turnkey, standards-aligned and accessible, and have demonstrated impact on student achievement across demographics.
The annual competition is open to all teachers participating in a VIF program such as Global Gateway professional development or Splash Language Immersion®. An awards panel selects the winning educators based on a letter of support from a supervisor or administrator, a short video or portfolio demonstrating how they made learning global and a brief essay.
“Parents see so many businesses are internationally connected,” Todd said. “Active learning and critical thinking will help their children get jobs and participate in their world.”
Other Global Educator award winners include Candace White of Glenwood Elementary School; Sharon McAdam of Clayton Middle School; Margareta Tripsa of Smithfield Elementary School; María Oroña Queijo of Marvin B. Smith Elementary School; and Nelsy Talero Aranguren of Ragsdale High School.


About VIF International Education
VIF International Education (www.vifprogram.com) builds global education programs that prepare students for success in an interconnected world. For more than 25 years, educators have leveraged VIF’s professional development and curriculum, language acquisition, and teacher exchange programs to generate engaging learning environments where students can excel in core curriculum as well as develop valuable 21st century skills. A certified B-Corp headquartered in Chapel Hill, N.C., VIF provides a pathway for teachers, schools and districts to become globally certified. “Like” VIF International Education on Facebook and follow @VIFprogram on Twitter.

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Please leave a comment on our posts!!   We ask parents who leave comments to please only use their first name if they do not wish to identify their child. Leaving a comment is as simple as this…

  1. Click on the heading of the post you wish to comment on
  2. Scroll down until you can see the “Leave a Comment” section
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