Jax State’s Aimee Weathers Earns Placement in GTE Fellowship Program

07/18/2025

By Brett Buckner 

Aimee Weathers, an instructor of Early Childhood Education at Jacksonville State, has been accepted to the prestigious Longview Global Teacher Education (GTE) Fellows Program. She is one of just six fellows selected for the year-long virtual professional development initiative, which supports university-based educators in integrating global perspectives into teacher preparation.   

“One of the main goals is to support faculty like me in integrating diverse content and resources into our coursework while also building our own cultural awareness,” Weathers said.  

Launched in June, the fellowship includes a summer series of webinars led by experts in global learning, as well as additional sessions in the fall and winter. Each fellow is paired with a mentor who has experience integrating global perspectives into teacher education. Weathers has been teamed with Dr. Lauren Angelone, an associate professor at Xavier University, whose work focuses on STEAM, technology integration, and cultural studies in education.   

“I’m excited about this connection and the doors it will open to new learning and future opportunities,” Weathers said. “We’ll also have ongoing chances for peer collaboration, coaching, and reflection throughout the year. I’ll be revising one of my courses to include more global content and will present that work at the end of the term.”  

Weathers first learned about the fellowship from Dr. Kimberly Gaiters-White, Jax State’s Dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies. The competitive application process included reflective questions about how her teaching, research, and service promote global learning, as well as how her own experiences have shaped her worldview as an educator.  

“Global education is not just about teaching geography,” she said. “It is about helping students understand different perspectives, communicate across cultures, and think critically about the world around them.”   

For young learners, she believes that begins with building empathy, curiosity, and respect for others. By strengthening her own understanding of global teaching practices, Weathers can better support pre-service teachers in creating inclusive and globally minded classrooms.  

 “Experiences like this also keep me reflective and engaged in my own teaching,” she said, “Which ultimately benefits the students I work with and the communities they will serve.”