Student Exchange Program

Action

As a school with a global leadership focus, we wanted to provide our students with a unique opportunity for them to be able to travel abroad.  I assisted our Lead Teacher with our first ever Student Exchange Program to Denver, Colorado.  We took a group of twelve 11th grade students to one of our partner schools.  We each stayed with a different host family for four days.  The purpose was for our students to experience an experience outside of the ordinary and to come away with a different perspective of education in a different school in our nation.  Our students accompanied their host student to school and immersed themselves in the activities and lessons for that day.  My colleague and I observed various classrooms and collaborated with different school personnel on their various academic programs and curriculum.  This was a truly valuable experience for our students and for myself professionally.  As we saw the benefits of this, we are now currently in talks to develop an exchange program with a school in Korea.  The learning that our students took away and the overall experience of visiting a different state is extremely valuable.  The students left this experience feeling empowered and excited to learn that there are so many opportunities outside of their communities.

Connection to CPSEL's

As a future leader, I feel it is important to provide opportunities for my students, which they are not accustomed to.  As a future Social Justice leader, I want to empower students and communities to leave their communities in an effort to become global citizens and in turn come back to their communities and make a positive change.  I want to show my students that there is a big world for them to explore outside of their communities.  The CPSEL's addressed in this activity are:

1.3 Use the influence of diversity to improve teaching and learning.

1.5 Shape school programs, plans, and activities to ensure that they are integrated, articulated through the grades, and consistent with the vision.

2.3 Facilitate the use of a variety of appropriate content-based learning materials and learning strategies that recognize students as active learners, value reflection and inquiry, emphasize the quality versus the amount of student application and performance, and utilize appropriate and effective technology.

3.3 Establish school structures and processes that support student learning.

4.4 Strengthen the school through the establishment of community, business, institutional, and civic partnerships.

5.1 Model personal and professional ethics, integrity, justice, and fairness, and expect the same behaviors from others.