Teacher receives Japanese Fulbright award

April 25, 2008 at 10:32AM AKST

Patricia R. McKenzie, an elementary teacher at Levelock School in the Lake and Peninsula School District, has received an award from the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program.

The program, sponsored by the government of Japan, provides American primary and secondary school teachers and administrators with fully funded short-term study tours of Japan. This program selects 200 teachers across the United States to visit Japan in June and October.

McKenzie will arrive in San Francisco for orientation on June 8, then depart for Tokyo. While in Japan, she will attend workshops and seminars presented by experts on Japanese education, culture, government and economy. She will attend cultural events and visit historical landmarks.

McKenzie will visit universities, schools, cultural, historical and industrial sites. She will enjoy a brief stay with a host family.

On her return, McKenzie will make a presentation to the Lake and Peninsula school board and to colleagues at the district in-service in October. Levelock students will learn about Japan through "learning gardens" in the classrooms and library, at physical education and during lunch.

Village residents will also have access to the learning gardens in the library.