Shayla Morton Selected For Training In US
Shayla Morton, an educator at Francis Patton Primary School, was selected to attend an immersive training experience in Virginia.
A spokesperson said, “A partnership between the U.S. Consulate General, Government of Bermuda and The Babcock American History Scholarship funded a special teacher training opportunity with the Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute of Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia — located seven miles from the Jamestown settlement so closely intertwined with Bermuda’s early history.
“After an open call for applications, Shayla Morton, an educator at Francis Patton Primary School, was selected to attend an immersive training on American heritage July 23-29.
“The Teacher Institute provides participants with interactive teaching techniques and skills to become mentors who can assist their peers and other educators in their community to develop active learning classrooms and make history exciting for their students.”
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to travel to Williamsburg, Virginia to take part in The Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute. Thank you to the U.S. Consulate General and the Bermuda Government for this amazing opportunity to continue learning and be able to bring back what I have learned to enhance my instruction in the classroom,” said educator Shayla Morton.
Shayla Morton with Carol Ann Babcock and Tab Broyles, Director of Teacher Development
The spokesperson said, “Training sessions include off-campus site visits in Historic Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg and the surrounding area where participants will engage in an inclusive and relevant approach to teaching social studies focused on American history and civics.
“Teachers will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with historians, meet character interpreters and explore engaging instructional strategies, in addition to learning interactive teaching techniques to develop instructional materials designed to improve instruction, raise literacy levels, enhance critical thinking skills, and bring history to life in the classroom.”
“I am thrilled to support education exchange opportunities between the United States and Bermuda,” said U.S. Consul General Karen Grissette. “Earlier this year, I established connections between stakeholders engaged on the history of U.S.-Bermuda relations including Sir John Swan, Minister Owen Darrell, and visitors from the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation Board. Discussions about expanding U.S.-Bermuda education opportunities led Mrs. Carol-Ann Babcock to offer to add Bermudian teachers to the Teacher Institute and the Babcock American Scholarship, considering Bermuda’s important ties to Jamestown.
“We are so grateful to Mrs. Babcock for generously funding the Babcock American History scholarship for the past ten years for teachers from Fairfax, Virginia. When Mrs. Babcock learned of the Consulate’s interest in expanding U.S. education opportunities for Bermudians and saw the relevance of the Jamestown training to Bermuda’s educators, she offered to include Bermudian teachers this year’s scholarship application and training recruitment process. Thanks to Mrs. Babcock’s generosity, all costs for tuition, airport transfers between Richmond and Williamsburg, hotel stays, and meals were fully funded. This is a first for Bermuda and we look forward to continuing this partnership next year.
“Special thanks to Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport Owen Darrell and Minister of Education Diallo Rabain for their partnership. The Government of Bermuda covered airfare costs between Bermuda and Richmond, Virginia to support an experienced educator to completing this immersive training. Through this collaboration, educators will develop innovative lessons that will bring history to life in the classroom which will enhance their introduction to the U.S.-Bermuda connection and the island’s ties with Jamestown, Virginia.”
Minister of Education Diallo Rabain added his thanks for the partnership, saying, “The Government of Bermuda extends gratitude to the U.S. Consulate General and Carol-Ann Babcock for their support of our dedicated educators within the Bermuda Public School System. Their commitment to providing Professional Development opportunities will empower our teachers to foster optimal learning environments for our children and shape a brighter future. Congratulations to Shayla Morton for seizing this opportunity, and we eagerly anticipate the upcoming second cohort in Summer 2024.”
The spokesperson said, “Shayla Morton has over 14 years of experience as an educator. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education [Kindergarten – U.S. 6th grade] from Winston Salem State University in North Carolina.
“Colonial Williamsburg builds on its more than 70-year educational outreach tradition by exploring new technologies, expanding successful initiatives, and offering new ventures to fulfill its educational mission. The Teacher Institute was developed to improve the quality of American history education in schools and ensure that every student gains an understanding of the principles behind the United States’ system of government. The program began in 1990 with 44 fifth-grade teachers from two southern California school districts. Today, almost 10,700 teachers from all 50 states, and six territories and countries have participated since the inception of the Teacher Institute.
“The Babcock American History Scholarship is open to educators from private and public schools engaged on U.S.-Bermuda history. Those interested in applying for the 2024 Bob and Marion Wilson Training Institute of Colonial Williamsburg should contact Haleycs@state.gov for more information.”
