Mountain Brook Jr. High Teacher Selected For Fulbright Program

Birmingham AL

18 November, 2020

11:01 AM

Description

MOUNTAIN BROOK, AL — A Mountain Brook Junior High School teacher has been selected for a prestigious program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. MBJH Latin teacher Micheal Posey is one of just 71 people selected for the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms program, based on his academic and professional achievements, record of service, and demonstrated leadership potential. The Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms program is a year-long professional development opportunity for elementary, middle, and high school teachers to develop skills for preparing students to compete in a global economy. It equips educators to bring an international perspective to their schools through targeted training, experience abroad, and global collaboration. "To serve as an educational ambassador and to be selected for this highly prestigious fellowship is a distinct honor," Posey said. "This will give me the necessary skills to incorporate more global competency goals in my classes. My aim is to open up the world to my students." Posey learned of his selection in mid-August and is waiting to discover where he will travel. He will be overseas for two to three weeks, likely in summer 2021, and listed Asia as his preferred destination. Already, Posey has traveled throughout the Americas and Western Europe. "All around it's going to be a synergistic educational opportunity because I get to mesh the travel part, which I do greatly enjoy, with the professional component, which is teaching and academic learning, so it's the best of both worlds," he said. Posey is currently enrolled in a semester-long online course with other Fulbright teachers focused on best practices in global education. He is learning about such topics as sustainable development, global competency, digital literacy, and how to infuse global rich content into his classes. As part of his coursework, he is also co-creating a global lesson plan with another Fulbright honoree from New York. Recently, both classes met virtually to explore a lesson centered on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. While traveling abroad, Fulbright participants will visit schools and engage in cultural exchanges. Posey will have the opportunity to observe classes, interact with administrators, and teach or co-teach his own lessons with international peers. "As I understand from previous fellows, it's very programmatic," he said. "During our travel, fellows will experience the countryʻs history, education system, and culture." Posey, a Gadsden native, holds bachelor's degrees from Dartmouth College in Romance Languages: Spanish and French, and Classics: Latin and Ancient Greek. He also earned a master's degree in Spanish Language and Literature from Middlebury College. Posey is also a Writing and Steering Committee member of the National Latin Exam and Chair of the National Mythology Exam. He has taught Spanish, French, and Latin at private schools throughout his career before coming to Mountain Brook.