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Recent Alumni and Volunteer Awardees

The Fulbright Teacher Exchange presents alumni and volunteer awards at its annual August Orientation for new U.S. and international grantees and at other times. Awards are presented to alumni and volunteers who have made outstanding contributions in their profession as educators and in supporting the Fulbright Teacher Exchange program.

2007

Dana Ramey, Alumni Award

Dana Ramey, a high school teacher of Spanish at Middletown High School in Middletown, Rhode Island, went on a Fulbright exchange in 2003-04 to Morelos, Mexico. While on exchange at the Escuela Secondaria Technica No. 40 in Morelos, he taught English as a Second Language to around 350 students.

Upon returning to the United States, Mr. Ramey conducted an extensive alumni project with his former Mexican school. The first phase involved installing computers and giving Internet access to students in Morelos in order to create a basis for continual communication between his Mexican and U.S. students. With the technology established, the project then promoted intensive reading and writing in both English and Spanish for students on both sides of the electronic relationship – through pen-pals, a newsletter, joint web-pages, and curriculum projects. Following this phase of the project, students from the U.S. and Mexico worked together to plan international group exchanges to each others' schools. During these group exchanges, students studied U.S. and Mexican history and customs, learning 20 new words and phrases per day and jotting down their experiences in journals and on their web-pages as the trips progressed. A number of U.S. student projects spun off from Mr. Ramey's initial project, including one conducted by a junior at Middletown High School, who planned three days of Spanish-speaking history tours of Newport, Rhode Island, for the Mexican exchange students who visited his city. Mr. Ramey followed up his first project with another alumni project in which he sent computer trainers to Morelos to train school staff in using the computer for both curriculum planning and administrative purposes.

In addition to organizing and implementing these projects for the benefit of his home and host school students and teachers, Mr. Ramey has dedicated time to the Fulbright program each year since returning from his exchange. In 2004, his U.S. school hosted a group of four Brazilian principals conducting observational study about school leadership. In addition, he has regularly assisted new Fulbright grantees at Spring and Fall Meetings held in the New England area, as well as the Washington, DC orientation. He continues to plan programs that provide excitement and demonstrate creativity, as well as promote positive networking experiences. For the past two years, he was instrumental in planning a special dinner outing during the New England Fall Regional Workshop in Providence that allowed alumni all over New England to get acquainted with the new international teachers on exchange in the U.S. and their U.S. host mentors, as well as for outing participants to learn about historic preservation in Newport.

Dana Ramey received his B.A. in Spanish from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and his M.A. in Education from the University of Rhode Island. He has been an involved alumnus of the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program since his return from exchange, demonstrating that one program alumnus can make a tremendous difference in the lives of grantees, students, and teachers from all over the world.

Jerrold Scheidt, Volunteer Award

Jerrold Scheidt, program alumnus and peer review interview chair, has been active in the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program, for the past twelve years. During his eight-year tenure as peer review chairman for the San Francisco area, his committee has interviewed hundreds of candidates. In addition, he has conducted special interviews over the past four years for administrator exchange candidates applying to the Argentina Administrator Exchange. The Fulbright Teacher Exchange program also has benefited recently from Mr. Scheidt's excellent ability to work with computer applications. He assisted the program over a three-year period to make a needs assessment and review the prototype for a peer review online evaluation form and web-site. He then served as one of a handful of interview chairs who did critical follow-up testing of the final site-configuration in the field.

Mr. Scheidt's contact with the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program goes back to 1995, when he went on a one-year teaching exchange to Uruguay, where he taught chemistry. In fall 2000, he participated in the first Fulbright Administrator Exchange to Argentina, hosting an Argentine principal for three weeks at his school and traveling the following summer to Argentina to work-shadow his counterpart.

Mr. Scheidt has served as Assistant Princiapl of Pinole Middle School, Richmond High School, Kennedy High School, and San Marin High School, all in California. He thus brings multiple years of experience in all aspects of public school administration and teaching to his role as peer review chairman, including personnel performance evaluation, budgeting and resource allocation, student behavior and school safety, and testing and test preparation. He also brings years of experience as a regular and bilingual teacher of chemistry, biology, and earth science in four California schools and two overseas schools.

