Last week, IREX welcomed 72 teachers from fifteen different countries to Washington, D.C., for the International Leaders in Education Program (ILEP) [5] End of Program Conference. These teachers spent the past five months in an intensive professional development program at one of five US Universities. The End of Program Conference is the culmination of the professional and cultural exchange experience that the teachers have gone through over the course of the semester. During the conference, teachers presented excerpts from original professional development teacher training modules that they created at their host universities on effective teaching methods such as active learning, sheltered instruction, and technology for instruction.
The Fellows were also introduced to the Alumni Programs that are available to them as the newest cohort of ILEP alumni. They will have the opportunity to apply for a grant to implement follow on projects in their communities as well as gain membership in a private professional development webportal that features shared resources and tools for educators.
During the Cultural Celebration, Fellows shared traditional songs and dances from their countries and celebrated the end of a highly successful program.
IREX congratulates all the 2011 ILEP Fellows for their hard work and dedication to their profession. Thank you for sharing the past five months with us in the US, good luck at home, and stay in touch!
ILEP is a program of the Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs [6] of the US Department of State and implemented by IREX.