Lewiston teacher named 2020 NEA fellow

LEWISTON — McMahon Elementary teacher Margie Dickson has been named a 2020 NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellow, the NEA Foundation announced recently.

The foundation is a public charity founded by educators for educators. Dickson, a special education teacher, will spend a year in a peer learning network of 44 educators from across the country, building comprehension of issues of global significance and ability to bring them into the classroom.
Maine Education Assocation President Grace Leavitt said in the news release that the state’s assocation is excited about Dickson receiving the honor, and her experience will enrich the education of her students.
The 2020 fellows teach all grade levels and all subjects: from visual and performing arts; to special education; to library media; to history. They work in rural, suburban and urban schools. Beyond the classroom they are National Board Certified, curriculum coaches, advisors, foreign language speakers, and more. The fellows reflect the diverse workforce of public education, which allows them to learn from each other and to bring global perspectives to a wide range of students. They share a passion for global education and an unwavering commitment for preparing America’s students with 21st century skills, the NEA said.
“The new Global Learning Fellowship class joins a dynamic peer learning community like no other,” said Sara A. Sneed, president and CEO of the NEA Foundation. “The fellowship has a decade-long track record of fostering collaboration among educators and enhancing their ability to prepare students for an increasingly interconnected world.”
Over the course of a year, the NEA Foundation staff, partners, and program alumni will support the fellows as they immerse themselves in online coursework, webinars, and collegial study, including a two-day professional development workshop this fall and a nine day international field study next summer in Peru. The field study brings the cohort together as they investigate the historical and cultural context of the country they visit and interact with local educators, students, administrators, and policy-makers; make school visits; and hear from business and non-profit leaders.
The 2020 fellows will use what they learn during the year to prepare their students for global citizenship. They will also share their methods for globalizing instructional practice and advocate in their communities and beyond for global education.