Учительница из Оуэнсборо получила грант от Клуба международных отношений для развития курса по мировой политике

Owensboro High School social studies teacher Sarah Gossett envisioned having a career in diplomacy before the COVID pandemic steered her toward education. But Gossett never lost interest in better understanding world affairs, and she’s now wanting to make sure her students have a better understanding than she had in high school about the possibilities for them in the world. “I grew up in Ohio County, and I never really knew what opportunities were out there; they always told us when we were younger that you can be what you want to be, but they didn’t really give us too many options other than what we were exposed to on the day-to-day,” Gossett said. “So it took me a little while to learn about foreign policy, international affairs; just wanting to go into that world and getting my foot into the door. So I really want to show my students that it’s possible.” Gossett, who has a master’s degree in diplomacy, recently got a significant boost in her effort to teach students a world view when she was accepted into the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Education Ambassador Program. The CFR Education Ambassador Program is an eight-month engagement that connects educators across the country with free educational resources, professional development activities and a vibrant network of like-minded professionals who are committed to equipping students with the knowledge, skills and perspective to navigate today’s connected world. “It’s a very exclusive program,” Gossett said. “The Council on Foreign Relations is one of the top think tanks globally, or at least in Washington, D.C., for foreign policy, global issues. A lot of policymakers and other organizations will turn to their research and their expertise when making decisions. But their really big goal is to also expand global literacy and education. So they’re providing resources and opportunities for educators to bridge that gap. “So with lesson plans, they’ll have simulations to use, looking at different ways that the U.S. foreign policy works for different challenges the world is facing. So it’s basic resources like that; but then educators also come together to hear each other’s stories of how we are bridging this into our classrooms.” The program is led by CFR Education, the educational arm of the Council on Foreign Relations, which helps high school and higher education students understand and engage with today’s most pressing global issues. “I was familiar with (CFR) back from my grad school days,” Gossett said. “It was one of the places that I had an opportunity to go to before COVID hit. ...And now I’m getting the opportunity to be brought into that. There were thousands of applicants, but I was one of 80 accepted.” Gossett said being able to expose her students to world affairs is a full-circle moment. “I joke with my students that teaching is my side quest, and this is getting back to the main quest,” Gossett said. “I know that my original path to diplomacy, working in foreign affairs, the State Department, fell off, but now they’re getting to see that if you fail, keep going, take those opportunities, and find a way to do so. “CFR was one of those organizations I would love to work for. So now being selected for the knowledge and experience that I’ve gained on my side quest, it’s a huge deal for me.” Gossett has also been working on creating math formulas for social studies that is connected to her fellowship through Princeton University, which is supporting her as she continues developing the work. “I started on those formulas last year, like math formulas, so students get a better understanding of cause and effect, and I went down a rabbit hole and made something more complex, and then I stumbled upon an opportunity with Princeton University,” she said. “I thought it was the longest shot. I didn’t know if this project I was working on was crazy, but I’m doing the remote fellowship through Princeton; so they’re paying me to continue on the side to work on this project. “I’m getting paid by an Ivy League school for my thoughts.”