In September, Ms. Jessica Mathews, Middle School Teacher, was named by Dr. Emily M. Schell, Executive Director of the California Global Education Project (CGEP), to serve on the project’s Advisory Board as the representative to the California State Board of Education.
The CGEP Advisory Board is composed of appointed representatives from educational institutions throughout the state. CGEP is one of nine (9) professional learning networks that comprise the California Subject Matter Project. The California Subject Matter Project work in collaboration with the California State Board of Education to support educators statewide. This includes providing discipline based professional learning networks, writing and updating the California Curriculum Frameworks, engaging in educational research, and cultivating educational equity.
“I believe that now, more than ever, prioritizing global competency within ourselves, our students, and our school communities is paramount for the healthy growth of our world and humankind,” said Ms. Mathews. “I plan to enthusiastically undertake this opportunity to make this a reality for our district, county, and region and equip myself with the tools necessary to support teachers and school leaders in creating, executing, and maintaining Global Education programs and projects within their districts.”
According to the CGEP website, other duties of CGEP Advisory Board members include, but are not limited to, “setting guidelines for project sites, reviewing and recommending site proposals for funding, and monitoring project activities to ensure that they adequately reflect the priorities of CGEP and the California Subject Matter Project, and that CGEP complies with legislated requirements.”
The Advisory Board position Ms. Mathews will be holding is to execute those duties listed above and specifically serve as a liaison between the State Board of Education and the CGEP. Other representatives on the Advisory Board herald from the State Board of Education, Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Governor’s Office, the California Teaching Commission, California State University, University of California, Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, California Community Colleges, and other professional organizations and places of industry.
The State Board and Superintendent both require that their representatives be teachers. Each agency appoints their representative after receiving nominations from the project.
“Jessica stood out to CGEP as a motivated and hard-working teacher leader in global education during her first year as a Global Teacher Fellow, and continues to demonstrate creativity and leadership in her second year as a Global Teacher Fellow,” explained Dr. Schell. “Working with her teaching partner Emily Reynolds, Jessica moved from bringing global education into her curriculum at sixth grade to building a foundation for global education across Tuolumne County. Her ambition is inspiring and her actions are notable–making connections with colleagues, outreach to community organizations, and engaging in statewide programs that include Global Classroom Connect and the California-Taiwan Exchange Program.”
Ms. Mathews was invited to the CGEP Leadership Retreat in 2024 and the CGEP leadership team noted her positive disposition, enthusiasm for developing global competence among students, and collegiality.
“...we know she will bring unique perspectives from a small and rural school district that allow CGEP to better serve all teachers in the state,” said Dr. Schell. “Traditionally, our regional sites have been in larger urban areas of California. We have much to learn about teachers in districts like Columbia. Additionally, Jessica's abilities to listen thoughtfully, ask important questions, and propose ideas related to global education will serve our organization well.”
CGEP has reorganized its structure this year in an attempt to better serve teachers in areas of the state where they have not established or maintained a regional site presence. Therefore, the Global Teacher Fellowship has expanded from serving teachers in Northern California to statewide.
“My vision for global education is to be a catalyst for the next generation to enter the global community as humans ready to interact, discuss, and take action with an open mind and the skills in place to shape their world to reflect the needs of all,” exclaimed Ms. Mathews.
Ms. Mathews hopes the school’s efforts in embracing global education allow students to grow and understand that where they live is just one piece of a large picture that is the world. While it has sometimes been challenging to make these opportunities available to students, the teachers at Columbia have enthusiastically approached and embraced integrating Global Education into their classrooms.
“To further compliment Ms. Mathews and the significance of this recognition, it is incredibly important to have small schools, and especially small, rural districts be part of these conversations and efforts,” emphasized Dr. Nicolas Wade, Superintendent of Columbia Union School District. “I always believe that regardless of the size or situation of your school or district, it is your drive and the will to act that can bring anyone to a national caliber. What we are doing with global education is something larger places are struggling to accomplish. We have Ms. Mathews and her colleagues to thank for that.”
Ms. Mathews hopes that by serving as the State Board of Education Advisor to the CGEP that she will be able to strengthen networks and opportunities available to Columbia.
“I hope that by serving as the State Board of Education advisor to CGEP I will be able to continue to strengthen the voice teachers have at a statewide level,” said Ms. Mathews. “As an active classroom teacher in a rural area, it is my goal to assure that the projects, curriculum, and policy that I advise on are accessible and realistic for classroom teachers, including those who teach in areas with lower population.”