Mississippi Educator Joan Wicker Selected as 2025 NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellow

Jackson, MS – The Mississippi Association of Educators (MAE) is proud to announce that Joan Wicker, a History and Mathematics Educator at Grenada High School in Grenada, has been selected as a 2025 NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellow. This prestigious fellowship is part of the NEA Foundation’s commitment to deepening educators’ global competency skills and fostering a greater understanding of diverse cultures and perspectives.

Wicker joins 47 other educators from 35 states and Japan in this year’s cohort, which reflects a wide range of communities, from urban to rural areas, including a U.S. Navy base in Japan. The program is designed to equip K-12 educators with the knowledge and skills needed to prepare students for an interconnected world. As part of the fellowship, participants will engage in a series of professional development activities, including:

• Ongoing workshops and webinars featuring global education experts
• Independent study and group discussions focused on enhancing global learning in the classroom
• Group mentoring and a two-day, in-person conference
• A capstone project that incorporates one or more U.N. Sustainable Development Goals into classroom instruction
• A 10-day international field study to explore another country’s education system and culture

This fellowship offers Wicker an opportunity to bring back valuable insights and strategies to her students, her school, and her community, fostering a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity and global issues. By participating in this program, Wicker will develop enhanced global competency skills, enabling her to prepare her students to excel in an increasingly interconnected world.

"Joan’s selection for this program is a testament to her dedication to providing her students with the tools they need to thrive on a global scale," said MAE President Erica Webber Jones. "We are incredibly proud of her accomplishment and look forward to seeing how her experience as a Global Learning Fellow will benefit not only her classroom but also the broader Mississippi education community."

Since its inception in 2011, the NEA Foundation’s Global Learning Fellowship has included more than 500 educators from across the United States. Fellows have the opportunity to build lasting connections and contribute to a growing network of educators committed to advancing global learning in U.S. public schools.

For more information on the NEA Foundation’s Global Learning Fellowship, visit www.neafoundation.org. 

About the Mississippi Association of Educators (MAE):
The Mississippi Association of Educators is the leading voice for public education in Mississippi, advocating for excellence in education and the well-being of all students, educators, and the community. MAE is dedicated to empowering educators and providing the tools necessary to ensure every child in Mississippi receives a quality education.