Exchange Programs
Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA)
The Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA) is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, and implemented by IREX, a Washington, DC-based non-profit organization. TEA will provide 105 secondary school teachers from Eurasia, South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Western Hemisphere with unique opportunities to develop expertise in their subject areas, enhance their teaching skills, and increase their knowledge about the United States. The international participants will travel to the United States in fall 2009 to participate in a 6-week professional development program at a U.S. university. The professional development program will include coursework and intensive training in teaching methodologies, lesson planning, teaching strategies for the participants’ home environment, educational leadership, as well as the use of computers for Internet, word processing, and as teaching tools. The 6-week program also will include a 2 to 3-week internship at a secondary school to actively engage participants with American teachers and students. Trips to U.S. cultural sites and academic support will be provided for participants throughout the program.
In spring 2010 a cohort of 40 U.S. teachers will reciprocate the visits of the international teachers. Each U.S. teacher will be hosted by a TEA alumni school in the participating country where they will team-teach, and discuss best teaching practices, curriculum, and educational issues in the host country. The trip will include visits to local schools and parents’ committees, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and local government offices.
Also, TEA will provide follow-on grants to the international teachers to purchase essential materials for their schools, to offer follow-on training for other teachers, and to conduct other activities that will build on the exchange visits.
The TEA fellowship is fully funded and provides:
J-1 visa support;
Round-trip airfare from participant’s home city to and within the United States;
A Welcome Orientation in Washington, D.C.;
University training program;
Accident and sickness coverage;
Housing (generally shared with other program participants) and meals;
Transportation allowance for travel to school internship (if necessary);
Book allowance;
An End of Program Conference hosted by one of the TEA host universities in the U.S.;
The opportunity to host a U.S. teacher for two weeks; and
The opportunity to apply for follow-on grants.
Application Deadline: 5:00 PM, Monday, November 10, 2008
Applications for the Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program can be obtained and submitted by contacting
IREX/Georgia
4 Abashidze Street, Office 1
Tbilisi, Georgia
Telephone: (32)291905; (32)912609
Email: teaprogram@irex.ge
Applications can be downloaded from http://www.irex.ge/
Note: Applications can be obtained from and delivered to the partners below. Receipts will be provided for all applications.
Akhaltsikhe - Center for International Education, 97 Rustaveli St. Tel: (995 265) 2 15 51; Batumi - Center for International Education, 23 Ninoshvili St. Tel: (995 222) 7 58 17; Gori - Gori State University, IATP Center, 53 Chavchavadze St., Tel: (995 370) 2 33 68; Khashuri - Khashuri Central Library, IATP Center,10 Dzneladze Street, Tel: (995 368) 4 57 60; Kutaisi - Scientific Universal Library of Kutaisi, IATP Center, 1 Paliashvili Lane, Building III, 2nd Floor, Tel: (995 331) 4 60 92; Telavi- Telavi Public Library, IATP Center, 1, Erekle II Avenue, Tel: (995 350) 7 27 08; Zugdidi- NGO Atinati, IATP Center, 94, Rustaveli Street, 2nd Floor, Tel: (995 315) 5 00 56
