Hudson Valley Writing Project teacher consultant and New Paltz alumna receives Fulbright Award

NEW PALTZ – Christine McCartney, an English Language Arts teacher at Newburgh Free Academy, a Teacher Consultant for the Hudson Valley Writing Project, and a 2007 graduate of the Master of Arts in Teaching at SUNY New Paltz, has been awarded a Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching grant to conduct research in Finland, the United States Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board recently announced.

McCartney is one of approximately 20 U.S. citizens who will travel abroad in 2012 – 2013 through the Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching Program.

Christine McCartney

During her six-month stay in Finland, McCartney will study at the University of Tampere where she will conduct seminars for local teachers and students, observe classes, and complete a capstone project in which she will research how Finnish teachers utilize formative assessments in their classrooms.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support. McCartney was selected on the basis of her academic and professional achievement as well as demonstrated leadership potential in her field.

The Hudson Valley Writing Project at SUNY New Paltz (HVWP) is a professional development organization whose purpose is to improve writing instruction and to promote literacy development in all disciplines and at all levels of education, from early childhood to college. Founded in 2001, HVWP has provided programs for nearly 4,000 teachers and young writers in the Hudson Valley region. HVWP respects teachers’ knowledge, expertise, and leadership.