Twenty Ukrainian school teachers, who won a contest within the framework of the US-Ukrainian Prizes for Teaching Excellence program, will go for advanced studies to the United States of America during summer vacation. They teach at ten comprehensive schools and ten gymnasia and educational centers in Kherson, Rivne, Kharkiv, Mykolayiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, and certain provincial towns. The winners successfully passed three selection rounds, which took into account their innovative approach to teaching, awareness and understanding of a varied class audience, pluralism, professionalism, and leadership. This competition in mastery of pedagogy has made possible the participation of teachers who have worked for at least three years and intend to do so for at least two years more.
In October the Ukrainian winners’ schools will be visited by six American teachers who win a similar competition in their country. They will conduct classes and exchange experience with their Ukrainian counterparts for three weeks.
Teachers who won the first and second rounds also received something: certificates for teaching excellence for the former and resource and educational literature worth up to $200 for the latter. Also awarded were the schools in which the first and second round winners are employed. They were given a certificate of honor inscribed in wood in the former case and the up to $2000 worth of equipment (computers, photocopiers, printers, cassette, and CD recorders) in the latter.
During the program’s six years, 1336 Ukrainian teachers have won the first round, 345 the second, and 75 have taken top honors at the third stage and visited the US. Following the contests, the winners of all levels are regularly invited to seminars and workshops conducted by the best US teachers. This program also rewards secondary school teachers specializing in American studies.
