Fall 2013 - Academic Year in America AYA

fall 2013
From the Director
Dear Friends,
First and foremost, thank you for helping us to find great host families and schools for 761 AYA students
this year! We really appreciate everyone’s efforts throughout the season – we could not make this program
happen without your dedication and caring! Thank you to the new Local Coordinators who have made
dreams come true for AYA students for the first time this year – we have over 70 new placing LC’s with AYA
this year and we are proud to welcome them to the team.
Student support is underway with Second Visits and Monthly Reports being completed and submitted
already. Michele Kabel and Elizabeth Azeizat , our student support specialists, are ready to assist the
Regional Directors as they work through issues with you as they arise throughout the year. Elizabeth will
be sending quarterly surveys to all students and host families this year to see how everyone is doing.
These surveys are a great way to keep in touch with our program participants and to be able to respond to
their questions or concerns.
We are also ready to get started placing our January students – we will be welcoming about 50 students
this January. Students are coming from Germany (25) , Brazil (8), China (10),South Korea (3), Italy (2) and
the YES program (3). We already have many applications ready to share on our website – check them out
and make a placement! January placements count as qualifications to the AYA 2014 National Meeting –
destination to be announced in early November!
We are introducing a new component of the AYA program for students – the Student Advocates for Global
Awareness (SAGA) program – please learn more about this great program on page 8.
Now that August students are placed, the entire AYA team is looking forward to spending time with many
of you at our National Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal in early November. We have some great workshops
planned and are looking forward to sharing good information and good times with you!
All the best,
In this issue...
AYA Staff Directory........................................ 2
Student Orientation.................................... 11
2013 Calendar.............................................. 4
Compliance Corner..................................... 12
RD Report..................................................... 6
Field Staff Happenings................................ 13
National Meeting Qualifiers.......................... 7
LC of the Quarter........................................ 14
South Beach Qualifiers.................................. 7
LC of the Month......................................... 14
Portugal Fun Facts......................................... 8
AYA Summer Excitement............................ 15
Message from the Grants Team.................... 8
AYA Team Building...................................... 15
Our Students................................................. 9
AYA Staff Info............................................. 16
About the New SAGA Program.................... 9
AYA Staff Directory
Melanie French | Executive Director
Ashleigh Caws | Compliance Coordinator
Directs AIFS Foundation and AYA program.
P: (203) 399-5100 | F: (203) 399-5300
E: [email protected]
Responsible for ensuring that all placements
meet federal compliance regulations; tracks,
collects, and processes paperwork; coordinates
annual audit.
Michele Kabel | Deputy Director
P: (203) 399-5063 | F: (203) 724-1536
E: [email protected]
Manages and oversees all student support, responsible for all high level cases; manages the Compliance Team and the Field Staff Administrator Team,
leads AYA team with Director.
Lisa DeBeradinis | Grants and Orientation
Manager
P: (203) 399-5096 | E: [email protected]
Elizabeth Azeizat | Student Support
Administrator
Works with the Deputy Director to ensure all
students are supported by AYA and their LC, and
assists with student support issues.
P: (203) 399-5097 | E: [email protected]
Sarah Bussanich | Compliance Coordinator
Ensures that all placements and program operations are compliant with federal and program
guidelines; prepares annual audit.
P: (203) 399-5064 | F: (203) 724-1536
E: [email protected]
Mark Cavanagh | Grants Regional Director
Oversees placement and supervision of all YES and
FLEX student; works closely with Grants Manager
to administer both grants.
P: (203) 399-5081 | F: (203) 724-1536
E: [email protected]
Oversees the administration of the YES and
FLEX grant programs, manages all AYA orientation programs
P: (203) 399-5070 | F: (203) 399-5262
E: [email protected]
Ana Disla | Compliance Coordinator
Administrative support to Executive Director, and processes SEVIS, background checks,
compliance, double placement, and school
paperwork.
P: (203) 399-5199 | F: (203) 399-5214
E: [email protected]
Sarah Evans | Field Staff Administrator
Oversees training and professional development as well as field staff and recruitment of
new LCs.
