Lynsi Boyd named 2022 Global Learning Fellow!

Lynsi Boyd loves traveling to new places to experience different cultures, history, and environments. “I crave exploration and the chance to learn more about the world through place-based learning. Place-based learning has allowed me to develop a deeper understanding of other cultures by interacting with locals to learn where and how they live firsthand,” she says. “I am better able to compare the lifestyles of people in unique places. These experiences enable me to develop my own global knowledge, empathy for other people regardless of background, and desire to inform others about the world. I want to instill this same effect in my students.” With that in mind, she applied to the NEA Foundation’s Global Learning Fellowship, a respected and competitive year-long program where applications are reviewed and determined by educators. Boyd was recently honored by being named a 2022 Global Learning Fellow. An art teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, Boyd’s Global Learning Fellowship will find her doing an international field study in South Africa in late July.

“Personally, I want to learn all I can about South Africa’s history and environment, and understand how they have influenced the country’s art and artists. I want to learn to replicate art practices and styles specific to the country and region.” Boyd’s goal is to help her students grow as global citizens. “Through this fellowship, I hope to create lessons that celebrate differences in cultures and places, and teach new place-based art practices that students otherwise might never be exposed to. Successful growth of student global citizenship through this cohort-based fellowship will include students creating artwork that effectively communicates about a place, cultural practice, or issue to share with the community. Students can use art as a tool to express their own history, home, and culture. In turn, these projects will also peak student curiosity, inspiring them to understand and appreciate backgrounds of their peers.” “I want to teach my students to be good people who practice good citizenship at home and even on a global scale. I want to teach them to care about others and the places around them,” she added. Boyd says she’s looking forward to interacting with previous fellows, who act as mentors for her new group of fellows. “They will answer questions we have, and provide us with insight into how we can build our global competence here at home.”

A trip to Peru in 2017 helped her learn about the country’s art and cultural practices. “I incorporated that knowledge into my teaching and helped my students learn about traditional Peruvian art, such as textile weaving. It was an incredible experience.” That experience prompted her to apply to the NEA Foundation. “I highly recommend my WVEA colleagues apply for the NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellowship,” she said, noting the NEA Foundation also offers opportunities to receive many other grants that aid in professional development, the improvement of classroom practices, and student learning. Any WVEA/NEA member with three year’s experience who cares about the world and sharing it can apply. Boyd says she had three options, Professional Practice, Global Competence, and Leadership in Professional Development. The “application prompts guide your answers and rubrics are provided so you know how your application will be scored,” she said adding that WVEA members can participate in the 12 months of professional development which includes webinars, in-person workshops, online coursework, and an international field study, like she is doing. “Each of these will help you understand global competence and how to improve it in your classroom, school, and community.”

The Global Learning Fellowship (GLF) is a year-long program designed to enhance educators’ knowledge and skills to integrate global competency into daily classroom instruction, advocate for global competencies in their schools and districts, and help students thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. Fellows are engaged in online coursework, webinars, reading and reflection, a two-day professional development workshop, and an international field study. Upon completion of the program, the Fellows become members of an active, 400-person alumni group that supports continued growth and leadership. The Fellowship is a competitive program, and all applications are reviewed by educators. The NEA Foundation offers three grant programs to WVEA members in the amounts from $1,500, $2,000 and $5,000. With all of these grant programs, educators have one year to use awarded funds. This funding is competitive, and all proposals are reviewed by educators. Grants for these programs are typically made three times per year. Go to neafoundation.org.

Have a colleague we should highlight for their good work? Let us know at jveres@wvea.org. Put Kudo! in the subject line.