[ Educational Leaders Without Borders ] "means that such leaders question and stand outside
and look again at how schools work to perpetuate injustice, social division and reinforce social hierarchy."
I’m a Fulbright Scholar to Ukraine. But last week (February 15, 2022), I was driven out of Ukraine to Poland by a country wide invasion by Russa and their dictator Vladimir Putin. Since my arrival to Ukraine last fall, all had been golden. My research involved demonstrating English as a Foreign language teaching strategies to Ukrainian teachers and children was going well. I loved the city of Dnipro and my faculty colleagues at Oles Honchar Dnipro National University. My three classes were filled with university students eager to learn about my language acquisition theories and pleased to have a native English-speaking American as their professor. I was excited about my research and the things we might discover and learn. It was fun living in an Eastern European country with its rich cultural history, beautiful architecture, and delicious food with my wife and 12-year-old daughter.
As the weather turned cold in Eastern Ukraine in late November, an ominous force of Russian troops gathered along the borders of Ukraine. I was concerned, but my Ukrainian wife reminded me that Russia had been at war with Ukraine since 2014. But the military buildup continued, until military experts warned that Putin’s army was large enough to take all of Ukraine. The US Department of State began warning US citizens to leave. Ultimately, the Fulbright Scholars were ordered to depart Ukraine for Warsaw immediately or lose their Fulbright appointment. We did not want to go, but it was a good decision—it saved me us from the war Putin launched on February 24.
Now we are in Warsaw. We were teaching our courses remotely to our universities in Ukraine until last week. Now many of my students and faculty colleagues are at war—fighting the invading force, protecting their family and homes. As Fulbright Scholars, we try to do what we can to help Ukraine. We attend demonstrations in front of the Russian Embassy in Warsaw. We give interviews to the press and write editorials. We urge support for Ukraine on social media. I rented a van and make trips to the Ukraine / Polish border to pick up refuges and drive them to Warsaw. I miss my family, who returned to the US. But I know my sacrifice is small compared to what my colleagues and students back in Ukraine are facing. My Fulbright has shifted from teaching and research to humanitarian efforts. I pray for a miracle, for the safety of Ukraine and for an end to this terrible war.
Michael Sampson is a Fulbright Scholar to Ukraine and a professor of literacy at St. John’s University in New York City. He is a NYT bestselling author of 35 books for children. His latest book, Armadillo Antics, comes out in April.
As the weather turned cold in Eastern Ukraine in late November, an ominous force of Russian troops gathered along the borders of Ukraine. I was concerned, but my Ukrainian wife reminded me that Russia had been at war with Ukraine since 2014. But the military buildup continued, until military experts warned that Putin’s army was large enough to take all of Ukraine. The US Department of State began warning US citizens to leave. Ultimately, the Fulbright Scholars were ordered to depart Ukraine for Warsaw immediately or lose their Fulbright appointment. We did not want to go, but it was a good decision—it saved me us from the war Putin launched on February 24.
Now we are in Warsaw. We were teaching our courses remotely to our universities in Ukraine until last week. Now many of my students and faculty colleagues are at war—fighting the invading force, protecting their family and homes. As Fulbright Scholars, we try to do what we can to help Ukraine. We attend demonstrations in front of the Russian Embassy in Warsaw. We give interviews to the press and write editorials. We urge support for Ukraine on social media. I rented a van and make trips to the Ukraine / Polish border to pick up refuges and drive them to Warsaw. I miss my family, who returned to the US. But I know my sacrifice is small compared to what my colleagues and students back in Ukraine are facing. My Fulbright has shifted from teaching and research to humanitarian efforts. I pray for a miracle, for the safety of Ukraine and for an end to this terrible war.
Michael Sampson is a Fulbright Scholar to Ukraine and a professor of literacy at St. John’s University in New York City. He is a NYT bestselling author of 35 books for children. His latest book, Armadillo Antics, comes out in April.
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From ELWB Scholar James Smith, President of Eastern Michigan University has long held the belief that "All Are Welcome Here". This campaign has existed since the early days of the Donald Trump administration -- a time when international students and scholars doubted the sincerity of those words on a US federal basis. The work shown here, with Jewish Family Services of Ann Arbor, was the direct result of President Smith's involvement with the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. The Alliance is a collaborative action group operating out of Washington DC that functions as a massive think-tank for university presidents dedicated to fairness in immigration and naturalization for all from all parts of the globe. Smith and EMU General Counsel Lauren London have been engaged in the development of this project from the first days of conversation regarding Afghanistan Refugee resettlement in Michigan. Dr. Smith and Ms. London deeply thank and acknowledge the support from the leadership at Jewish Family Services Ann Arbor and the Secretary of Homeland Security, The Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas. https://youtu.be/X0l_VcJKpvQ January 30, 2022
Xo, Rosemary |
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Workshop: Connecting Classrooms - Digital Credentials for NGOs, Educators and Refugees
Webinar January 24, 2022 https://gnec.ngo/innovation-academy/ |
What Is An Educational Leader Without Borders?Mr. Kapiish Sanga Working with Street Children In India October 2016Dr. Marta Sánchez Update on Education Reform In Mexico June 2016Dr. Marta Sánchez on education reform research in mexico December 2015 |
ELWB Publications
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