ALC-East teacher selected to speak at education research conference

Dec. 9, 2011—Jennifer LeBlanc, a middle school science teacher at the Alternative Learning Center – East, will travel to Taiwan Dec. 16-18 to present an abstract on international parallels in equitable education at the 2011 World Education Research Association (WERA) Focal Meeting.

The meeting is being held in coordination with the TERA International Conference on Education at the National Sun Yat-sen University in Kaohsiung, Taiwan—the theme of which is Imagination and Creativity—Wellspring and Streams of Education.

LeBlanc, a research associate for the Center for Urban School Partnerships at Texas A&M University, said she drew inspiration for her abstract—titled “Global Perspectives on Urban Education: Literature Review and Personal Reflections of Parallel Equity Issues in the United States, India and China”—through graduate research and visits to educational systems in India and China.  

“When I received the notification that I had been accepted to present at this international conference, I was excited to have the opportunity to promote educational equity consciousness on the international level and to have the opportunity to visit urban middle schools in Taiwan,” LeBlanc said. “Also, as an educator, I find that if educators are going to promote 21st-century learning skills in our classrooms, then we must also be 21st-century learners. Educators need opportunities to participate and engage in global collaborations in order to expand our pedagogical effectiveness.

“My ALC – East family continues to be a great support to me through all of my continuing educational endeavors.”

WERA is an association of 27 international specialty research associations advancing education research, science and scholarship around the world. The associations that constitute WERA work together through international and reciprocal collaborations to address such issues as building capacity and interest in education research, advancing education research policies and practices and promoting the use and application of education research around the world.

LeBlanc’s trip is being sponsored by Texas A&M’s Center for Urban School Partnerships. She also received a travel grant from the Graduate Student Association in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture and a Graduate Student Research and Presentation Grant funded by the Association of Former Students and the Office of Graduate Studies.