In April, a group of CLS faculty and staff attended the Global Educators Benchmark Group (GEBG) Global Educators Conference in San Diego, California. The GEBG is a leading non-profit organization of K-12 schools that researches and establishes model practices in the field of global education. It currently serves more than 300 member schools from 16 different countries.

Thanks to a growing partnership between Charlotte Latin's Office of Global Studies and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, this conference provided attendees with an opportunity to meet other Global/DEI educators from across the country and learn more about best practices in the field. It also gave them the time and space to build relationships amongst their CLS colleagues, which in just these few days sparked new ideas for future cross-divisional collaborations. Conference sessions covered topics like developing cultural literacy in world language classrooms, reimagining a "civics renaissance" for global leadership, examining the potential in virtual exchanges, and creating competency-based distinctions in global education. In addition, CLS Lower School faculty members Meghan Rinehart and Avery Teichman presented their session entitled "Books that Build Belonging: Amongst Colleagues FOR Students" about their process of designing and maintaining a Children's Literature Book Club for Lower School Faculty. See photo.

"One of the best parts of the weekend was the opportunity to watch my colleagues build new friendships, connecting after what seems like the forever of pandemic isolation," said Kelly Willis.

Conference attendees included:
Kelly Willis, Director of Global Studies
Vernette Rucker, Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Meghan Rinehart, Lower School Librarian
Avery Teichman, Kindergarten Assistant Teacher and Lower School DEI Coordinator
Kate Hughey, Grade 6 Science / Grade 6 Citizenship Teacher and Middle School DEI Coordinator
Monica Bullock, Grade 6 Humanities Teacher and Middle School DEI Coordinator
Hugo Caraballo, Upper School Spanish Teacher and Upper School DEI Coordinator
Anjalique Knight, Upper School History Teacher