MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Cardoza, GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 651-7358, mcardoza@gadoe.org
Dorie Turner Nolt, GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 656-5594, dnolt@gadoe.org
March 25, 2013 - The Georgia Department of Education today signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea that includes a cultural exchange for teachers from both countries.
State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge and Ha Tae-Yun, the Vice Minister of Education for the Republic of Korea and President of the country’s National Institute for International Education, announced the partnership Monday morning. The program includes a chance for groups of South Korean teachers to spend time in Georgia public and private schools and for Georgia teachers to travel to South Korean schools.
The first group of 26 teachers will travel to Georgia for 10 weeks starting March 25 and will spend time in local schools in Fulton and Gwinnett counties and will participate in special lectures at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta.
“We are excited by the prospect of Georgia schools sharing our education best practices with our Korean guests and of our teachers learning Korean best practices as well,” said Superintendent Barge. “We look forward to the Korean teachers bringing to us the stories of their success and sharing the lessons they have learned from their work.”
Participating Georgia schools include Wilson Creek Elementary, Mount Vernon Presbyterian, Killian Hill Christian, River Trail Middle, State Bridge Crossing Elementary, Northview High, Chattahoochee Elementary and Johns Creek High.
Georgia teachers are expected to begin trips to South Korean public schools beginning this fall.
“We look forward to broadening our joint cultural exchange programs possible in all areas of education for both Korean and American teachers,” said Tae-Yun.
This program was organized and administered by the International Teacher Training Institute Global (ITTI), a leading public education service provider in the United States and the designated institution for the Korean Ministry of Education for all global teacher training and exchange programs.
