In addition, the trip will also expose students to diversity, including cultural immersion and political and economic differences. With this experience, students are expected to gain a better understanding of education’s place in the greater social context.

“We are extremely excited about the trip,” said Cecelia Steppe-Jones, dean of the School of Education. “This is part of our conceptual framework, which is ‘Preparing Educators for Diverse Cultural Contexts’. We wanted to move into the international arena and we are doing this by providing an opportunity for our Teaching Fellows to study the culture of a different country.”

According to Katrina Billingsley, director of the NCCU Teaching Fellows program, each Teaching Fellow will live with a host family and shadow a teacher at a public elementary or secondary school in Kenya. The Fellows will also have the opportunity to visit classes at Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya.

“We are taking our students totally out of their comfort zone,” said Billingsley. “We want the students to have a much greater appreciation for teaching, especially teaching students that may be less fortunate than many of the students here in the United States. I hope this experience will make the Teaching Fellows even better life-long learners and educators."

The teaching fellows scheduled to travel to Kenya include: Sheena Bethea, Fayetteville; Easter Brown, Rocky Mount; Natasha Brown, Littleton; Vanessa Joyner, Durham; Jason Jowers, Winston-Salem; James Knight, Macclesfied; Teketia May, Snow Hill; Makeda Miller, Greensboro; C. Michael Riles, Raleigh; Christina Robinson, Fayetteville; Anthony White, Washington; Ayesha White, Fayetteville; and Natalie Whitney, Jacksonville, NC.

The following faculty and staff members will travel to assist the fellows: Katrina Billingsley, chaperone and team leader; Cheresa Clemons, chaperone and team leader; Chena Flood, chaperone and team leader; Dr. Phillip Masila Mutisya, group leader and ambassador; Dr. Sharon Spencer, administrator; Joy Banks, diversity; Brett Chambers, documenter; Kawachi Clemons; arts integration; Crystal Wiggins, team treasurer; Dr. Pauletta Bracey; accreditation; Deborah Eaton, technology; and Dr. Cecelia Steppe-Jones; dean of NCCU’s School of Education.

Billingsley stated that the students are eager and excited about their trip to Kenya.

“This is a once in a lifetime experience,” said Robinson, a junior. “Teaching Fellows at other universities are envious of us because we are going to Kenya. I can’t wait to grasp everything the country has to offer such as their literature, arts and music. This is truly going to be a life changing experience.”

“I have been told by people that have visited Africa that I should get ready for a life changing experience,” said Anthony White, a senior. “I think this experience will help me appreciate culture much more as well as my education.”

White further stated his inspiration for becoming a teacher was his high school history teacher. “He made learning interesting and fun,” said White. “I want to do the same thing.” White plans to be a high school math teacher.

The NCCU Teaching Fellows Program is uniquely designed to facilitate a student’s growth as a teacher in the State of North Carolina. The Program provides a $6,500 per year scholarship for four years to outstanding North Carolina high school seniors. Upon acceptance of the scholarship, the student agrees to teach for four years following graduation in one of North Carolina’s public schools or United States Government schools in North Carolina.

source: www.newswise.com