Educational Tour

PURPOSE FOR FUNDING REQUEST:

I am seeking funding for 6 people to travel to Europe to visit schools in Switzerland, Germany, France, and Spain in an effort to better encourage and help educate the exchange students of Northwest Arkansas.  I am planning a trip to Europe in June of 2013.  I currently have lodging for each country and would like funding for airline tickets and transportation expenses for four to six people in my travel group.  I would like to visit the countries so I can become more familiar with the different cultures of the international students in my school.  We would also visit schools in each country so that we have a better understanding of different education systems and methods.  I believe that my visiting to Europe will also improve my understanding of other cultures and will allow me to gain more insight to the needs of my current and future international students.  

WHO WE ARE:

My husband, Lonnie, and I are volunteer teachers at Fayetteville Christian School in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  I first began volunteering as a teacher in 1996.  I became the International Advisor in 2003.  Currently, I also teach Science, Computer courses, and a Physical Education class.  My husband teaches Chemistry.  Since we are volunteers, all of the expenses are paid out of pocket for certifications and classes that we choose to take to help improve our ability to teach effectively and stay abreast of changing technology and information.  We believe it would be a great opportunity to visit 3 European countries and different schools in each country.  It would also us to be more well rounded individuals which will be great for our American students as well as our international exchange students.  

OUR SCHOOL:

At Fayetteville Christian School, all teachers and staff are volunteers.  We choose to do this in an effort to help keep the cost of private school education affordable to anyone who wishes to study there.  Fayetteville Christian School is a state accredited school.  Our school is accredited by Arkansas Non-Public School Accrediting Association.  All teachers must hold a 4 year college degree from a higher education institution.  My husband, Lonnie Deavens, has a degree in Chemical Engineering.  I, Alicia Deavens, have a degree in Computer Information Systems.  The curriculum follows the Arkansas State Education requirements.  We also would like to take 2 student representatives and 2 more adult representatives with us.  The other 2 adult representatives would visit Germany and other locations in Europe.