Embassy of the United States Tallinn, Estonia

Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program (TEA) is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, and implemented by IREX (International Research and Exchanges Board), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization.

The international participants will travel to the United States in two cohorts of 88-90 teachers each in spring or fall 2013. TEA consists of a non-degree, non-credit customized academic program including coursework and intensive training in teaching methodologies, lesson planning, and teaching strategies for home classroom environments, as well as the use of computers for Internet, word processing, and as teaching tools. As part of the academic program, participants will have the opportunity to design or revise a set of lessons for use in their home classroom as well as modify a lesson into a micro-lesson demonstration for the End of program Workshop in Washington, D.C. The 6-week program will also include a 40-hour internship at a secondary school to actively engage participants with American teachers and students. Cultural activities and academic support will be provided for participants throughout the program.

TEA program alumni are eligible to apply for small grants upon their return home.  These grants can provide resources to conduct teacher training workshops or other activities that share teachers' experiences in the U.S. and contribute to the growth of their home education communities

 The TEA fellowship is fully funded and provides:

• J-1 visa support
• A pre-departure orientation held in participant's home country
• Round-trip airfare to/within the U.S.
• Baggage allowance for fees during program travel
• A Welcome Orientation in Washington, D.C.
• Academic program fees
• Housing (generally shared with other program fellows) and meals
• Accident and sickness coverage
• Transportation to the internship school (if necessary)
• A daily allowance for meals and incidentals during the program
• A book/professional development allowance
• A Closing Workshop in Washington, D.C.
• The opportunity to apply for follow-on grants.

Program related documents:

TEA Application (pdf - 296 KB)

TEA Frequently Asked Questions (pdf - 97 KB)

TEA Reference & Institutional Support (pdf - 90.3 KB)

PROGRAM TIMELINE

- Info day with the alumni of TEA program in Tallinn and Tartu: January-February 2012

- Application Deadline in Estonia: Monday, April 16, 2012

- Semi-Finalist Interviews in Tallinn at the embassy: May, 2012

- Application Deadline at IREX: June 15, 2012

- IREX Announces Program Finalists and Alternates: September 2011

Contact phone at the embassy is 668 8158 or 6688125

E-mail vitsutt@state.gov (Tiiu Vitsut) or usasaatkond@state.gov

Electronic submission of applications is preferable.

Handwritten application forms are not eligible.