Travel

Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms

The Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms (Fulbright TGC) Program is a yearlong professional learning opportunity and short-term exchange (field experience) for elementary, middle, and high school educators from the United States to develop skills to prepare students for a competitive global economy. Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms equips educators to bring an international perspective to their schools through targeted training, experience abroad, and global collaboration. My Fulbright field experience took place in Paris and Bordeaux France.

This was day one at the airport in Atlanta where I met up with some of the 2019 - 2020 and 2020 -2021 cohorts. We were truly excited to have the opportunity to complete our field experience. COVID-19 had us worried that we would not be able to complete it. We enjoyed lunch together while waiting for our flight.

During the course of completing my training for Fulbright TGC I completed my post graduate certification as a Reading Specialist. Therefore my focus changed from world language to literacy, which is why my guiding reflection questions are literacy based.

Guiding Reflection Questions

How can characters in global literature be used as models of hope for how we can support those that are powerless to become powerful?


  • Who has power?

  • How can I feel powerful in my everyday life?

  • How can I provide support to those who seem disempowered?

After having completed the field experience I would have chosen a different question. My curiosity was sparked after our school visit on day 7 in Mantes-la-Jolie. We visited two schools, one high and one junior high. These schools had a high poverty rate and very diverse populations. There were a lot of Muslim students and their drop out rate was high. So, my new question would be "How could relationships (Teacher to student & student to student) be leveraged to increase student growth, achievement, and increase the graduation rate?"

Check out more about our visit to the schools in Mante la Jolie in the news article below.

American Delegation Visits the Network of a New Junior High School

My itinerary for my Fulbright Teacher Exchange Field Experience Fulbright TGC Itinerary Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 our last day of school visits was cancelled because so many teachers contracted it.

At the Louvre

Historic Scavenger Hunt in Paris

On day 2 my cohort Fellow, Jennifer (Your right, Melaney is in the front) found a great scavenger hunt and navigated us around by the metro throughout Paris. It was fun, cultural, & educational!


Metro tickets

Enjoying Paris

In front of the William Shakespeare book store

Near the Sorbonne, Paris' equivalent to Yale

Paris is always a good idea!

I never get tired of seeing the Eiffel Tower. Some quick facts about the Eiffel Tower:

  • 1083 feet tall (with antennas

  • 410 feet wide

  • Weighs 10,100 tons

  • Built in 1889

  • Took 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days to complete

  • Was only supposed to stay up for 20 years, but it was saved by science experiments

  • It was designed and built by Gustave Eiffel

This is the Alain Fournier College (Junior high school). This school visit gave me more insight to the French educational system. The directress was very personable and knowledgeable.

We were in Normandy in this photo and they were celebrating "D-day" which is a big holiday in France. There were ceremonies happening and fighter planes flying overhead. We also visited the cemetery of the war heroes. We also learned that the U.S. has beaches and land in this area that they maintain.

La Sorbonne is a prestigious university in Paris.

U.s. Embassy & Fulbright Commission Meeting

We had the opportunity to meet with representatives of the Franco-American Fulbright Commission. We met with Ms. Charlotte Godwin, Program Officer and Ms. Martine Roussel, Executive Director. From them we learned about "laïcité". Laïcité is the term used to describe freedom from religion. This means that religion isn't recognized in school at all. Additionally, this means that the hijab and bourkas aren't worn in schools. This is a distinct difference between our countries whereas in the U.S. we have freedom of religion. We also learned that there is a strong emphasis on one viewing themselves as an EU citizen and a citizen of France. To hyphenate one's nationality (i.e. Franco-Italian) is viewed as separatism.

We also learned about the purpose of Fulbright which is to help improve the communication and cultural exchange between the U.S. and countries around the world. Both countries, France & the U.S. provide funding for Fulbright. Most other Fulbright exchanges are funded by the U.S. Department of State.

Fulbright France focuses on the following:

  • diversity & inclusion

  • climate sustainability

  • peace & security

In speaking with these ladies at the Fulbright France Franco-Americaine Commission they expressed that they were waiting to on the direction of the new Minister of Education. What I found interesting was that special treatment of anyone is frowned upon in France. Therefore, there no special programs like gifted education in the public school setting where the focus is universal education. In fact, special treatment of anyone is frowned upon.

Things I thought I knew about the French Education system:

  • Teachers in France make a lot of money

    • No, not really. They start off at about $1500 per month and an experienced teacher makes about $4500 per month

  • Teachers only need to finish university to teach in France

    • No, they have to pass the Concours (CAPES & Agrégation). This is an extremely hard exam.

  • Teachers can teach wherever they want once they pass the Concours

    • No, they are placed where there is need by the Ministry of Education. New teachers are often placed in the highest need areas with the most challenges. They are placed at schools by the Ministry of Education based on a points system regarding their performance on the Concours.

  • Students take standardized test in elementary school

    • No, elementary students are not tested on a standardized level, but they prepare a notebook which is evaluated.

  • Teachers in France have a lot of time to plan and eat lunch

    • In speaking with a teacher he stated that he uses his lunch break to eat and plan.

  • There are plenty of teachers in France

    • No, they are facing teachers shortages just like us in the U.S.

  • Girls in France are equally interested and studying STEM subjects

    • No, currently there are only 29.7% of girls going into the STEM subjects. Also, the same stereotypes exists in France such as "boys are better at math than girls, etc." They are pushing girls to get into the STEM subjects with campaigns.

