 Fulbright Teachers, U.S. to Taiwan, 2026 Brownlee builds global connections at education symposium USD 376 teacher-librarian Amy Brownlee is one of 120 educators nationwide who attended a Global Education Symposium in Washington, DC, Feb. 5-7. The symposium is part of the Fulbright Teacher Exchange program and brought current participants together with alumni and program administrators. While in the nation's capital, Brownlee attended breakout sessions, panel discussions, and informational workshops. She also visited the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, American Dream Experience, and Museum of African American History.
The purpose of the event was to build networks, share best practices in global education, and prepare participants for the International Field Experience. Brownlee was able to meet and get to know the eleven teachers she will travel to Taiwan with in April. They were able to speak to U.S. teachers who have spent time in Taiwan to learn what to expect on their upcoming trip. Brownlee’s travel cohort includes teachers from Hawaii, California, Washington, Montana, Ohio, Illinois, Florida, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Washington, DC. The group includes elementary, STEM, social studies, music, ESL, and science teachers who work with students K-12.
 The 2025-2026 Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms fellows will travel in groups of 12-20 to participate in educational and cultural exchange in eight nations around the globe: Peru, Uruguay, Senegal, Morocco, Romania, Taiwan, India, and the Philippines.
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 Are you looking for professional development that will challenge you to level-up your teaching, open up new collaborative opportunities, and bring a global perspective to your classroom? If so, you should consider applying for a Fulbright Teacher Exchange. I’m currently participating in the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms program, a year-long fellowship with four components: a rigorous, online global education class in the fall; a global education symposium in Washington, D.C., in the winter; a two-week field study abroad in spring or summer where you are partnered with a host teacher and get to visit schools and work with students; and the creation of global education guide to share experiences and skills gained. Application & notification The application was long and detailed, asking for evidence of leadership, essays, two references, and articulating a desire to shake up your teaching by incorporating global competencies. I submitted my application in February and settled in for a long wait. My acceptance notification came at the end of July. Being part a Fulbright Teacher Exchange has long been a "bucket list" professional goal, so I was very excited to receive this outstanding news! Next came the onboarding process: getting a physical to ensure you’re healthy enough to travel abroad, signing a lengthy terms of agreement document, and getting signed into an online platform that is the home base for communication, classwork, and collaboration. 
Global Teaching class The online class is rigorous and demands immediate implementation of course content. The idea is that global competencies aren’t “extra additions” to the curriculum; they should be embedded into what you’re already teaching, and they can be integrated into any subject at any grade level. The course included articles and videos, live webinars, discussion boards, reflections, and written work. Assignments included an inter-school activity, where teacher participants were paired and asked to design and carry out a collaborative project where their students communicate with each other in order to broaden their perspectives. Students in my small, rural community of 2,500 people were paired with kids attending a school on the upper west side of Manhattan in New York. In order to challenge assumptions between our urban and rural environments, we had our students draw neighborhood maps showing places they visit often, and audio record themselves explaining their maps. The maps and audio recordings were posted on a Padlet where the classes could view and comment on one another’s posts. The course was chock-full of amazing resources and teaching ideas, and I know I’ll continue to build on what I learned. I also learned from and alongside fantastic educators from all around the country. My PLN just increased exponentially. Field experience announcement After completing the online course, we were all anxiously awaiting the announcement of where we would travel for our field experience. We knew the 120 master teachers selected for this year’s TGC program would be divided into groups of 12-20 for our travel abroad experience. We were told to expect an email announcement before Christmas. My email arrived on a Friday morning and I found out I would be going to Taiwan! I have never been to Asia, so I was definitely excited about my placement.
