Toyota Gives 50 U.S. Teachers the Opportunity to Visit Japan
The Ultimate Field Trip: All-Expenses-Paid Educational Program
TORRANCE, Calif., May 21 -- Fifty U.S. high school teachers will travel to Japan in June for an all-expenses-paid educational study made possible through the "Toyota International Teacher Program." During a rigorous two-weeks through six cities from Tokyo to Hiroshima, the teachers will learn about Japan's past and present, and explore key global issues.
Now in its fifth year, the program focuses on four themes -- history, education, environment, and technology -- and how these affect industry and society. Activities vary from visits to schools, shrines, conservation sites and factories to talks with well-known authors, historians, educators and business leaders.
"This program has convinced us that teachers make excellent ambassadors," said Jim Press, executive vice president and COO of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. "They have extraordinary drive and determination to share their experiences and knowledge. When teachers broaden their understanding of important issues, they impact not only their students, but colleagues and community members as well."
The 50 U.S. teachers, who teach a variety of subjects, are chosen from seven states where Toyota operates manufacturing, research and design facilities -- Alabama, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and West Virginia. Teachers are selected based on their professional and leadership qualifications, as well as their plans to incorporate their experiences and research into their curriculum. To be eligible, teachers must be a U.S. citizen, employed full-time as a secondary classroom teacher (grades 9-12), and have a minimum of three years teaching experience.
Funded through an annual $600,000 grant from Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., the program is the only one of its kind sponsored by a major U.S. corporation. The Institute of International Education (IIE) in Washington, D.C., the nation's largest non-profit educational exchange organization, administers the program.
"Understanding and appreciation of other societies help build critical international skills. Who better than America's educators to share this knowledge with our youngest citizens?" said IIE President and CEO Dr. Allan E. Goodman.
The program takes place June 18 through July 5 and begins at TMS' headquarters in Torrance, Calif., where the teachers will meet for pre-departure orientation and an "Itterasshai" (Farewell) reception on June 19. Former participants are invited to the pre-departure program as panelists, sharing how their lesson plans and teaching have been impacted.
"Traveling to Japan through this program was the most profound experience of my life," said Steve Klawiter, 2000 participant and history teacher at Lafayette High School, Wildwood, Mo. "Being able to bring first-hand cultural experiences from abroad into the classroom helps provide the dynamics that truly engage students and inspires them to want to learn more about the world we live in."
The "Toyota International Teacher Program" demonstrates the company's longstanding commitment to supporting education. In 2002, Toyota USA contributed $20 million to U.S. philanthropic programs, with 61 percent supporting education. Besides donating to a wide range of educational organizations, Toyota has created its own innovative programs, including grants for science and math teachers, scholarships for students, technical training and family literacy programs.
Founded in 1957, TMS is the sales, marketing, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota and Lexus in the United States, marketing products and services through a network of 1,400 Toyota and Lexus dealers in 49 states.
About Toyota's Education Programs
In addition to sponsoring a number of nonprofit educational organizations, Toyota offers four major programs that support teachers with grants and students with scholarships: TAPESTRY for K-7 science teachers; TIME for K-7 math teachers; the Toyota International Teacher Program, and Toyota Community Scholars, which provides 100 scholarships to high school seniors based on academics and community service. For more information visit www.toyota.com/community or contact Rhonda Glasscock at rhonda_glasscock@toyota.com.
About the Institute of International Education
Founded in 1919, IIE is the largest and oldest international exchange organization in the United States. It is a private, not-for profit organization, committed to leadership development and services for the education, cultural and training sectors. By enabling more than 18,000 outstanding men and women each year to study, conduct research, receive practical training, or provide technical assistance outside their own countries, IIE fosters mutual understanding, builds global problem-solving capabilities, and strengthens the international competence of U.S. citizens. For more information about IIE, see the website at www.iie.org , or contact Leslie Anderson at landerson@iie.org.
2003 Toyota International Teacher Program
Participant List
Alabama
Vanessa Chandler Lee High School Huntsville
Anita Colley Oak Grove High School Bessemer
Kay Harris Shades Valley High School Birmingham
Anthony Kendall Mobile Christian School Mobile
Gary Kubina Citronelle High School Citronelle
Julie Lazzari Fairhope High School Fairhope
Mark Raines Central High School East Tuscaloosa
California
Northern California
Nancy Beagle San Marino High School San Marino
Stephanie Portman Menlo School Atherton
Wendy Struhl Hayward High School Hayward
Michael Targgart Archbishop Mitty High School San Jose
Margretta Brown Weed High School Weed
Southern California
Elizabeth Butler Palisades Charter High School Pacific Palisades
Nancy Donahoe Redondo Shores High School Redondo Beach
Benny Flores Azusa High School Azusa
Carol Law Marina High School Huntington Beach
Kylowna Moton Birmingham High School Van Nuys
Catherine Ramos San Dieguito Academy Encinitas
Anthony Spano Culver City High School Culver City
Eric Young Bishop Amat Memorial La Puente
High School
Indiana
Heather Castle Portage High School Portage
LeAnne Eberts Madison Consolidated Madison
High School
Thomas Grove Elkhart Central High School Elkhart
Cathy Hamilton Prosser School of Technology New Albany
Kristine Teusch Huntington North High School Huntington
Robert Weisbach Decatur Central High School Indianapolis
Kentucky
David Chapman Bryan Station High School Lexington
Maureen Dugan Covington Catholic High School Park Hills
Paul Dunlap Southern High School
Magnet Career Academy Louisville
Terry Jones Henderson County High School Henderson
Christine Lepowski Ludlow High School Ludlow
Jocelyn Lyons South Oldham High School Crestwood
Veronica Mitchell Notre Dame Academy Covington
Theresa Schatzman Dixie Heights High School Ft. Mitchell
Michigan
Jeffrey Brasch Lamphere High School Madison Heights
Richard DeVries Covenant Christian High School Grand Rapids
Elizabeth Holster Iron Mountain High School Iron Mountain
Thomas Kimball Plymouth High School Canton
Cathy Lalonde Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center Bay City
Kyle Melton Southfield-Lathrup High School Lathrup Village
Vanessa Morse, Melvindale High School Melvindale
Carol O'Rourke Forest Hills Northern Grand Rapids
High School
Missouri
James Hermann Parkway West High School Ballwin
Cynthia Karraker Carl Junction High School Carl Junction
Christina Northrup Salem Senior High Salem
Ronald Schwarz Parkway Central High School Chesterfield
Robert Sylvester Van Horn High School Independence
William Thoele Christian Brothers High School Clayton
West Virginia
Richard Newman Cabell Midland High School Ona
Melodie O'Hanlon Berkeley Springs High School Berkeley Springs
