The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Programme is for highly accomplished American teachers in primary or secondary schooling to participate in an intensive professional development programme in New Zealand. A small number of awards are granted each year towards three to five months of professional development.

Grantees will study at a New Zealand host university and conduct an inquiry project related to their professional interests. Additional activities in local schools include opportunities to observe classes, team teach or conduct seminars or workshops.

Grantees will also participate in a web-based collaborative project with other participants to share best practices and other elements of host country educational systems. Academic support will be provided by a host institution advisor who will support the grantee and help contribute to the design and activities of the project.

As part of the programme, teachers will also participate in a virtual community with other participants to collaborate and share best practices about education in the participating countries.

Upon returning to the US, grantees will be expected to share the knowledge and experience gained on the programme with teachers and students in their home schools and within their communities.

Brynn Johnson

Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Programme for US Teachers

Brynn Johnson from New Orleans, Louisiana will research collaborative problem solving and positive math mindsets at Victoria University of Wellington.

Brynn has a Bachelors in Anthropology and a Masters in Education from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana.

Servena Alleyne Narine

Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Programme for US Teachers

Servena Narine from New York City, New York will research how digital technologies for teaching and learning are used to promote global competency.

Servena has a Masters of Arts in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from New York University, New York.

Stephanie Graham

Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Programme for US Teachers

Stephanie Graham from Great Barrington, Massachusetts will research inquiry learning approaches in rural schools at Victoria University of Wellington.

Stephanie has a BSc, a BSc in Visual Arts Education, and a Masters in Professional Studies in Humanistic/Multicultural Education from State University of New York at New Platz.

Tina Effray

Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Programme for US Teachers

Tina Effray from Belfair, Washington will research how assessment literacy is viewed and utilized in a global educational context.

Tina graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in 2006, a Certificate in Elementary Education in 2007 and an MA in 2008.

Scott Mandarino

Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Programme for US Teachers

Scott Mandarino from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania will research outdoor education as part of an elementary physical education curriculum.

Scott graduated with a BA from the University of Pittsburgh in 1992 and an MAT in 1997.

Nathan Ramin

Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Programme for US Teachers

Nathan Ramin from Chicago, Illinois will study efforts to create a culturally-relevant pedagogy for the social studies classroom in New Zealand.

Nathan graduated with a BA from Loyola University Chicago in 2003 and an MA from DePaul University in 2008.