Ann Arbor, MI—CMENAS and CSEAS are partnering up to launch the MENA-SEA Teacher Program, an exciting, brand-new professional-development program for Grade 6-12 teachers from Michigan and the region. Throughout the school year, the ten-month program trains a cohort of Grade 6-12 educators to deepen their understanding and appreciation of religious diversity in the two regions of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and of Southeast Asia (SEA).

Convening primarily on the Ann Arbor campus, teachers participate in expert-led workshops, read and discuss assigned literature, attend world-class performances and cultural events by artists, visit houses of worship and museums, and meet with religious leaders and community representatives. Activities also include exploring classroom strategies for teaching about religious diversity in the MENA and SEA and developing curricular components and units.

Upon successful completion of the MENA-SEA Teacher Program, educators will receive a $1,000 honorarium and be eligible for state continuing education credit hours from the Michigan Department of Education or from the departments of education in the states wherein they teach.

The application deadline is Friday, February 15, 2019. The MENA-SEA Teacher Program is open to Michigan and regional teachers from public, private, and charter secondary schools, as well as school leaders, librarians, and other school-based educators. Teachers new to the profession are especially encouraged to apply. To learn more, please contact Rima Hassouneh, Outreach Coordinator, at rhassoun@umich.edu, or 734-936-1538.