SPOKANE, Wash., April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- People to People
Ambassador Programs, the leader in global educational travel
experiences, today announced it has been named a program partner in
the National Teacher of the Year Program, a project of the Council
of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), and the oldest and most
prestigious national honors program that focuses public attention
on teaching excellence.
"We are thrilled about this new partnership that honors and
celebrates teachers and teaching excellence across the country,"
said Peg Thomas, president of People
to People Ambassador Programs. "We have all been impacted by great
teachers. That's why we make teachers an integral part of our
educational travel programs. Teachers who travel with us bring
learning to life and help our students prepare for the future by
stressing the importance of developing a global perspective."
The National Teacher of the Year is selected from a panel of
educators, representing the 15 largest national education
organizations. The 2010 National Teacher of the Year will be
introduced to the American people by President Barack Obama during events at the White House on
April 28-29, 2010. Representatives
from People to People Ambassador Programs will be in attendance,
including Peg Thomas, president of
People to People Ambassador Programs; Jeff
Thomas, chief executive officer of Ambassadors Group, Inc.;
Mary Eisenhower, president and chief
executive officer of People to People International and
granddaughter of former president Dwight D.
Eisenhower; and Rafer
Johnson, Ambassadors Group, Inc. board member and 1960
Olympic gold medalist.
"People to People partnering with the National Teacher of the
Year Program is a perfect match," said Dr. Betsy Rogers, 2003 National Teacher of the Year
from Birmingham, Alabama who has
also furthered the global education of teachers on behalf of People
to People Ambassador Programs leading colleagues to Australia, New
Zealand, China,
Egypt and South Africa. "Cultural experiences make you a
better teacher and help you gain an understanding of just how
interconnected our world truly is. The more experiences you have
and can share with your students, the greater impact you'll have on
shaping their futures."
People to People Ambassador Programs travel to more than 49
countries on all seven continents and program participants come
from over 100 nations. The organization trains more than 5,000
teachers each year who lead students on educational travel
experiences, and 84 percent of students who have traveled on a
People to People program report being accepted into their college
of choice.
About People to People Ambassador Programs
People to People Ambassador Programs is the most recognized and
respected educational travel provider and has provided more than
400,000 citizens of the world the opportunity to promote peace
through understanding. The Ambassador Programs include Citizen,
Student, Sports and Leadership to promote international and
domestic programs for professionals, students, athletes, and the
leaders of tomorrow. Participation in a People to People Ambassador
Program contributes directly to personal success in a globalized
world and fosters international friendships.
Our hands on, unique, educational travel programs provide access
to people and places beyond compare and combine unique cultural
experiences with personal interaction to create global impact.
For nearly 50 years, People to People Ambassador Programs has
helped participants travel to seven continents while maintaining an
extraordinary track record of travel safety. Our safety record is
the result of many factors, including a reliance on federal
guidelines, the strength and experience of our leaders, our
organization's expertise and experience in program destination
countries, a vast global network of resources and team members, and
a sincere commitment to the wellbeing of our Ambassadors and their
families. For more information, visit:
www.peopletopeople.com.
The Ambassador Programs serve as the exclusive educational
travel provider of People to People International (PTPI), the
nonprofit, Kansas City-based
organization founded by President Dwight D.
Eisenhower to promote peace through understanding worldwide.
PTPI and Ambassadors Group are united in their mission of
bridging cultural and political borders through education and
exchange.
About Ambassadors Group
Ambassadors Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: EPAX) is a socially conscious
education company located in Spokane,
Washington. Ambassadors Group is the parent company of
People to People Ambassador Programs, World Adventures Unlimited,
Society for Global Citizens, and BookRags, an educational research
website. The company also oversees the Washington School of
World Studies, an accredited travel study and distance learning
school. Additional information about Ambassadors Group and
subsidiaries is available at www.ambassadorsgroup.com.
About CCSSO
The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is a
nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who head
departments of elementary and secondary education in the states,
the District of Columbia, the
Department of Defense Education Activity, and five U.S. extra-state
jurisdictions. CCSSO provides leadership, advocacy, and technical
assistance on major educational issues. The Council seeks members'
consensus on major educational issues and expresses their views to
civic and professional organizations, federal agencies, Congress,
and the public.
SOURCE People to People Ambassador Programs