His administrative ability to form rotating peer review sub-committees has helped the program be efficient in the extremely busy interview hub of San Francisco, as has his flexibility to conduct special interviews during the program cycle. His interview site has also involved a variety of interviewers, including both program alumni and specialists in international education. In addition, Mr. Scheidt has briefed U.S. school administrators preparing to host an incoming international teacher at Fulbright's Spring Meeting in San Francisco each June.

Mr. Scheidt received his B.S. in natural sciences from the University of California at Berkley and his M.A. in German language and his teaching and administrative credentials from San Francisco State University. He was named Teacher of the Year for West Contra Costa U.S. School District in 1997.

2006

Tom and Cheryl Oliver, Alumni Award

Tom and Cheryl Oliver went on exchange to Estonia in 2000-2001. After the couple returned from their exchange, they wanted to encourage others to participate in Fulbright. Since returning to the U.S., they have played a leading role in all aspects of volunteering for Fulbright, including working with international teachers on exchange in the U.S., helping Fulbright with Fall and Spring Meetings in Seattle, and serving as alumni-teacher, alumni-spouse, Pacific-Northwest, and Estonia resources at the August Fulbright Orientation for the past four years. In addition, Mr. Oliver has served as chair of the peer review interview committee in the Seattle area since 2004, including scheduling interviews, recruiting more than 30 interviewers, and hosting the interview sessions.

Since 2001, the Olivers have been instrumental in starting and maintaining a Fulbright Teacher Exchange alumni organization in the greater Seattle area. The network began with six alumni and their spouses and has grown to include around 45 area alumni. The network has sponsored many events, including an annual dinner for international teachers attending the Pacific-Northwest Fall Regional Meeting. Not only have these alumni events served to bring area alumni and international teachers together, but the Olivers have also organized them to be entertaining and creative. In addition, the Olivers and their alumni network have arranged for international teacher-grantees to be hosted for the weekend following the Fulbright Fall Regional Meeting in the homes of Seattle-area Fulbright alumni. This has helped international teachers from outside Seattle stay on there for a few extra days and learn more about the city. The Olivers personally have hosted teachers and their families from Estonia, Latvia, Germany, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.

Tom Oliver currently teaches government and history at Kentridge High School in Kent, Washington. He received his Bachelor's degree in Music from Whittier College and his Master's degree from the University of Washington in Education-Curriculum and Instruction of Social Studies. He has served as a master/mentor teacher and department chair. He notes that he entered teaching because he loved school, wanted to continue learning, and was inspired by his mother, who was a teacher. Cheryl Oliver also graduated from Whittier College in Music and the University of Washington in accounting, and is currently the Director of Finance and Operations for ArtsFund, a non-profit organization raising funds for local arts groups. She has brought her accounting and organizational skills to bear in working with the Fulbright alumni network of greater Seattle.

Ronald Y. Brady, Volunteer Award

Ron Brady, former president of the Colorado Education Association (CEA), received the Fulbright Volunteer Award for his long-time assistance to the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program, including support for interviewing, outreach, and grantee networking. The Volunteer Award was presented at a gathering of Colorado Fulbright teacher alumni on August 11, 2006 in Douglas County, Colorado. Mr. Brady's involvement with Fulbright goes back many years. During his time at CEA, he hosted and financed a reception each spring for Fulbright exchange teachers working in his state, volunteered the CEA building as a venue for grantee interviews, orientations, and other meetings, and assisted international Fulbright teachers to understand Colorado temporary teacher licensing procedures and other requirements. In addition, Mr. Brady helped advertise Fulbright Teacher Exchange opportunities and distributed printed materials about the Fulbright Teacher Exchange to promote international education in his state.

