AFS-USA is proud to have thirteen young educators traveling to New York City on full scholarships (sponsored by BP) to attend the annual AFS Youth Assembly from August 15-18, 2024. They will join more than three dozen international educators for a hands-on program designed to engage them in interactive learning and skill-building around global citizenship education. In their special full-day workshop preceding the AFS Youth Assembly, these global educators will develop their own intercultural and global competencies as they explore how to foster them in their learners and communities. Additionally, these young educators will join 600+ other global participants who will have an opening ceremony at the United Nations, attend interactive learning sessions, and mingle with organizations at an opportunities fair. They will be prepared to return home and forge our shared future with global impact at their core of their actions in their local communities!
These educators were nominated by teachers, administrators, and volunteers in our AFS community, so we know they are capable of great things. Please see the list of educators and the areas where they live. Don’t see your area of the U.S. represented? Start thinking now about an educator you want to nominate next spring, so you have a young changemaker who works in a school near you next year. Complete this interest form and we’ll notify you when it’s time to nominate them!
Yara Barbosa
East Kentwood High School (MI)
Yara Barbosa is a High School English and ESL teacher at East Kentwood High School. Coming from Brazil at the age of nine and learning English as her second language, Yara is proud to teach at the most diverse district in the state of Michigan and seventh in the nation where she gets to teach and support Multilingual Learners like herself. Yara has earned her Master’s Degree in Teacher Leadership from Mount Holyoke College and hopes to inspire other leaders to make positive global change. Outside of school, Yara is passionate about getting others outdoors by leading backpacking trips through her group and volunteering for community cleanup projects.
Madison Carr
Westfield High School (IN)
Madi Carr is a high school English Language and Social Studies teacher from Westfield, Indiana. A graduate of Indiana University, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Studies Education and English as a New Language. Madi loves working with newcomer students and their families, making them feel connected and welcome in their new community. She also volunteers at her local library teaching adult English courses. She is passionate about engaging young people in global citizenship and celebrating multilingualism and multiculturalism.
Jaclynn Connors Maple Grove Middle School (MN)
Jaclynn Connors is an English teacher at Maple Grove Middle School. She graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2020 with bachelor’s degrees in English and Teaching Communication Arts and Literature. Since graduating, she has strived to make her classroom an equitable environment for all students to receive opportunities for recognition and growth. Jaclynn understands that as an educator, she also has to continuously be learning. She endeavors to always be there for her students and provide them with the best learning experience. Her favorite part about teaching is playing a role in the growth and development of her students and seeing it happen in real time.
Samoni Griffin
I Preparatory Academy (FL)
Samoni Griffin is a dedicated educator teaching Physical Science Honors and World Cultures & Career Planning. She earned her Biology degree from the University of Florida, where she also pursued minors in UF Teach STEM (Science) and Disabilities in Society as well as a Masters in Educational Leadership from Florida Gulf Coast University. Her passion for teaching fuels her commitment to enhancing her students’ understanding and application of their studies. As a Middle School Science Club sponsor and the HIP (Health Information Project) sponsor for 12th graders, Samoni strives to make every student experience impactful and memorable. She eagerly anticipates connecting with fellow educators at the assembly and applying new insights to her classroom.
Emily Kissick
Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School (FL)
Emily is a 6th grade math teacher at Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School who is passionate about helping her students become better humans. She strives to teach not only good math practices but also to inspire students to engage with pressing global issues and drive positive change both locally and globally. Emily aims to connect with fellow educators worldwide to exchange best practices and enhance educational experiences. Passionate about continuous learning and collaboration, Emily is committed to creating an inclusive and dynamic learning environment that empowers the next generation of leaders.
Samantha Netterman
Riley County High School (KS)
Samantha Netterman is an English teacher in Riley, Kansas. She is a New Jersey native, who traded in the beach for the rolling hills and small-town life in Kansas. Sam graduated from the University of North Georgia with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, specializing in Shakespearean Studies, and minoring in psychology. Upon moving to Kansas, Sam received her Master’s degree in Education at Fort Hays State University, through a transition to teaching pathway. At Riley County, Sam serves as an assistant softball coach and the Key Club sponsor. Her ELA classroom aims to be a doorway for students, expanding their perspectives and worldview. Along with literacy and communication skills, Sam feels strongly that students need to learn to become strong leaders, motivators, and change-makers in the world.