Preparing for symposium and field experience
We had a few weeks off following the holidays and then began preparing for an in-person Global Education Symposium held Feb. 5-7 in Washington, D.C. This experience will allow us to collaborate face-to-face with the people we’ve been working with virtually since last fall. I’ll meet the people I’ll be traveling to Taiwan with and we’ll prepare for our field experience.  Library of Congress Reading Room I never tire of visiting Washington, D.C. There is so much to see and do, and the city is constantly growing and changing. Each time I visit, there are new monuments and museums to explore. The city is a delight for lovers of history, architecture, art, science, and museums. There is truly something for everyone. As a book lover, there are four places I highly recommend to my fellow bibliophiles. 1. The Library of Congress The Library of Congress isn’t just the world’s largest library, it’s a museum and archive housed in a spectacularly beautiful building. See books from Thomas Jefferson’s personal collection, view a Gutenberg Bible that was one of the first books ever produced by a printing press, get your reader’s card and step into the spectacular Reading Room, and marvel at the architecture. The library hosts special events and exhibits, so there is always something new to discover.   2. Planet Word The Planet Word museum focuses on the intricacies and joys of words, languages, and books. Even the inside of the elevator has a bookish theme. The interactive exhibits keep visitors of all ages engaged, and the gift shop is equally delightful. Visiting Planet Word is a fantastic experience sure to please any lover of language and literature. 
3. The DAR Library and Museum Connected to Constitution Hall, which is Washington, D.C.'s largest concert hall, the DAR Library and Museum is a lovely place to spend time. The library specializes in genealogy and history. When I visited the museum, there was a special “Jane Austen’s World” exhibit featuring clothing and accessories of Austen’s time period. There was also a display case featuring a gown and shoes worn by Marian Anderson. The Anderson exhibit was right inside the door and stopped me in my tracks. I was awestruck by this display that captured such an important part of Civil Rights history.  
  4. Folger Shakespeare Library Fans of the Bard won’t want to miss a trip to Folger Shakespeare Library, which features museum exhibits, a gorgeous reading room, and a literary-themed cafe. There is also a performance space where plays are performed. 
Anytime I travel, I make a point to look for libraries, bookstores, and any literary-themed locales that I can visit. Washington, D.C. is full of wondrous possibilities, and I always leave enriched, enlightened, and looking forward to my next visit. I am excited to partner with the South Central Kansas Library System (SCKLS) to present a five-part webinar series called "Beyond Borders." Episodes are being released Nov. 2025-March 2026 and available to watch on demand on the SCKLS website.   Two episodes have already dropped, and I hope you'll consider taking 30 minutes out of your day to watch a webinar and learn about how you can integrate new learning adventures into the library. (You must register with your email address to view the video.) Each episode includes access to slides with links to resources and recommended book lists. Ready to view:
Coming soon...
Over the past few months, I have been interviewed for four library podcasts. This was definitely out of my comfort zone. I am used to preparing presentations, but it's another skill to think on your feet and respond intelligently and fluently to questions in the moment. However, my hosts made it easy, and the conversation flowed (usually). Overall, I express myself better through writing than through speaking because I can have more time to edit and refine my thoughts. Speaking on a podcast felt risky to me, but I grew through the process and expanded my professional network by meeting some wonderful library leaders. I also wanted to become more active in the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), so I applied and was chosen as a blogger for Knowledge Quest. I will be submitting a couple of articles per month, and the topics are wide open, so I can share whatever is on my mind. I already have a lengthy list of ideas. I often to say to my family and friends, "I was reading in an article the other day and learned..." I read a variety of articles daily and find them extremely valuable, so I'm happy to contribute to my professional learning community in that way. I have enjoyed the process of synthesizing ideas and as I have written my first few blog posts. In a couple of weeks, I will take part in a seminar at the Kansas Leadership Center that will be attended by a cross-section of people including faith and community leaders, business people, health care workers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, and more. I am feeling a little nervous at stepping outside my comfortable circle of librarians and educators, but I am excited to expand my leadership capabilities. This training is made possible by a grant from the Kansas Library Association. I love that our association is putting librarians into the mix with other community members so we can all learn from one another. This fall I will be traveling out-of-state to attend and present at the AASL National Conference. In 2023, I had my first AASL conference experience in Tampa, FL, and it was amazing! I look forward stepping out to meet new people and learn new things. I'm looking forward to seeing what is possible as I reach out "beyond borders."
