People to People Ambassador Programs Curriculum Earns High Marks from Educational Advisors

SPOKANE, Wash., Aug. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- People to People Ambassador Programs, the leader in global educational travel experiences, put its programs to the test with seven members of its Educational Advisory Board in China this summer and gained strong validation of the programs' contribution to experiential learning and cultural competency.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130813/AQ63444)

Members of the Advisory Board who traveled include:

• Dan Domenech, Ph.D, Executive Director of American Association of School Administrators
• Anne L. Bryant, Ed.D, Executive Director, Emeritus, National School Boards Association
• William D. Waidelich, Ed. D, Executive Director, Association for Middle Level Education
• Edward L. Davis, Ed.D, Executive Director of DECA
• Kathy Hurley, Executive Vice President of Educational Alliances   Pearson Foundation
• Diane Barrett, Vice President, Education, Gannett Publishing Services
• Dr. Darla Strouse, Executive Director Partnerships, Development and Recognition for Office of the State Superintendent for the Maryland State Department of Education

The Advisory Board was formed early in 2012 to advise People to People on how to further enrich its programs' educational content and enhance experiential learning opportunities for students seeking an academic edge through global travel. 

"There is nothing like visiting another country to gain a broader perspective of others, and of oneself," said Anne Bryant, Executive Director, Emeritus, of the National School Boards Association.  "Traveling with U.S students, meeting foreign dignitaries, leaders and families and engaging with other schools opens the eyes of our young people. Witnessing the global stage from being on it, brings a rich and rewarding set of new skills and experiences to young people."

"We are learning of new and better ways to improve our curriculum from these academic leaders," said Tony Dombrowik, interim CEO for People to People Ambassador Programs. "We were able to gain their insights in a direct and powerful way by inviting them to observe high school delegations traveling in China this summer. Their positive feedback reinforced that our program content consists of a strong mix of education, travel and cultural immersion."

People to People programs scored 4.5 out of 5 in total with strong accolades around the focus on cultural immersion and the direct interactions that American students are able to have with their Chinese counterparts.  

"We were impressed with the effort on the part of the program to connect the students with the people and culture of China as opposed to simply touring historic sites," said Edward Davis, Executive Director for DECA. "The attention to creating a better cultural understanding among program participants was evident throughout the week."

Members of the Board offered ways to enhance the six months of pre-travel education that prepares students for the program, and suggested a clearer measurement for success of the People to People experience post travel. 

Darla Strouse, Executive Director Partnerships, Development and Recognition for Office of the State Superintendent for the Maryland State Department of Education, summed up the experience by saying, "The importance of co-mingling experiences, visual impressions, conversations, and information from the people of another country – the components that cannot come from books – with facts and other information was evident to me as a result of this trip."

Advisory Board recommendations will be implemented by People to People for Summer 2014 pre-travel education, and the Advisory Board will continue to proactively participate in curriculum guidance moving forward.

For more information about the People to People Education Advisory Board visit: http://peopletopeople.com/about-us/advisory-board.

About People to People Ambassador Programs
People to People Ambassador Programs is the world's most recognized educational travel provider. Since the 1960s, more than 500,000 people from around the world have traveled with People to People Ambassador Programs to help further global understanding through cross-cultural exchange. Offering unmatched safety measures and unparalleled access to foreign cultures and countries, People to People Ambassador Programs promotes personal success in a globalized world and fosters international friendships for both students and professional adults.

People to People Ambassador Programs is the exclusive educational travel provider of People to People International (PTPI), a nonprofit organization founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to promote peace through understanding worldwide. Together, PTPI and People to People Ambassador Programs are united in a mission to bridge cultural and political borders through education and exchange. For more information, please visit www.peopletopeople.com.  

About Ambassadors Group
Ambassadors Group Inc. (NASDAQ: EPAX) is an education company located in Spokane, Washington. Ambassadors Group, Inc. is the parent company of Ambassador Programs, Inc., World Adventures Unlimited, Inc., and BookRags, Inc., an educational research website. The Company also oversees the Washington School of World Studies, an accredited travel study and distance learning school. Additional information about Ambassadors Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries is available at www.ambassadorsgroup.com. In this press release, "Company", "we", "us", and "our" refer to Ambassadors Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

SOURCE People to People Ambassador Programs