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Part of the award includes one week of academic seminars and visits in Singapore, including topics on the historical and political structure, the cultural scene, the economy and educational systems. During their time in Singapore, participants will have the opportunity to interact with Singaporeans involved with education, culture and development planning.
The remainder of the seminar will be spent in Malaysia, where participants will visit places of historical interest, places of worship, local universities, public school and villages. They will also interact with individuals there involved in education, culture and developmental planning.
A world traveler, Loughlin spent last summer in Japan as a collaborative educational project with Global School Partnerships. Loughlin grew up in Ireland, has taught in Jamaica and Scotland, and traveled to Belgium, Hong Kong, China, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands and England. Each year, she organizes the International Festival at CVS.
"I place strong emphasis on world cultures and humanities through the celebration of cultural diversity and international understanding," Loughlin said of classes she teaches.
In 1997, Loughlin was named CVS Teacher of the Year and Jackson County Teacher of the Year. The next year she was runner up for the Regional Teacher of the Year award. She is a member of the N.C. Association of Educators and the N.C. Association of Gifted Teachers.
Loughlin said she feels one of her strengths is "to show my students that even though people are different, they are also alike. Through my experiences, I am able to show them the need to find common ground in order to get along.
"If we understand the cultures of others, we are more likely to avoid conflicts and form international partnerships and friendships. This, in turn, plays an important part in the global economy and my role in preparing students to take their place in a global environment."
As part of the project, Loughlin must develop an interdisciplinary curriculum unit.
Principal Ron Yount was so certain Loughlin would receive the award, when he reviewed her portfolio he told her, "Now all they have to do is find the other 15."
Loughlin also shared her portfolio with her students. "I told them, 'You guys aren't the only ones who have to write essays.' I wanted to show them instances were adults have to write essays, too."
Loughlin has a fourth-grade student, Natasha Honegger, whose mother is Malaysian. "She and her mother will be in Malaysia this summer the same time I am there. Natasha told me, 'If you can work it in your schedule, we want you to come by and meet my grandmother there.' That's given me an added incentive to prepare for this trip," Loughlin said.
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