Zoe Williamson

Zoe Williamson, a VIF teacher from Scotland teaching at Glenwood Elementary School in Chapel Hill, was honored as N.C. Cultural Educator of the Year.

CHAPEL HILL - Less than two weeks before the end of the year at Glenwood Elementary School, teacher Zoe Williamson's class of fifth-graders is busily finishing up a variety of projects.

Williamson supervises a group of five students as they complete video essays.Another group works on closed circuits, and several students use laptop computers.

The students are preparing for summer vacation, after which they'll be back for another year of lessons.Williamson, however, will not.

She's returning to Scotland, her homeland.She's one of about 20 teachers in the district who came to Chapel Hill from other countries through the Visiting International Faculty program.

Williamson, who came to Chapel Hill two years ago, recently was named North Carolina Cultural Educator of the Year by the program, which provides teachers from other countries an opportunity to work in the United States.
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Williamson, who taught elementary school in Scotland, said she decided to teach in the United States simply for a change in scenery.

"I really enjoyed my job teaching back home, but it was time for a change," she said.
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Williamson said that while teaching in Scotland is a little different from teaching here, she kept the same philosophy.

"My biggest thing is if they are challenged in what they are doing, they are going to be trying," she said.

On Thursday, the students were wrapping up a video persuasive-essay project to present to school administrators.In the videos, students appeal for better cafeteria food, nicer landscaping, sports teams and more technology.

"You want something that's really going to make an impact," Williamson told one student.
...
Williamson said she only needed to make minor adjustments when working here.The state testing program is different, she said.The students she taught in Scotland wore uniforms, and teachers wore suits.

Students, on the other hand, had to adjust to her accent, and some of her words.Williamson says "bin," her students say "trash can."Williamson says "plasters," while her students say "Band-Aids."

Indeed, part of Williamson's job has been introducing her students to her culture.
...
"We're almost there," Williamson said.

As for learning the three R's, Williamson says she tries to make it fun.For instance, students researched biomes, and made Web sites.

"It took so much writing and research," Williamson said.

Zoe Williamson, a teacher from Scotland based at Glenwood Elementary School, has been named N.C. Cultural Educator of the Year.

CHAPEL HILL - Less than two weeks before the end of the year at Glenwood Elementary School, teacher Zoe Williamson's class of fifth-graders is busily finishing up a variety of projects.

Williamson supervises a group of five students as they complete video essays.Another group works on closed circuits, and several students use laptop computers.

The students are preparing for summer vacation, after which they'll be back for another year of lessons.Williamson, however, will not.

She's returning to Scotland, her homeland.She's one of about 20 teachers in the district who came to Chapel Hill from other countries through the Visiting International Faculty program.

Williamson, who came to Chapel Hill two years ago, recently was named North Carolina Cultural Educator of the Year by the program, which provides teachers from other countries an opportunity to work in the United States.
...
Williamson, who taught elementary school in Scotland, said she decided to teach in the United States simply for a change in scenery.

"I really enjoyed my job teaching back home, but it was time for a change," she said.
...
Williamson said that while teaching in Scotland is a little different from teaching here, she kept the same philosophy.

"My biggest thing is if they are challenged in what they are doing, they are going to be trying," she said.

On Thursday, the students were wrapping up a video persuasive-essay project to present to school administrators.In the videos, students appeal for better cafeteria food, nicer landscaping, sports teams and more technology.

"You want something that's really going to make an impact," Williamson told one student.
...
Williamson said she only needed to make minor adjustments when working here.The state testing program is different, she said.The students she taught in Scotland wore uniforms, and teachers wore suits.

Students, on the other hand, had to adjust to her accent, and some of her words.Williamson says "bin," her students say "trash can."Williamson says "plasters," while her students say "Band-Aids."

Indeed, part of Williamson's job has been introducing her students to her culture.
...
"We're almost there," Williamson said.

As for learning the three R's, Williamson says she tries to make it fun.For instance, students researched biomes, and made Web sites.

"It took so much writing and research," Williamson said.