The programs that Educators of America developed and operate are aimed to achieve our mission’s goals and objectives. Through these programs, we strive to provide the tools, training, and technology that teachers need to improve student engagement and achievement. Not only does our mission apply within the United States, but throughout the world. Why? Because we believe that education should be universally available to all children, regardless of race, sex, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, and geographic location.
Teacher Training & Professional Development
With a talented team of teacher trainers on staff, we work with schools across the United States to help professional educators integrate technology tools effectively into their lesson plans. It can be a daunting task for teachers to try and keep pace with their school’s adoption of technology; this is where Educators of America excels. We are exceptionally good at building relationships with teachers and getting them to take the risks associated with using new technology.
Moreover, we consult with schools that are seeking to implement new pedagogies such as Project-Based Learning or PBL. Schools that implement PBL effectively enjoy higher graduation rates, increased attendance, and higher engagement in the school community. We offer PBL-101, PBL-201, TCH-101, and TCH-201 certificates for educators who complete our introductory and secondary workshops in technology integration and Project-Based Learning.
Research & Development
The research department of Educators of America is focused on conducting long-term research and development studies to determine the efficacy of emerging technologies and instructional methods on student achievement. We develop between 2-5 in-depth proposals each year and submit to the National Science Foundation (NSF) or US Department of Education depending on the specificities of the project.
Currently, we are developing proposals for the National Science Foundation’s Division of Research on Learning to study whether an innovative virtual reality technology experience combined with structured lessons and career extension activities can spark an interest in STEM careers, particularly in female students.
Building Cultural Bridges Program
The Building Cultural Bridges (BCB) Program is a joint program developed by Peace Corps Namibia Volunteer, Brett Claydon, and Educators of America. The mission of the program is to connect Namibian and American students to encourage cross-cultural exchange, improvement of reading, writing, presentation, and relationship-building skills, and familiarization with technology.
The BCB program establishes an initial exchange of pen pal letters, introducing Namibian students to American students. After the introductory letters are sent, American students reciprocate by delivering handwritten letters that introduce themselves, respond to initial inquiries, and propose questions themselves. As letters are continuously exchanged, a piece of video technology is donated to the Namibian school thus allowing virtual meetings between the designated groups of students.
The climax of the program is when Namibian and American students virtually meet one another and are able to hold discussions. This step is crucial in relationship building and presentation skills. As the program matures, students from both sides will be able to dive deeper into sharing cultural knowledge, language learning, and relationship building.
Building Hope Mission
The Building Hope Campaign, established in 2017, is the flagship community service mission of Educators of America. Inspired by a Board Member’s decision to join the US Peace Corps and commit himself to serve over two years to help, assist, and empower a community in the southwestern African nation of Namibia, Educators of America’s Executive Director, Michael Lynch, developed the initiative to assist the construction of infrastructure, implementation of education technology, and the training of educators for a school within Sub-Saharan Africa.
Africa is the world’s youngest continent, with 60% of its population under the age of 25. With such a large demographic of young individuals, it is integral that free, supportive, and engaging education is provided to help combat illiteracy, break cycles of poverty, and encourage gender awareness.
In 2019, a ten-member delegation will travel to Sub-Saharan Africa to assist in the implementation of technology, construction of infrastructure, and training of mentors and educators. The Building Hope Campaign is striving to establish a school that serves a community as a strong symbol of hope, community development, and opportunity.