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Teacher Fellows Programs

The Consortium’s Teacher Fellows Programs are intensive, professional development opportunities for educators to expand their expertise in Middle East studies. Longer term professional development programs help increase teacher preparedness to infuse new material into the curriculum. By working intensively with one group of teachers, the center aims to help develop teacher leaders with Middle East expertise throughout the state. Learn about previous fellows programs below.

2020 Middle East and African Cultures Teacher Fellows

The 2020 MEAC program was held virtually, connecting teachers with presenters and communities across North Carolina. The fellowship aims to increase teachers’ knowledge of Middle Eastern and African history, culture and diaspora by introducing educators to places and communities across North Carolina that have connections to these regions.

The lessons below were created by the MEAC fellows for teaching about the Middle East and Africa. Click the link to download lessons and accompanying materials:

The 2020 Middle East and African Cultures Teacher Fellows:
Kelsey Agar, Mooresville High School, Mooresville Graded School District
Amy Barsanti, Jamesville Elementary, Martin County Schools
Raven Cathey, Southside High School, Beaufort County Schools
Kimberly Jones, Chapel Hill High School, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
Lindsey Landers, Central Cabarrus High School, Cabarrus County Schools
Shelby Lewis, AC Reynolds High School, Buncombe County Schools
Ashley Melendrez, Midway High School, Sampson County Schools
Holly Moran-Bates, Davis Drive Middle School, Wake County Public School System
Alicia Morris, Cary Academy
Matthew Murchison, Carrboro High School, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
Tonya Smith, North Carolina School of Science and Math
Tamika Spruill, Columbia Middle School, Tyrrell County Schools
Debra Troxell, West Forsyth High School, Winston Salem-Forsyth County Schools
Bridgett Wiley, Smith High School, Guilford County Schools
Measha Williams, Northern Granville Middle School, Granville County Schools

2018 Middle East and African Cultures Teacher Fellows

Offered in collaboration with the African Studies Center and Carolina K-12, this intensive year-long professional development opportunity highlighted Middle Eastern and African history, culture, identity, and politics through structured site-visits across North Carolina.

The lessons below were created by the MEAC fellows for teaching about the Middle East and Africa. Click the link to download lessons and accompanying materials:

The 2018 Middle East and African Cultures Teacher Fellows:
Tomika Altman-Lewis, Seawell Elementary School, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
Savannah Blystone, Gates County High School, Gates County Schools
Jeff Crisp, Hibriten High School, Caldwell County Schools
Zachary Dearman, Currituck County High School, Currituck County Schools
Suzanne Finch, Hopewell Elementary School, Randolph County Schools
Marsha Harvey, Henderson Middle School, Vance County Schools
Guy Hill, Triton High School, Harnett County Schools
Eboné M. Lockett, CATO Middle College High School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Erica Luetzow, Club Boulevard Humanities Elementary School, Durham Public Schools
Akwete McAlister, Career Center High School, Winston Salem-Forsyth County Schools
Thomas Phu, Durham Academy
Wendi Pillars, Jordan-Matthews High School, Chatham County Schools
Lauren Schaefer, Parkland IB Magnet School, Winston Salem-Forsyth County Schools

2016-2017 Global Islam and the Arts Teacher Fellows

This program featured a year-long exploration of Muslim cultures through music, dance, and dramatic performances in conjunction with the 2016-17 Carolina Performing Arts season “Sacred/Secular – A Sufi Journey.”

The lessons below were created by the GIAT fellows for teaching about Islam. Click the link to download lessons and accompanying materials:

The Global Islam and the Arts Teacher Fellows:
Janae Copeland, Stateside Elementary School, Onslow County Schools
Jennifer Earnest, Fuquay-Varina High School, Wake County Public Schools
William Giblin, Grey Culbreth Middle School, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
Jessie Grinnell, Grey Culbreth Middle School, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
Jennie Harris, Red Oak Middle School, Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools
Marie Hopkins, Club Boulevard Elementary, Durham Public Schools
Carla Ingram, South Caldwell High School, Caldwell County Schools
Holly Loranger, Chapel Hill High School, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
Mia Malesovas, Lucy Ragsdale High School, Guilford County Public Schools
Elizabeth McKinley, West Brunswick High School, Brunswick County Schools
Kathleen Peck, West Brunswick High School, Brunswick County Schools
Valerie Person, Currituck County High School, Currituck County Schools
Anita Rubino, Currituck County High School, Currituck County Schools
Tinisha Shaw, Early Middle College at Bennett, Guilford County Public Schools
Christine Zaccardi, Fox Road Elementary, Wake County Public Schools