The Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development announced the establishment of the Astor International Travel Fellowship, a cultural immersion and education program created for NYC school teachers, thanks to a two million dollar gift from renowned New Yorker and legendary philanthropist, Brooke Astor.

Steinhardt to Send Local Teachers to Shanghai Through First Brooke Astor International Travel Fellowship
The Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development announced the establishment of the Astor International Travel Fellowship, a cultural immersion and education program created for New York City school teachers, thanks to a two million dollar gift from renowned New Yorker and legendary philanthropist, Brooke Astor.

Applications for Summer 2014 now Available
The program will send its first cohort of 10 to 12 New York City teachers to China in the summer of 2014. The program seeks to broaden teachers’ horizons and inspire them with ideas for classroom innovation through an international experience.

“I am thrilled that NYU Steinhardt will be the vehicle providing New York City’s dedicated public school teachers the generous gift of learning and travel,” said Dean Mary Brabeck. “Mrs. Astor believed that at the heart of New York City’s public schools are its teachers, and we are honored to celebrate the excellence of our local teachers and enrich their life and career through this global learning opportunity.”

From 1996-2003, Astor supported the Astor Fellows Travel Program, which rewarded public school teachers with a working professional development vacation abroad. The program took teachers to Paris, Milan, and London to visit schools and study educational issues.

It resumes this summer with an all-expenses-paid trip for a group of New York City teachers to Shanghai, made possible through a gift from Astor’s estate.

NYU Steinhardt “Astor Fellows” will travel with Steinhardt faculty and staff to explore intercultural dimensions of teaching and learning. Each year, the 10-day excursion will have a distinct academic focus as locations rotate among NYU’s global sites abroad.

“This coming summer, our fellows will focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education,” said Stina Dufour, program manager of NYU Steinhardt’s Office of Academic Initiatives and Global Programs. “Science educators will visit schools and cultural sites in Shanghai focusing on sustainability, technology, and environmental studies.”

Future program themes may include, but are not limited to, exploring English Language Arts in England, dual language instruction in Madrid, and origins of the African Diaspora in Ghana.

All New York City public school teachers who have taught a minimum of three years are eligible to apply or be nominated by their principals or assistant principals, colleagues, students, or parents of students. The two-part process begins with a formal application that is currently available. Candidates will also need to provide formal recommendations. Deadline for applications is Monday, Jan. 20, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

For additional information on the application and the selection process, click here.

About the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development (@NYUSteinhardt)
Located in the heart of Greenwich Village, NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development prepares students for careers in the arts, education, health, media, and psychology. Since its founding in 1890, the Steinhardt School's mission has been to expand human capacity through public service, global collaboration, research, scholarship, and practice. To learn more about NYU Steinhardt, visit: http://steinhardt.nyu.edu.


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