2017

TALLAHASSEE — Acquiring reading skills can be difficult in an ideal setting, let alone an environment affected by crisis or conflict. That, however, is the harsh reality more than 2 million children living in northern Nigeria face each day.

The Northern Nigeria Education-in-Conflict Response Program (ECR) will draw to a close in October 2017. This project was funded by USAID and implemented by Creative Associates International, in partnership with the International Rescue Committee, Florida State University, and local organizations. The initiative began in 2014 to address the gaps in education that internally displaced children and youth face due the ongoing conflict in the Northeastern states in Nigeria.

Emma Pugh, at left, a mathematics coach at Westview K-8 School, and Ming Ziang, center, who teachers algebra at Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology, learn how teachers can use 3-D printer in STEM classes. At right is Marisa Benz of FSU’s Florida Center for Research in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, which conducted professional development for Pugh and Ziang and dozens of other science and math teachers in Duval County.

Educators and administrators from Egypt today joined international education experts from Florida State University, the U.S. Department of State and Santa Fe College to discuss what they had learned during six weeks of intensive study of the U.S. community college system.

Florida State University President John Thrasher welcomed to campus a delegation of Egyptian educators who are at FSU to study the U.S. community colleges.

“It is an honor to host this program because we know how important community colleges can be in opening doors to new opportunities for so many people, whether in Egypt or here in the United States,” Thrasher said.

Jeffrey Ayala Milligan, Ph.D., director of the Learning Systems Institute, and other LSI faculty are participating this week in the Comparative and International Education Society’s conference in Atlanta, giving presentations on LSI’s work in a variety of nations.

The Comparative and International Education Society is the premier academic and professional organization for experts in international education.

This evening, Trey Foerster, FSU’s Peace Corps Recruiter and a member of the Learning Systems Institute’s staff, and some of Tallahassee’s Peace Corps volunteers will talk about their countries of service, their projects and their experiences in the Peace Corps.

Meet the volunteers, talk with Peace Corps regional recruiter Grant Matthews and learn about this distinguished form of public service at 6-9 p.m. at the Grasslands Brewing Co., 603 W. Gaines St.