Jax State’s Dr. Candice Byers Named Global Teacher Education Fellow

07/17/2026

National fellowship will support the integration of global perspectives into teacher preparation at Jax State.

By Brett Buckner

Dr. Candice Byers, assistant professor in Jacksonville State University’s College of Education and Professional Studies, has been selected as a Longview Foundation Global Teacher Education (GTE) Fellow, a national professional development program designed to help higher education faculty integrate global learning into teacher preparation.

The yearlong fellowship is a virtual opportunity that brings together educators from across the country. Hosted by the Longview Foundation, the program helps educators revise existing courses, incorporate global learning outcomes, and cultivate cultural competence in future teachers.

“I was very excited to be chosen as a fellow and ready to get started,” Dr. Byers said.

The fellowship allows Dr. Byers to work with a cohort of educators for more than a year as she integrates new content into a course of her choice that will enhance the preparation of future teacher candidates.

“We work over the year through webinars to enrich our knowledge of global learning and perspectives,” Dr. Byers said. “I also have been assigned a mentor to help guide me through the process of bringing global learning into my coursework.” 

The program, which began in June, provides Dr. Byers with opportunities to connect with other scholars in education while gathering new and relevant information.

“We have already started our webinars,” she said. “So far, I have been able to have great discussions on a variety of topics, from multicultural literature to thinking both locally and globally when planning for my courses.”

Dr. Byers teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in the Secondary Education Program. Her focus is English Language Arts (ELA), and she serves as the ELA program chair. She also coordinates the Senior Practicum field experiences for undergraduate and graduate students in secondary education.

She works extensively with teacher candidates and teaches courses on content literacy, teaching writing, teaching literature, literacy theory, and English Language Arts methods. Additionally, she supervises pre-service teachers during student teaching.

“She is dedicated to preparing teacher candidates to engage students using global perspectives and inclusive, culturally responsive approaches,” said Dr. Nilufer Guler, Associate Dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies. “She sees global education as essential to empowering future educators to create meaningful connections across cultures and communities.”

Through the fellowship, Dr. Byers aims to revise her Teaching Literature course to help students have a “more globally focused experience,” she said. This, in turn, will be a lesson they can take and apply in their own classrooms. 

“Already I have begun to see not just my Teaching Literature course through a new lens, but I have also started to see ways I can improve upon my other courses as well,” she said. “My hope is that as I continue to learn through this fellowship opportunity, I will be able to positively impact my own students through the additions and changes I make to the courses I teach.” 

Dr. Guler was awarded the fellowship during the 2018-19 academic year and knows what can be gained by the experience.

“This experience significantly expanded my professional network and gave me opportunities to collaborate with colleagues from across the nation and around the world,” she said. “Together, we applied for grants, wrote papers, presented at conferences, exchanged teaching ideas, and even published a book.”

Calling it “one of the best professional development experiences” she’s ever had, Dr. Guler appreciates what the fellowship can mean for Dr. Byers.

“Attending the different professional development opportunities that are provided by the foundation is very beneficial,” she said. “Also, connecting with colleagues who have similar research interests will be beneficial for improving both research and instructional methods.”

The application process consisted of several questions that focused on Dr. Byers’ goals as an educator, her research and service, and how they promote global learning. There were also questions about what contributed to her learning and growth as a global learner, and what her goals would be if selected. She also had to request a recommendation from her department head. 

“All of this information was reviewed by a panel of reviewers with expertise in teacher education,” she said, “and I was recommended as one of the top candidates.”