On Friday, we had the pleasure of accompanying our Checkpoint Charlie Foundation Teacher Award recipient, Stephen Van Orden, on a visit to Dresden, Saxony.
As part of the award, recipients are invited to Germany to participate in the Education Enrichment Program (EEP), organized by the School Teachers Exchange Program (STEP). The program is designed to strengthen cultural exchange between Germany and the United States while recognizing outstanding and long-term contributions to German language education in the U.S. The award is presented as part of the annual meeting of the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG), which selects the award recipients.
Stephen has dedicated more than 25 years to fostering transatlantic understanding through a school partnership between schools in Provo, Utah, and Meißen, Saxony. When he heard of plans to establish a sister city relationship between the two cities, he recognized that the relationship would thrive through educational connections and helped to establish the school partnership. Student exchanges are a key part of the partnership, and exchanges have provided generations of students the valuable opportunities to strengthen their language skills and experience another culture.
During his visit to Dresden, Stephen met with Mrs. Forßbohm, Advisor for International Relations at the Saxon State Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs, to discuss current international education initiatives and future opportunities for cooperation. He also had the opportunity to briefly meet Christian Hartmann, Parliamentary Group Leader of the CDU-Fraktion des Sächsischen Landtages, and Paul Ziemiak, Member of the German Bundestag.
The day concluded with a guided tour of the Saxon State Parliament led by Member of the State Parliament (MdL) Peter Wilhelm Patt, including visits to the House of Representatives and the plenary chamber. MdL Patt also provided an overview of the current parliamentary landscape in Saxony and the challenges the educational system is facing.
The visit highlighted the importance of international exchange, educational partnerships, and the lasting impact dedicated teachers can have in building bridges between countries and cultures.
