LAII K-12 Programs Featured by US Department of Education

November 24, 2014

Each November, the US Department of Education celebrates International Education Week (Nov. 17-21) by inviting educational institutions across the country to share their techniques for promoting global understanding on a local level. This year the UNM Latin American & Iberian Institute (LAII) was invited to contribute to this dialogue through an interview with Katrina Dillon, LAII Project Assistant.

In the interview, Dillon offers her thoughts on how educators can foster global understanding in their students, and how the LAII's K-12 programs support local teachers in their efforts to do just that. To read more about Dillon and her contributions to K-12 outreach programming at the LAII, see the complete article, "Ensuring a Global Education for All Students,"published on HomeRoom, the official blog of the US Department of Education.

An alum of the UNM Latin American Studies program, Dillon is currently pursuing a doctorate in the Department of Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies. In the interim between her master's and doctoral programs, Dillon taught for several years with Albuquerque Public Schools.

With Dillon's support, the LAII has developed an expansive K-12 outreach program. We serve New Mexico's K-12 community by offering professional development workshops to practicing teachers and tailored presentations to students in the UNM College of Education and CNM Teacher Education programs; developing relevant curriculum materials spanning subject area and grades; organizing education-focused lectures with UNM faculty and invited guest; coordinating a monthly book group meeting and ongoing blog called "Vamos a Leer"; and supporting youth-oriented activities such as a Spanish Model UN for high school students and a poetry contest for elementary school students. To learn more about the LAII's resources for K-12 educators, visit our outreach webpage.