I was introduced to the idea of attending SDCC as a professional development opportunity when I took part in a National Endowment for the Humanities K-12 teacher institute on Using Comics to Teach Social Justice held at San Diego State University's Center for Comic Studies in 2024. The two-week program featured lectures, comic-making workshops, activities, field trips, and collaborative lesson planning labs. The experience culminated in four days attending SDCC, an immersive experience that brings creatives and fans together through panel discussions, presentations, exhibitions, and more. You can read more about my experience here. Since 2018, San Diego Central Library has hosted the Comic-Con Convention for Educators and Librarians (CCEL). Within walking distance of the convention center where many SDCC events are held, the library events are free and open to the public. You can attend CCEL events at the library even if you don’t have a Comic-Con badge (learn more about badges below).
There are comic and pop culture conventions and festivals held all over the country. You don’t have to travel to San Diego; educators and librarians can take part in engaging learning opportunities at local events. If you want to know specifically how SDCC works and how you can get special perks as an educator or librarian, I have created this guide to help you get started. 1. Getting badges SDCC takes place in late July each year. Visit the official Comic-Con website for dates and details. The website is a bit clunky to use, but they do a good job of providing step-by-step instructions. To attend SDCC events, you will need to purchase a badge (they use a badge system instead of tickets). There is a high demand for badges but a limited supply, so it can be difficult to get one. Badges are sold online twice a year. There is one date for returning attendees (if you had a badge last year) and another date for open registration for the general public. Prior badge sale day, each person a badge needs to create a free member ID on the website. The convention runs Thursday - Sunday. You may get a badge to attend a single day or any combination of the days. If you purchase a badge for all four days, you may also have the opportunity to get a badge for preview night on Wednesday, which gets you into the exhibit hall where you can be among the first to pick up free swag from vendors and purchase exclusive items. Having preview night plus Thursday - Sunday is called a “full” badge. Badge prices and details can be found on the Comic-Con badge webpage. To give you an idea of how competitive it is to get a badge, the SDCC Unofficial Blog estimates that returning attendees have a 50% chance of getting a badge while those vying for open registration have a 6% chance. 2. Professional status Comic-Con offers the option to apply for Professional status if you are a librarian or educator or if you are part of the comic and popular arts industry: actor, writer, artist, animator, filmmaker, producer, costume designer, etc. When I attended the teacher institute, one major perk was that I was awarded Professional status as an educator. This entitles me to a free Comic-Con badge for three years, which is an amazing gift! Professional status also allows me to purchase up to two “full” guest badges. This is an incredible benefit! Badges are difficult to get because attendance is capped due to space and demand is high, so many people who try to purchase badges are unable to get one. Having a guaranteed opportunity to get “full” badges is a very special benefit. To apply for Professional status, visit the Comic-Con Professional page and read and follow the instructions. Applications are due in September. If you are granted Professional status, you will still need to register for your badge in order to attend the convention. All instructions and details are on the website. 3. Sessions and panels and signings, oh my! Comic-Con features around 700 separate events held in the downtown Convention Center, nearby hotels, and the surrounding area. From the Comic-Con website: “Over the years, Comic-Con has become the focal point for the world of comics conventions. The event continues to offer the complete convention experience: a giant Exhibit Hall (topping over 460,000 square feet); a massive programming schedule (close to 700 separate events), featuring comics and all aspects of the popular arts, including hands-on workshops and educational and academic programming such as the Comic Arts Conference; anime and film screenings; games; the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the “Oscars" of the comics industry; a Masquerade costume competition with prizes and trophies; an Autograph Area; an Art Show; and Portfolio Reviews, bringing together aspiring artists with major companies.” I learned there is a wide variety of programming on topics other than fantasy, science fiction, comics, anime, manga, and video games. In my two years of attending, here are some of the events attended by me, my family, and friends:
4. Other considerations
Summing up my best advice:
If you go, you will have a unique and unforgettable experience. Learning opportunities abound, and it's definitely a chance to step outside your comfort zone. Plan ahead, be flexible, and have fun!
