Cultural Educator of the Year
Amanda Wheeler - G Cultural Educator of the Year
“Integrating culture into my daily teaching is a vital part of my routine as a VIF teacher. I understand how important it is to have students have a broader view of the world. Having a leadership role at school has helped me reach and impact the school community, so we all learn about diversity and become globally minded.”

Amanda Wheeler • Australia Amanda is from Australia.
Georgia Cultural Educator of the Year

Third-grade teacher, Porter Elementary
Bibb County Public Schools, Georgia

When Amanda Wheeler’s third-grade students, whom she calls “Clever Kangaroos,” display positive behavior, they “visit” different countries around the world. Then, during computer lab time, students research whichever country they are “visiting.” There are rewards for “visiting” different countries. A favorite is the Congo: when a student reaches that country, he or she gets to lead a conga line of dancing classmates!

Wheeler’s “world tour” has provided many daily cultural-exchange opportunities, as the class studies the third-grade curriculum on Georgia and the United States. Her Clever Kangaroos compare and contrast what they are learning with the countries they have “visited.” While studying the regions of Georgia, for example, Wheeler’s students locate countries that have mountain and coastal regions.

For International Education Week, Wheeler and her fellow third-grade teachers organized a successful program that provided cultural-learning opportunities for the entire school. Each third grader chose and researched a country, presenting a written report and a poster for display. Students shared information about their countries, dressing in traditional costumes and preparing special foods.

Assistant Principal Terri Walker, Porter Elementary:

“Ms. Wheeler brings experiences from her travels into the classroom to enhance the learning experience. Students who encounter Ms. Wheeler as their teacher gain a rich understanding of the world as a global community.”