LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - Dawn J. Saari, a 2006 graduate of Lock Haven University’s Master of Education in Alternative Education Studies program, and a history and social studies teacher at Thames River Academy in Norwich, Conn., has been selected to participate in a Fulbright-Hayes Group Project to South Africa this coming summer.

The focus of the group project is student achievement and workforce development in disadvantaged populations. While in South Africa, Saari, along with 14 other high school and college professionals, will engage with South African teachers, officials, industry representatives and academics on the issues of achieving university-level language, reading and writing skills and workforce development, as well as explore the range of access to achievement programs in comparison with practices in the U.S.

During their stay, members of the group will visit facilities on the East Rand, West Rand, the Vaal, Soweto and Lenasia in Gauteng Province. They will participate in forums on HIV/AIDS in Kwazulu-Natal Province and investigate Further Education & Training (FET) programs and initiatives in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape Provinces.

At the conclusion of the project, Saari will prepare a curriculum project for implementation in South Africa schools as well as conduct outreach activities in schools and communities across Connecticut.

Saari credits Dr. Nathanial Hosley and Dr. Jessica Hosley, her instructors at LHU, with helping her build a foundation for qualifying for the Fulbright-Hayes Project. The Master of Education in Alternative Education Studies is a National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education accredited program at LHU.