  Transatlantic study trip participants in front of the Karl Marx Monument in Chemnitz, Germany. Brownlee is seated at the far right of the second row. Amy Brownlee, USD 376 district librarian and reading teacher, was one of fifteen U.S. teachers who spent 10 days in June exploring Germany through a fully-funded professional development opportunity. The goal of the Transatlantic Study Trip for Teachers was to expose educators to various facets of modern Germany, including its history, culture, government, and education system, in order to strengthen transatlantic relationships. The program was coordinated and sponsored by Atlantik-Brücke, a nonpartisan organization. Brücke is the German word for bridge, and the group hosts a variety of programs aimed at building relationships between Germany and people in the U.S. and Canada. Brownlee’s group visited the cities of Munich, Chemnitz, Dresden, and Berlin as they met with leaders in business, politics, media, and education while learning about the history of each region. “The most exciting part of the trip for me was visiting German schools and speaking with students and teachers,” Brownlee explained. “I was eager to see how their schools differ from American schools and get ideas on how we can improve.”  Amy Brownlee (standing at left) thanks Dr. Susanne Narciss (at right), Chair of Psychology of Teaching and Learning at Technical University Dresden, for presenting an overview of the teacher training program in Germany. Brownlee gave Dr. Narciss a thank-you gift consisting of Kansas items such as a Sterling mug and lanyard along with Russell Stover chocolates made in Kansas.
The trip included stops at three schools where students in grades 7-11 led the visiting teachers on school tours. Each visit also included a Q&A time between American teachers and German students. “I was very impressed with all the students I spoke to,” Brownlee said. “Their English was excellent, and they were responsive to questions and eager to exchange ideas. Students were excited to share their love of American pop culture, and more than one student said they increased their English language skills by watching YouTube, TikTok, and movies like The Hunger Games.” Germany places a strong emphasis on vocational education. German students have the option to leave high school after 10th grade, apply for jobs such as working as a machinist, welder, or electrician, and their employer then pays for their vocational training while students work part-time. However, Germany lags behind the United States when it comes to serving special education students. While U.S. schools practice inclusion by integrating students with special needs into the regular classroom with their peers, German special education students attend separate schools. In Germany, most schools do not organize interscholastic activities like sports competitions. Instead, these activities are run through school or community-based clubs. “I was struck by Germany’s resilience,” Brownlee noted. “We saw magnificent palaces and cathedrals that had been rebuilt after being destroyed by bombs during World War II. During a walking tour in Munich, we saw bullet holes from WWII in a university building that had been purposely left unrepaired to remind people what had happened there. In the German parliament building in Berlin, there is a wall where Russian graffiti is clearly visible to commemorate the Russian occupation and communist rule.”
Germany has rebuilt and moved forward, but they work hard to instill in young people and all citizens the idea of collective responsibility. As guest speaker Dr. Tanja Gouda stated, not all Germans are personally responsible for the crimes committed by Nazis, but they do hold a collective responsibility to remember the events of the past and ensure they never happen again. “Never again” is the message at Dachau Concentration Camp where Brownlee and her group visited outside of Dresden. The site is now a memorial whose goal is to educate and provide a space for remembrance and healing. “Visiting Dachau was a sobering but important experience,” Brownlee shared. The site hosts a museum and visitors are able to see barracks and the crematorium along with chapels that aim to bring healing and peace to visitors who come to honor those who died. Visiting a concentration camp or other memorial site is a common field trip experience for German students as part of their civic education with the goal to create a “culture of remembrance.” In one school, every sixth grader chooses a person who died during the Holocaust. The student learns about the person’s life through archival research and the school holds a ceremony where each student honors a person who lost their life during the Holocaust.  This memorial sculpture on the grounds of Dachau Concentration Camp was designed by Yugoslav artist Nandor Glid. The work depicts human figures ensnared in barbed wire. “Germany’s history holds a lot of heartbreak, but I also see so much hope and resilience there,” Brownlee noted. “They are working hard to educate children so the mistakes of the past are not repeated.” Brownlee found the whole experience to be educational and thought-provoking, and she looks forward to sharing what she has learned with her students and colleagues.  Brownlee examines a remaining portion of the Berlin Wall at a memorial site. |
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