    • Global education and technology is very in the French education system

      • No, global education was more important in the 70' & 80's according to our guest lecturer, Dr. Rebecca Rogers, Dept. of Ed. Université Paris Descartes. Also, we didn't see technology being used regularly in the classrooms.

    • Teachers are evaluated by their directors (principals)

      • No, the Ministry of Education have education inspectors and they evaluate teachers every 5 years. The directors have no say in the teacher evaluations. Also, directors cannot hire or choose the teachers at their schools. If a teacher does poorly on their evaluation they are "told off". Firing a teacher is unheard of in France.

My take away is that there are a lot of parallels between the challenges teachers face in the U.S. and in France. I wonder how many U.S. teachers would continue teaching if they were placed at certain schools like they do in France. The focus of the French educational system is also creating European focused individual. They also keep their country moto (Liberty, Equality, & Brotherhood) before the eyes of their students and staff. You can see it on every school and government buildings.

Meeting with Ms. Charlotte Godwin, Program Officer and Ms. Martine Roussel, Executive Director

pap ndiaye - France, Minister of Education

Pap Ndiaye is a Fulbright Fellow. Ndiaye is a French historian who focuses on transnational philosophies of race that draw both from American and French political thought, especially as they apply to the African diaspora populations of both countries. He has taught at the university level. He was nominated on May 20, 2022 as France's Minister of Education.

Inside The most prestigious high school in france - Lycée henri IV

We were given a tour of the prominent high school. Our focus was on the architecture and history of the school. We learned that many of the monasteries became schools and they still have the chapels and hold mass which students may attend if they like.

Here is a picture I took with some of the students from Lycée Henri IV and Fulbrighters. The students told me how difficult the high school was and that they always had to study. Some of the students board at the high school due to the high demands of study. We were there for our tour on Wednesday which is the typical day off for the students & teachers and we saw many students still working and studying on their day off.

Time for a Little Fun with the Fulbrighters!

I truly enjoyed the bike tour of Paris with some of my Fulbright Fellows and shopping at Galeries Lafayette!

Entrée to Black Paris

Black History in and around the Luxembourg Gardens

Le cri, l'ecrit by Fabrice Hyber


This modern statue style sculpture commemorates the abolition of slavery with the cry of pain and the joy relating to veins and their colors.

Dr. Monique Y. Wells

This was our knowledgeable tour guide. Here we learned more about the statue. As you can see each of the bronze polychromed rings have a specific meaning, with the first, or top one being broken, relating to the abolishment of slavery, yet the second that is closed relates to the fear of modern day slavery or entrapment and the third going into the ground relates to the earth, or back to roots and the written word from the French Senate to abolish the slave trade.

Day of Commemoration

We also learned that France has a day of commemoration to recognize the abolition of slavery. This was announced by the President of the Republic during the first day of commemoration in France of the abolition of the slave trade and slavery, and it was France who were the first country to institute such a day, and the monumental sculpture was inaugurated on this specific day one year later, on 10th May 2007


To learn more about Entrée to Black Paris Click here: Entrée to Black Paris

Visit to Normandy & D-Day Beaches

On day 4 we visited Normandy & the D-Day beaches. Learning that France has a special day to commemorate D-Day was somber and also encouraging to know that our relationship between our 2 countries is still very strong and has such deep roots.

School Visits/Teacher Exchange

We visited 2 additional schools one in Mantes-la-Jolie and one in Bordeaux, Collège Alain Fournier. Both of these school visits were very informative. At the school in Mante-la-jolie we were separated according to the levels we taught. I was able to see a high school. There they explained to us how special education works in France and we were able to talk to a host student about her experiences going to school in Mantes-la-Jolie. They were a very hospitable bunch presenting us with a continental breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack. The population in Mantes-la-Jolie is considered low income and many of the families live in low income housing. There is a high population of Arabic and African Muslims living there and many work at the Peugeot car factory. One of the assistant principals likened Mantes-la-Jolie to Detroit because of the car factories and the issues with poverty. Both of the principals grew up in Mantes-la-Jolie and attended school were they currently work. This was my favorite school visit because of the knowledge that I gained from the presentations and the personable manner of the leadership team.

The 2nd school visit you see in the photos above is the Collège Alain Fournier which is located in Bordeaux. This school was the opposite of the ones in Mantes-la-Jolie because the neighborhood and the families were upper class with higher incomes. The leader of this middle school was very personal and comical. We learned from her that as a director (principal) that she has no authority to hire or fire the teaching staff. We also learned more about the structure of the levels of education. We were greeted with much hospitality as well with a continental breakfast which included one of the specialties of Bordeaux called "le canelé" (a pastry pictured above).

Burgundy makes you think of silly things; Bordeaux makes you talk about them, and Champagne makes you do them. -Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

We finally made it to Bordeaux. It was my first time traveling by bullet train and the experience was amazing! The beauty, culture, and wine in Bordeaux were breathtaking, but I still prefer Paris.

Also, we got a chance to visit an MJC, maison des jeunes et de la culture while in Bordeaux. I've only introduced this to my students. It was my first time inside of a real one.

And then this happend!!!

To sum it all up, I made some great connections and met some great educators through this experience with the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms. I learned the importance of global education and how to integrate it into my practice. I learned about the true educational system in France, not what I thought was true or what is written in outdated textbooks. I learned patience, understanding, and that nothing brings a group of people together like COVID-19!!! I would love to do it again, minus the COVID-19 of course.


If you are interested in applying to become a Fulbright TGC Fellow click the link below.