Ron Brady was first elected president of the Colorado Education Association in the year 2000. He was re-elected in 2003 and served until July 2006. As the elected leader of CEA's 37,000 members, he was the chief spokesperson for the organization, testifying on public education issues for the Colorado legislature, working with the media in his state, and frequently addressing education and community groups. A native son of Colorado, Mr. Brady was educated in the Denver Public Schools, the University of Colorado, and Regis University of Colorado. He was a high school teacher for 29 years in Westminster, Colorado, recently taught Graphic Communications and Visual Imaging at the Career Enrichment Park in Westminster, and is also a professional photographer.

2005

Ken Mukai, Alumni Award

Ken Mukai is a native of Los Angeles and attended public schools in the city from kindergarten through 12th grade. He received his B.S. in Kinesiology from the University of California – Los Angeles. Mr. Mukai's mother was born in Manzanar (a relocation camp for Japanese Americans), but was raised in Japan until age 15 before returning to Los Angeles. His father was born in Japan. Given his strong connections to Japan, Mr. Mukai decided after finishing college to teach English in public schools in the Southwestern part of that island-nation (Oki Island, Shimane Prefecture) for two years on the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program. While there, he experienced culture shock, but learned many valuable life lessons that prepared his future Fulbright adventure. When he returned from Japan, he pursued his teaching credential and began teaching science in 1995 at Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies, where he continues to teach today.

In January 2004, Mr. Mukai went to Kwangwanse, South Africa, to teach science at Nsalamanga High School in Kwa-Zulu/Natal through the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program. While he knew that he might face numerous challenges by going to a poorly resourced rural school near the Mozambique border, nothing can totally prepare you for such an experience. Upon arrival, however, he noticed that the students had no after-school activities, so he devised a plan with local support to build a basketball court and teach the students basketball. Within eight months of his arrival, the court was built and a basketball program started, both now cherished by the school and its surrounding community. Numerous South African young people are now engaged in after-school sport, where they have the opportunity to learn the value of athletic competition and working within a team. Mr. Mukai's efforts in and beyond the classroom have contributed to great opportunities in his host school community.

Jack Sullivan, Volunteer Award

Dr. Jack Sullivan, Jr., Executive Director of the New England School Development Council (NESDEC), has worked with the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program in a volunteer capacity for 22 years. He has supported all aspects of the Fulbright Teacher Exchange, including doing outreach, preparing and supporting both U.S. and international grantees, and working with program alumni.

Over the past 20 years, Dr. Sullivan's involvement with the Teacher Exchange Program became progressively deeper as he became an important pillar of the program in the greater Boston area. In 1984, he began his work with Fulbright teachers through chairing the Boston interview process, a position he still holds. In addition, since 1985, he has welcomed Fulbright international and U.S. grantees in his capacity as host of the New England fall and spring advising meetings. In all of these capacities, Dr. Sullivan is in touch with prospective, current, and past participants of the Fulbright teacher exchange program and has served in countless ways as a steady and reliable partner of the program. He has made a major contribution to Fulbright by bringing his extensive knowledge of education in the United States to bear on important program components in New England. Dr. Sullivan received his A.B. from the College of Holy Cross in Massachusetts and both his A.M.T. and Ed.D. from Harvard University. He has been Executive Director of NESDEC since 1972.

2004

Marilyn Turner, Alumni Award

Marilyn Turner was raised in Greeley, Colorado and attended Colorado College, Colorado Springs, earning a B.A. in elementary education and music history. She later attended Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, receiving an M.A. in music history. Following graduate school, Ms. Turner returned to Colorado Springs to begin her teaching career. She taught first, second, and fourth graders, as well as kindergartners, during her thirty years with School District 11. Ms. Turner was selected as a Fulbright exchange teacher in 1981 and spent one year teaching at St. Barnabas and St. Philip Church of England Primary School in London. In 1984, she served as an instructor of music, library, and language arts in Adelaide, Australia. Upon returning from this exchange, she and other former exchange teachers organized the Colorado International Teachers' Exchange League (CITEL) to provide activities and support for past, present, and future exchange teachers in Colorado. Ms. Turner has served the Fulbright Program in a variety of capacities, organizing fall and spring advising meetings for grantees, conducting program outreach, and assisting each group of Fulbright teacher grantees in her home state. Ms. Turner's capacity for organization has made the Fulbright Teacher Exchange thrive in the Mountain States, and the Denver area has become a hub of Fulbright Teacher activity.

