31 teachers lead international field
VIF Program offers U.S. teaching opportunities and a chance to grow skills

For release: February 18, 2008

Additional Resources

Printable Version (pdf) VIF Fact Sheet (pdf) CEY Award Winners

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA – Thirty-one teachers from around the world have been honored in VIF’s Cultural Educator of the Year awards program, highlighting their work as exceptional international teachers in the U.S. for outstanding contributions and leadership in fostering curiosity and an understanding of the world and promoting student achievement.

The honors are from the Visiting International Faculty Program (VIF), the largest international-exchange program sponsoring international teachers to teach in full-time positions in U.S. schools for up to three years before returning to their home country. With comprehensive support services to help ensure a rewarding experience, VIF is sponsoring more than 1,600 teachers from almost 60 nations in nearly 1,000 schools.

“VIF international educators are widely considered the best teachers from around the world,” said David B. Young, president of the VIF Program. “With more and more schools becoming internationally minded, VIF teachers play an important role in shaping students’ experiences. The VIF Program is a wonderful way for teachers to experience a U.S. adventure and U.S. culture while growing professionally and personally.”

About the VIF Program:
The Visiting International Faculty Program is the largest international-exchange program for U.S. schools and teachers worldwide. Our mission: To transform lives through international education.

Founded in 1987, the VIF Program is based in North Carolina in the United States. VIF is designated as an official sponsor in the U.S. State Department’s Exchange Visitor Program, authorized to sponsor qualified teachers from around the world in U.S. schools for up to three years with the U.S. government’s cultural-exchange (J-1) visa. Celebrating over 20 years, the VIF Program has sponsored more than 8,000 teachers from over 50 nations in more than 1,000 U.S. schools. The VIF Program selects international teachers, matches them with U.S. schools and provides comprehensive support to help ensure rewarding experiences.

VIF educators work as full-time classroom teachers in select primary and secondary schools in the United States in a wide variety of subject areas, including elementary education, languages, English as a second language, math, social studies, science, special education and more.

VIF teachers educate U.S. students about the culture and heritage of their home nations to help prepare a new generation to be good global citizens and to succeed in the global economy and international affairs.

VIF Program participation is an unparalleled professional-development experience for international teachers to advance their careers, including an option to earn a master’s degree at respected U.S. universities at discounted tuition. VIF teachers return to contribute their expertise in schools in their home nations. According to an independently conducted survey, 98% of VIF alumni would recommend VIF to a fellow teacher. To learn more about teaching in the U.S., visit www.vifprogram.com.