Welcome to Participants

Welcome Summer 2011 Participants:

Congratulations on your selection into the Summer Institute for European Leaders in Education! Eastern Washington University has hosted a group for the past two summers, and the participants found the program to be challenging, rewarding, and enjoyable. The program staff felt similarly, and we are looking forward to another wonderful summer.

This blog site is where you'll be able to find information regarding the program as we're preparing for your arrival. The site will also serve as a place where you will be able to reflect on your experiences while you are here. The hope is that this interactive communication will enhance the conversations we are able to have about the work that we are doing together.

Firstly, there are some important facts about the program. We have shortened the program title and now call the project "Pathways" because one of our main areas of emphasis is on the multiple pathways to success that are inherent in the U.S. educational system. This summer, you will learn a great deal of information about the different routes that children take in order to reach their educational goals. We will learn about children with disabilities and other educational challenges, immigrant and refugee issues in the classroom, the role of home/family in the learning environment, indigenous peoples' perspectives on education, and how schools and communities manage issues of poverty and difference. There will also be plenty of opportunity to compare and contrast education and culture in your home countries with that in the U.S., not as a competition, but to help you explore and integrate your experiences at home with what you learn about the educational system here.

Please note that the Summer Institute is designed to be very intensive, so academic work will be very engaging and at times demanding. We will be involved in English language development, service learning, and cultural exploration. There will also be plenty of opportunity for fun. We have planned a number of leisure events, and we will make sure you get a chance to fully enjoy the beautiful Pacific Northwest. For instance, we will visit Seattle, exploring many cultural sites there. Additionally, we look forward to hosting group meals in our homes with our families and neighbors. We want you to have the widest possible experience while you are here, and our calendar reflects this goal.

The university website is www.ewu.edu, and for more information about the Cheney and Spokane areas, please visit www.visitspokane.com. Please feel free to contact me, Sean Agriss, your Program Coordinator at EWU with any questions you might have. Also, continue to check your email for updates about the program. We look forward to welcoming you EWU in a few weeks.

With anticipation,

Sean Agriss
Summer 2011 Pathways Program Coordinator
sagriss@ewu.edu