FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 21, 2006
Contact: Anika Mitchell Perkins
(662) 329-7124
Sumners visits China as part of People to People
Ambassador Program
COLUMBUS, Miss. – Sarah Sumners recently returned
from China as part of the People to People
Ambassador Program.
Sumners, project manager for the CHAMPS II
Mathematics and Science Partnership Grant at the
Roger F. Wicker Center for Creative Learning, was
nominated to attend by the National Council of
Teachers of Mathematics.
She made the journey as a delegate of the 2006
US-China Joint Education Conference, part of the
People to People Ambassador Programs' Mathematics
Education Delegation. The motto of the organization,
“peace through understanding,” is promoted by
providing foreign educational travel experiences for
professionals through meetings, seminars and
cultural activities.
Sumners was among 25 elementary, middle school, high
school and university mathematics educators from
across the United States who participated in the
program. Topics included “Challenges of the Chinese
Education System,” “Changes in the Chinese
Mathematics Curriculum” and “Teacher Preparation and
Professional Development in China.”
This year is the 50th anniversary of People to
People International, started by President Dwight D.
Eisenhower. Since its founding in 1956, People to
People has developed high level professional
exchanges to encourage dialogue with counterparts in
other nations.
"Teachers become students as they step into a
classroom in a foreign land. For education
professionals, lifelong learning is the key to
excellent teaching. Educators share that common bond
with their colleagues around the world," the
organization noted.
While visiting the city of Beijing and its
surrounding county, the delegation spent most of
their time exchanging ideas and experiences with
middle school mathematics teachers and
administrators at several schools.
Sumners noted there is a push for individuality and
more independence of the children in the Chinese
education system, which is similar to the United
State’s education system. Other similarities were
the abundance of technology in the classrooms and
the length of the school day.
“Professionally,” she said, “I have returned with a
new global outlook on student interaction, teacher
training, curriculum development, administration and
teaching standards. It was exciting to see our
Chinese counterparts mirroring many strategies that
we currently employ here in the United States.”
The group also enjoyed visiting the Forbidden City
(Imperial Palace), The Great Hall of The People, The
Great Wall and Tiananmen Square.
“Visiting China was a professional and personal
enrichment opportunity that will continue to impact
me for the rest of my career,” she said.
Sumners will start Mississippi State University’s
doctoral program in curriculum and instruction in
January. She earned a degree in social studies with
a certificate in secondary education as well as a
master’s degree in gifted studies from MUW.