Ruth Bates, Volunteer Award

Ruth Bates, a volunteer for the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program in the Los Angeles area, was honored in June 2004 for her many years of service to Fulbright grantees on this program. Ruth Bates began her career working as an assistant in the field of genetics at the California Institute of Technology. She started her teaching career as a long-term substitute instructor in biology at the Los Angeles City College, moving later to teach math in the LA Unified School District. Upon gaining tenure, she then spent three years away from Los Angeles in Germany working in the Dependent Schools of the U.S. Armed Forces. Upon her return from Germany, Ms. Bates joined the International Education Committee of the California Teachers Association. This local group evolved into a support group for exchange teachers, providing assistance with the cultural and living issues that exchange teachers faced.

After obtaining a Master's degree in counseling, Ms. Bates became a counselor on a special student achievement project, and soon thereafter, a counselor at East Los Angeles College. There her assignment included counseling foreign students. In addition, she was appointed East LA's representative on the District's International Education committee. Upon her retirement in 1985 and because of her advocacy for overseas education, she was asked to join the District's Institute for International Programs. When the Institute was dissolved, she continued her work as a volunteer. Fulbright Exchange Teachers to/from K-12 schools, community college, and four-year institutions have benefited for three decades from Ms. Bates' assistance and advice. Her efforts have enriched the lives of hundreds of Fulbright educators and their students, contributing to the success of the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program and its ideal of promoting mutual understanding worldwide.

2003

Martha Hart, Alumni Award

Martha Hart, a native of Buffalo, New York, became a long time resident and teacher in San Diego, California, where she lives today and works to assist many U.S. and international Fulbright Teacher Program grantees and alumni. Ms. Hart, who received her B.S. from the University of Nevada and her M.A. from San Diego State University, taught in the San Diego school system for 27 years in all elementary grades. Her Fulbright exchange was to the British Infant School in London during 1973-74. Ms. Hart retired in 1991 from her full time teaching position. Since her retirement, she has given generously of her time to the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program, assisting hundreds of Fulbrighters in the San Diego area. She serves as interview chair and alumni coordinator for San Diego, works on applicant outreach, helps international teachers on exchange during Fulbright spring and fall advising meetings, which she has either organized herself or assisted others in organizing, and makes presentations at educator associations and conferences on behalf of the Fulbright Teacher Exchange program. Ms. Hart has enhanced every aspect of the Teacher Exchange calendar on which she has worked though her wisdom, grace, style, energy, and humor.

2002

Dolores Kendrick, Alumni Award

Dolores Kendrick participated in the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program in 1963-64. She left Taft Junior High School in the District of Columbia to teach English, religion, and history at St. Louise's school in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Ms. Kendrick has noted that the most difficult challenge of the exchange was pressing her students to move away from receiving information in lecture format. Stimulating conversation among the students was challenging at first, but the response was eventually tremendous, with the students showing a great deal of verve and humor. To put this energy to work, she and a colleague at St. Louise's helped students put on Dickens' Christmas Carol. The event was later reviewed in the Belfast Telegraph.

During and following her time as a Fulbright Teacher, Ms. Kendrick had a distinguished career in both teaching and writing poetry. She was one of the original designers and teachers at the School Without Walls in Washington, DC, a non-traditional school established in 1971. Ms. Kendrick was also named the first Vira I. Heinz Professor Emerita at Phillips Exeter Academy, where she taught between 1972 and 1993. She received an invitation from the Chinese government to lecture at the Shanghai School of Foreign Languages in the mid-1980s. Ms. Kendrick was named Poet Laureate of Washington, DC in May 1999 and currently works in this position under the auspices of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.