Recently, iEARN-USA announced our partnership with Mexico for our grant-funded international virtual exchange program, Compañeros de Clase Globales. We are excited to be working with our peers in Mexico, led by Núria de Alva Ruiz, Country Coordinator, and Vianney Ávila Esquivel, Program Facilitator. Let's get to know a little more about Núria and Vianney.

Núria de Alva Ruiz carries specializations in Virtual Learning Environments and Management and has extensive experience in online and virtual education. As the Deputy Director of Educational Projects and Academic Director of Red Escolar, she designed the first version of Red Escolar and coordinated various online collaborative projects and courses.

Núria has consulted for institutions such as Semarnat, CODIET, the University of Veracruz, UOC, and CUAED UNAM, focusing on digital educational resources and online course delivery. She has represented iEARN in Mexico since 2003, promoting school participation in collaborative projects. We are so excited to have her on board in ensuring our partner schools in Mexico have a transformative experience participating in their virtual exchange, Compañeros de Clase Globales.

Vianney Ávila Esquivel has over 35 years at the Instituto Latinoamericano de la Comunicación Educativa (ILCE). Vianney Avila also serves as the Head of Special Projects, designing and coordinating online collaborative projects and instructional development for teacher training programs. She holds a Master's in Educational Technology from ILCE and a Master's in Art History from UNAM.

Previously, Vianney directed RedEscolar for over 15 years, managing educational platforms, designing distance education models, creating and evaluating educational materials, and supervising international collaborative projects in both English and Spanish. She has represented ILCE in forums and conferences on distance education in Canada, the USA, Chile, and Nicaragua. We are so excited to have her join us in supporting our partnering teachers in Mexico to ensure their students have a rewarding virtual exchange experience.

iEARN-USA's Compañeros de Clase Globales virtual program is funded by the Stevens Initiative, which is housed at the Aspen Institute and is supported by the Bezos Family Foundation. To learn more about iEARN-USA and how to join this or other virtual exchange programs, visit https://projects.us.iearn.org/.

iEARN-USA is a founder and the U.S. center of the International Education and Resource Network. With nearly 5,000 classrooms in 145 countries and virtual exchange projects in 30 languages, iEARN is one of the largest, most experienced non-profit networks enabling K-12 educators and students to engage in global virtual exchange through project-based & collaborative learning. The iEARN model has been cited for impact and reliance through its founding; most recently, the World Economic Forum named the iEARN model one of its top 16 frameworks for the future of education.

The Stevens Initiative is an international leader in virtual exchange, which brings young people from diverse places together to collaborate and connect through everyday technology. Created in 2015 as a lasting tribute to Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, the Initiative invests in virtual exchange programs; shares research, resources, and promising practices to improve impact; and advocates for broader adoption. Learn more: https://www.stevensinitiative.org

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, DC and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

The Bezos Family Foundation supports rigorous, inspired learning environments for young people, from birth through high school, to put their education into action. Through investments in research, public awareness, systems building and programs, the foundation works to elevate the field of education and improve life outcomes for all children.