Parkway NEA and Rockwood NEA Educators Named NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellows
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The NEA Foundation, a public charity founded by educators for educators, has named Matt Alonzo of Parkway NEA and Rachel Johnson of Rockwood NEA among its newest Global Learning Fellows. Alonzo and Johnson join educators from across the country in a year-long professional learning experience focused on educating and empowering students for global citizenship, culminating in a 10-day field study in Peru next summer.
Matt Alonzo
High School Math/CS Educator
Parkway North High School
Parkway School District
Rachel Johnson
Elementary Gifted Music Educator
Center for Creative Learning CCL
Rockwood School District
The fellows represent the diversity and strength of the teaching profession. Educators in the program teach students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels and represent a wide range of subject areas and school communities. The cohort includes educators from rural, suburban, and urban districts across the country, creating opportunities for participants to learn from one another’s experiences and perspectives.
Over the next year, Alonzo and Johnson will engage in coursework, webinars, collaborative learning opportunities, and professional development designed to strengthen their global competencies. Fellows will work alongside NEA Foundation staff, partners, and program alumni as they explore ways to bring global perspectives into their classrooms and schools.
The fellowship concludes with a capstone project that allows participants to share their learning more broadly with fellow educators. As members of this distinguished national cohort, Alonzo and Johnson join a growing network of educators committed to fostering global understanding, strengthening public education, and preparing students to thrive as engaged global citizens.
View a listing of all the 2026-27 NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellows by visiting neafoundation.org.
Global Fellowship Past Participants Share Their Experiences
Kimberly Duvall
Blue Springs NEA
Delta Woods Middle
2025-2026 Field Study: South Africa
As a Missouri NEA member, participating in the NEA Global Learning Fellowship was one of the most rewarding professional experiences of my career. Throughout the year-long program, I engaged in meaningful coursework that challenged me to think critically about global issues, equity, culture, and how our classrooms connect to the wider world. The fellowship pushed me to grow both professionally and personally, encouraging me to reflect on my own teaching practices and explore new ways to help students develop global competencies. The discussions, readings, and collaborative projects provided valuable insights that I have already been able to bring back to my classroom and share with colleagues.
The culmination of the fellowship was an unforgettable study experience in South Africa. Seeing firsthand the history, resilience, and diversity of the country brought our learning to life in ways no textbook ever could. From visiting significant historical and cultural sites to engaging with local educators and communities, every experience deepened my understanding of global citizenship and the power of education. Equally meaningful were the relationships I built with fellow educators from across the United States. Those connections became one of the fellowship's greatest gifts, creating a network of passionate professionals who continue to support and inspire one another. Add to that the opportunity to experience South Africa’s breathtaking landscapes, vibrant culture, and beautiful scenery, and the NEA Global Learning Fellowship was truly transformative. I would strongly encourage MNEA members to apply for this unique opportunity to learn, travel, grow, and return home with fresh perspectives that will positively impact both their students and their communities.
Ashleigh Bertrand
Blue Springs NEA
Blue Springs South High School
2023-2024 Field Study: Costa Rica
Taking a chance and applying to be a part of the NEA Foundation’s Global Learning Fellowship has been one of the most rewarding professional decisions I’ve made in a career approaching three decades. The highlight was undoubtedly the nearly two weeks immersed in Costa Rican culture—from time spent in urban San José to the rural Arenal Region and the Guanacaste Coast. The Fellows visited wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, coffee farms, and numerous schools, experiencing firsthand a beautiful blend of the many elements that shape a culture: education, nature, food, history, art, industry. But our learning began much earlier, one fall weekend in Washington, DC, where we first met and began our year-long deep dive into storytelling as advocacy.
Beyond the lifelong friendships I’ve been gifted through the NEA Foundation, my biggest takeaway has been the reminder to remain a reflective practitioner and consistently amplify student voices. No other professional development experience has come close to making me feel valued as a professional while simultaneously offering me the opportunity to add value to my colleagues, my students, and public education as an institution.
Dr. Cicely Woodard
Springfield NEA
Kickapoo High School
2021-2022 Field Study: South Africa
When I applied for the NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellowship, I hoped to learn from teachers in Peru and make lasting connections with educators from across the United States. I did not anticipate how the year-long fellowship experience would change the way I see myself as an educator and the way I view my students as global citizens. Through the year, I had the opportunity to learn about the culture of Peru virtually with colleagues in my cohort. Additionally, we worked on a project to help us consider what it meant to teach math through the lens of a global perspective.
I had never been to South America before, so traveling to Peru was a transformative experience filled with unforgettable moments. We served at a home for girls and experienced everyday life in a Peruvian market that was nothing like the grocery store in my neighborhood. We cooked a traditional meal in a culinary class and were immersed in the culture on a day trip to a remote Peruvian village. We explored the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu. I finished the fellowship with a greater sense of confidence, a renewed appreciation for the act of teaching and learning, and a strengthened commitment to ensuring that every student who enters my classroom leaves knowing that they can face life’s challenges with belief in themselves.
I encourage educators to apply for the NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellowship, because experiences like this have the power to deeply change us as teachers and to create unlimited possibilities for students!
Cassidy Urie
Columbia MNEA
Jefferson Middle School
2018-2019 Field Study: South Africa
The year-long journey to South Africa was an unforgettable experience that helped me grow both personally and professionally as an educator. Throughout the trip, I had the opportunity to learn about the South African education system by visiting schools and meeting inspiring teachers and students, while also experiencing the powerful work of organizations like SAILI, Rainbow Academy, the Butterfly Art Project, and Sozo. I explored Cape Town and Johannesburg, visited historic and cultural sites such as District Six, the Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill, Liliesleaf, and the Hector Pieterson Museum, and learned more about South Africa’s history, apartheid, and the ongoing fight for equality. I also experienced the beauty and culture of the country through places like Bo-Kaap, Soweto, the V&A Waterfront, and an African safari. Most importantly, I formed lifelong friendships with fellow educators, tour guides, students, and members of the NEA GLF community. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity, the people I met, and the lessons I learned, all of which will stay with me forever.
The NEA Foundation will begin accepting applications for the 2027-28 Global Learning Fellowship in December of 2026.
About The NEA Foundation
The NEA Foundation is a national philanthropic organization that invests in educators’ leadership, shared learning, and collaboration; supports partnerships and initiatives that strengthen public education; and promotes improvements in public education policy and practice. Find them online at neafoundation.org.