Russia

International Programs and School of Education, Division of Educational Research & Service welcomed, alongside Governor Schweitzer, 17 Russian teachers/leaders for the 3 week Teachers-To-Teachers program

Seventeen Russian leaders participating in the Teachers to Teachers: Language, Technology, Math, and Science Exchange (LTMS) spent much of October 2007, in Missoula examining effective high school teaching strategies and curriculum. LTMS, a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, United States Department of State, and administered by the American Councils for International Education: ACTR / ACCELS, identifies and rewards Russian educators with concentrated professional development, short-term internships, and workshop design. LTMS gives Russian educators from across the curriculum the opportunity to collaborate with U.S. counterparts to develop new teaching methods, create or expand materials and curricula, and to prepare professional development workshops for colleagues in their home country.

While in Montana, the teachers received hands on practice developing curriculum, incorporating information technology into lesson plans, and visited Big Sky, Hellgate, and Sentinel High Schools.

The visiting teachers were from across Russia, many from near Moscow and were welcomed on October 4th at an opening reception by Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer. The University of Montana's International Programs and the School of Education's Division of Educational Research and Service jointly administered the project in addition to designing the schedule of activities, and facilitating many of the sessions and experiences.