Millport, Ala., native, and Stillman graduate, Reginald Mitchell, recently joined TEACH South Africa for a period of 10 months as ongoing support for teaching the English language to South Africans.
"Secondary schools in South Africa face significant challenges in trying to achieve their goal of turning out the well-educated future leaders that this country requires in a highly competitive global market. By introducing additional teaching resources and role models into this environment, TEACH South Africa hopes to help overcome these obstacles and provide a better education for thousands of young individuals who lack the opportunities that many others take for granted," notes Teachsouthafrica.org.
According to TEACH South Africa, The US Embassy's English Teaching Fellow Program, in collaboration with TEACH South Africa, has provided the necessary resources for the improvement of English TEACH Ambassadors' teaching skills. Since 1969, American English language teaching professionals have been participating in 10-month exchanges at host-country universities, ministries of education, or other institutions. English Language (EL) Fellows share their expertise, engage with the community, and hone their teaching skills. They also work to provide educators and learners with better academic, social and professional English language communication skills. On average, 125 EL Fellows take part in the program every year in over 80 countries.
"Mitchell's global experience in working as an educator in other countries and understanding the challenges that schools face will add value to the Ongoing Support Program and the TEACH Ambassadors. His in-depth knowledge of creating a conducive learning environment for learners will impact, by observation, on the way in which TEACH Ambassadors engage and impart knowledge in the classrooms," conveyed spokespersons for TEACH South Africa.
Mitchell received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Stillman in 1996 , and a Master of Education degree from the University of West Alabama in Livingston, Ala.
He also has a Class A Alabama Teacher Certification for Special Education and is a Clinical Master Teacher for the University of Alabama's College of Education.
He worked with disabled and special education students in Tuscaloosa County for eight years. He also served as an Adult Education Instructor for Shelton State Community College and a drug prevention specialist with PRIDE.
Mitchell has lived and taught in three countries on three different continents including his native USA. He recently completed a three-year stint teaching English as a foreign language in Hsinchu and Taoyuan Counties, Taiwan. He participated in the Taiwan/American Teacher Exchange Program sponsored by the Graduate School, International Institute and the Taiwan Ministry of Education.
He completed the 2006-2007 academic school year teaching in Belfast, Northern Ireland as a participant in the US Department of State, Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program.
Currently, Mitchell is serving as an educational consultant to the TEACH South Africa program in Johannesburg. He will work closely with the English language programs and TEACH Ambassadors. He is an English Language Fellow via the US Embassy in Pretoria and Georgetown University.
Mitchell has received many awards and recognitions including being named Big Brothers Big Sisters Volunteer of the Year for 2003, Jacksonville State University Teacher Hall of Fame nominee for 2000, a Tuscaloosa County Foundation for Educational Excellence grant recipient in 2000 and 2009, and Alabama's recipient for the 2009 NEA Teaching Excellence Award.
He belongs to numerous professional, civic and social organizations including the National Education Association, Phi Delta Kappa International, Council for Exceptional Children and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Thursday, March 17th 2011 at 5:41PM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
