Washington State Coalition for International Education announces:
 

WASHINGTON TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARDED $1500 "INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP" TO CREATE GLOBAL CONNECTIONS

Tamara Steen, Washington State "Teacher of the Year" was presented with a $1500 "International Education Scholarship" at the opening session of the 12th Annual OSPI January Conference, held in Seattle, WA January 19-20. Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson announced the award before the 4000 teachers in attendance:

On behalf of the Washington State Coalition for International Education, in recognition of your teaching excellence and commitment to preparing all students for today's interconnected world, I am pleased to present you this special "International Education Scholarship," funded by a grant to Washington State from the Asia Society and Longview Foundation. The scholarship is intended to help you create meaningful global connections for yourself and your students. Congratulations!

Joining Terry on stage for the announcement were Coalition members Caleb Perkins, Social Studies and International Education Supervisor at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction; Kristi Rennebohm Franz of the International Education and Resource Network (iEARN); and Michele Anciaux Aoki, Director of Educational Programs at the World Affairs Council in Seattle.

Tamara Steen, an innovative and compassionate educator from Mabton Junior/Senior High School in eastern Washington, is an English teacher, who spent her first year as an educator working in Australia, before coming to this tiny community with less than 2,000 residents. On January 12, it was announced that Steen is one of four finalists for the 2005 National Teacher of the Year Award. During the year of recognition, the National Teacher of the Year is a spokesperson for the teaching profession, addressing forums and meetings across the country and internationally.

The "International Education Scholarship" for the Teacher of the Year was the idea of two members of Washington's 2003 team at the States Institute on International Education in the Schools in Washington, DC: Carolyn Tolas of the State Board of Education and Lili Hein of the Trade Development Alliance. The Coalition's goal in the award is to connect teaching excellence with making global connections.

The Washington State Coalition for International Education consists of community leaders, non-profit organizations, and educators committed to preparing all students for today’s interconnected world. The grassroots organization, founded in 2003, helps promote activities and events related to international education through its E-Newsletter. For more information about the Coalition and international education efforts in Washington state, please visit the International Education Washington website: internationaledwa.org.

The National Teacher of the Year program is sponsored by the Chief Council of State School Officers and Scholastic Inc. To find out more, visit http://www.ccsso.org/ntoy. For more information about the Washington State Teacher of the Year program, visit the OSPI Web site: http://www.k12.wa.us/EducationAwards/TOY/default.aspx..

Contact:
Michele Anciaux Aoki, 206-234-4029, michele@internationaledwa.org

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