Julie Knutson, a teacher at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCH), has been awarded a Fulbright Teacher Exchange award for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Knutson, who teaches in the school's Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL), is one of 81 educators from 33 states selected for the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program.

"This Fulbright award is a testament to Julie's innovative approach to education and her global perspective, which is a true gift to our students," said Ed Glassman, director of the CEL.

The program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, aims to bring an international perspective to K-12 schools through targeted training, experience abroad and global collaboration.

Awardees complete a semester-long online course, participate in a professional development workshop in Washington, D.C., and travel abroad for several weeks to immerse themselves in another country's culture and education system.

Knutson, who joined the CEL team in 2022, focuses on equipping students with tools and mindsets for future success. She incorporates the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals into her courses, which include "Social Entrepreneurship" for 6th graders, "Digital Publishing" for 8th graders, and "Social Impact" for 10th graders.

"I want to help students recognize commonalities that they share with peers worldwide," Knutson said, "and to embrace the countless opportunities that the 21st century offers for dialogue and partnership."

This isn't Knutson's first recognition for global education efforts. In 2023, she was named an Advocate of the Global Schools Program, an initiative led by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Knutson is also an author of nonfiction books for children. Her book "Global Citizenship: Engage in the Politics of a Changing World" was named a 2021 Skipping Stones Multi-cultural book of the year, while "The Science and Technology of Marie Curie" was a finalist for the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books.

SCH Head of School Delvin Dinkins praised Knutson's achievement, saying, "This prestigious recognition is a testament to her passion and innovative spirit. We know that her experiences abroad will enrich our students and community in countless ways."

Knutson joins more than 800 U.S. citizens who will teach, study, or conduct research abroad for the 2024-2025 academic year through the Fulbright Program. Fulbright alumni include 62 Nobel Prize laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize recipients, and 78 MacArthur Fellows.

The Fulbright Program, established in 1946, has provided more than 400,000 participants from over 160 countries with opportunities to exchange ideas and contribute to solving global challenges. It is funded through an annual appropriation by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, with additional support from participating governments, host institutions, corporations, and foundations worldwide.

Approximately 400 master teachers and administrators participate in Fulbright Teacher Exchanges each year, contributing to a network of thousands of esteemed scholars and leaders in various fields.

Knutson hopes to leverage her role in the program to build alliances with like-minded education professionals around the world, further enriching the global perspective she brings to her classroom at SCH.