Eastern Kentucky Educators Leave for Africa

Educators meet to learn about Cameroon prior to their trip. Front row: Pam Halstead, Starr Rossman, Mindy Greene, and Dr. Fidelis Achenjang. Back row: Rion Smith, Steve Halstead, Kevin Rossman, Travis Carmack, Dr. Charles Jones, and Mickey McCoy. Not shown: Lashawna Taylor, Jamie VanCleave, Regina Lang.

Thirteen current and future educators from Southeastern Kentucky left Saturday, June 16 for a five-week trip to Cameroon, Africa.

The intensive field study is sponsored by Union College in Barbourville, which was awarded a Fulbright-Hayes Grant in April to help fund the trip. The federal grant made it possible for the College to pay all travel-related expenses.

Participants represent primarily Southeastern Kentucky schools and include Travis Carmack, a senior education major at Union; Mindy Greene, Augusta Independent in Morehead; Pam Halstead, Whitley County North Elementary in Rockholds; Steven Halstead, Corbin Schools; Regina Lang, VanHoose Education Center in Louisville; Mickey McCoy, Sheldon Clark High School in Inez; Kevin Rossman, North Laurel High School, London; Starr Rossman, G.R. Hampton Elementary, Barbourville; Rion Smith, a student in Union’s graduate education program; Lashawna Taylor, McKell Middle School, South Shore; and Jamie VanCleave, a junior education major at Union.

The group is traveling with project director and Union College professor Dr. Fidelis Achenjang, and Dr. Charles Jones, a Union professor who helped develop the project.

According to Dr. Fidelis Achenjang, “This is a rare opportunity to travel at little cost to participants, learn about another culture, and work with colleagues on curriculum development.”

The purpose of the intensive field experience is to study the interaction of environment and culture in Cameroon. Educators will meet with and interview Cameroon teachers, public policy experts, government officials, artists, and religious leaders. They will also gather items, such as indigenous arts and crafts and environmental specimens, to use in their classrooms.

Participants will continue to meet and discuss their experience after they return, as they develop curricula based on their travels and observations.

Union College is a four-year, private, liberal arts college affiliated with The United Methodist Church and located in Barbourville, Kentucky.

June 19, 2007

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