Rowan Pelfrey
Seminole Ridge High School (FL)
Rowan Pelfrey is an English and classics teacher from South Florida. Rowan earned her associate degree the same year she graduated as valedictorian in 2017, then went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre and a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of West Florida in 2021. Rowan has a passion for the arts and humanities and chairs the GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance) and Social Studies Academic Games chapter at her school. She is active in local theatre and assists in most productions at Seminole Ridge. In 2025, Rowan will be taking her classical studies students on a trip to Athens and Rome in order to get a hands-on experience with everything they learn in the class. In 2019, Rowan had the privilege of studying Irish folklore, history, and theatre as a part of a project at her university. Her experiences have stayed with her and inspired her to have a more global cultural approach to her practice in education.
Rachel Pigg
Winton Woods High School (OH)
Rachel Pigg is a teacher at Winton Woods High School in Cincinnati, OH. She adores teaching American History and AP Human Geography and is a part of a unique international program that allows students to experience the world through investigating the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Students participate in simulations like Model United Nations, which exposes them to world issues and problem solving techniques. She also leads trips to Chicago and New York City, on which students visit the United Nations. Rachel is so excited to take part in the AFS Youth Assembly and gain invaluable tools for her students.
Tylar Searcy
Vashon High School (MO)
Tylar Searcy’s passion for community service and fostering student success has driven a unique career path in education. After completing h undergraduate degree in Communication Science & Disorders from Fontbonne University, Tylar began her love for education at College Bound. There, she began as a recruiter and rose to manage a team of coaches who supported students academically and during college exploration. Seeking direct classroom experience, she transitioned to KIPP Saint Louis High School as a Chemistry teacher before joining Vashon High School as a Biology teacher. Her commitment to student growth extends beyond the classroom curriculum. Tylar leads ACT prep sessions, serves as an adjunct professor for the UMSL-Bridge Program, and co-leads the Show Me the World Project at Vashon, all intending to ignite student curiosity in STEM fields and demonstrate the real-world applications of science. Having recently completed her Master’s Degree in Teaching & Learning from Washington University-St. Louis (May 2024), Tylar is poised to make an even greater impact on her student’s lives.
Caitlin Shawaker
Ottawa Hills High School (OH)
Caitlin Shawaker has worked in the education field as a Fine Art and AP Art History teacher for over 8 years. She graduated from Boston University with her Master’s in Art Education in 2016 and since then has taught at several schools, but serendipitously landed back at her alma mater, Ottawa Hills Jr./Sr. High School in Toledo, Ohio. In college, she worked at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, where she was able to see how art can be the stepping stone for deep conversations about social awareness, politics, and human rights. After graduation, she took these experiences to the classroom setting. She works hard to foster a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere, where everyone belongs. In both her AP Art History and Fine Arts classes, she helps students gain a larger understanding of the world through art and history, opening their eyes to how we are all connected as humans. For the past 2 years, she has been the AFS advisor at her school, leading collaborative events with other teachers to foster cultural and diversity awareness inside and outside the school building.
Brian Shimer
Joseph Lane Middle School (OR)
Brian Shimer teaches Social Studies at Joseph Lane Middle School in Roseburg, Oregon. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and German studies and his master’s degree in education. He began volunteering for the ASPIRE program, which supported students navigating scholarships, college admissions, and financial aid on their path to college. Collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity are at the heart of what he focuses on in his Social Studies classes. In his personal life, he’s a proud father of two and spends his weekends and summers happily growing their hearts and minds with his lovely wife in the outskirts of Roseburg.
Darielle Williams
Magnolia Charter School (LA)
Darielle Williams is a high school English teacher at Magnolia Charter School Upper Campus. Williams is a passionate and dedicated educator. Williams believes in the importance of shaping and promoting critical thinking. She is advocates for students truly exploring words and developing their own stories. Williams enjoys watching her students grow in various capacities. Darielle attempts to instill in the students the importance of words and how being able to use their voices can take them places beyond their home experiences. This opportunity supports the stance of students being able to support themselves in exploring the world through various lenses and maximizing on some of the goals in place to support them.
Bailey Willis
Safety Harbor Middle School (FL)
Bailey is a middle school math teacher who has a calling for education. She believes public education should be a priority in government funding being that it provides equal access to food, opportunity knowledge, and social programs to support student growth and development. She strives to make the world a better place by helping students develop critical thinking skills and build self-regulating habits. Math can be a frustrating subject for some students and helping them overcome that frustration and build skills to help themselves is something Bailey is passionate about. Coaching the school’s math team and tutoring before school helps her lift students up to achieve their fullest potential. She hopes this conference will expose her to current best practices in education, help her infuse a global perspective into her lessons, and deepen her understanding of the world around her.