P: (203) 399-5080 | F: (203) 399-5281
E: [email protected]
Michael Falvey | Regional Director
Placement and supervision for the following
states: IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, NC, OK, OR, SC, VA, WA,
WV, WI.
P: (203) 399-5086 | F: (203) 399-5286
E: [email protected]
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Super Memo: fall 2013
Lisa Fealy | Regional Director
Placement and supervision for the following states:
AL, AZ, FL, IL, IN, MA, MN, MS, NH, PA, VT, WY.
P: (203) 399-5069 | F: (203) 724-1536
E: [email protected]
Jackie Fedor | Regional Director Assistant
Responsible for assisting Regional Director team
in the recruitment of host families, focusing on
Marketing efforts.
Christophe Petibon | International
Enrollment Coordinator and IT Power User
Processes student applications and coordinates
student flights; assists with IT applications.
P: (203) 399-5064 | F: (203) 399-5264
E: [email protected]
Erin Sesil | Field Staff Administrator
P: (203) 399-5043 | E: [email protected]
Overseas field staff benefit administration; LC
retention and marketing; new LC
recruitment.
Nikki Hernandez | Regional Director
P: (203) 399-5085 | F: (203) 399-5285
E: [email protected]
Placement and supervision for the following
states: AR, CA, DE, HI, MS, ND, OH, RI, SD, TX, UT.
P:(203) 399-5071 | F: (203) 399-5271
E: [email protected]
Annie Smith | Applications Coordinator
Pieter Hogoboom | Regional Director
P: (203) 399-5066 | F: (203) 399-5266
E: [email protected]
Placement and supervision for the following
states: AK, CO, CT, GA, ID, IL, IN, ME, MI, MT, NV, NJ,
NM, NY, TN.
P: (203) 399-5079 | F: (203) 399-5279
E [email protected]
Margot Manasevit | Regional Director
Responsible for overseeing all new Local Coordinators; responsible for placement and supervision in a territory, TBA; student support liaison.
P: (203) 399-5524 | F: (203) 724-1536
E: [email protected]
Andrew Newberry | Placement Manager
Responsible for overseeing the placement of
all AYA students, oversees the Regional Director
team and coordinates efforts closely with
Marketing Department.
P: (203) 399-5082 | F: (203) 399-5282
E: [email protected]
Processes student applications, and assists with
student flights.
Patti Stack | Operations and Enrollment
Manager
Billing and program accounts, organizes National Meeting, visa issues, flights, partner relations,
inbound student applications.
P: (203) 399-5084 | F: (203) 399-5284
E: [email protected]
Emma Stein | Fields Staff and Compliance
Liasion
Oversees second visits; Field Staff compliance
and paperwork review; new LC recruitment;
placement paperwork review and audit preparation during peak seasons.
P: (203) 399-5526 | F: (203) 399-5289
E: [email protected]
Super Memo: fall 2013
3
2013 Calendar Year –
Supervision and counseling of students is ongoing monthly.
Second visits are continuing as needed.
JANUARY
APRIL
• January students attend group orientation in New Jersey; Jan 8 – 11
or fly directly to Host Families & LCs will conduct student orientations
• First National Meeting Qualification Deadline – April 1st! Place 5
students by April 1st to earn 1 place; place 9 to earn 2 places
• Mid-year orientation for Grant students, Disney Theme Parks, Orlando
Fl; Jan 17 - 21
• LCs continue to place students
• Confirm exchange student policies & medical requirements with
High School Administrators
• August student applications arrive
• Monthly Student Supervision Report is due by 4/30
• LCs begin discussing departure; re-entry and Reverse Culture Shock
MAY
• Student profiles updated daily on the Web. LCs start making placements for August season
• LCs continue to place students
• Monthly Supervision Report is due by 1/31
• End of year survey sent to students, host families and high schools
• Monthly Supervision Report is due by 5/31
FEBRUARY
• Students begin returning home
• August students profiles updated daily on the Web
• LCs continue to make placements
JUNE
• Return flight questions addressed & arrangements begin
• Second National Meeting Qualification Deadline – June 1st! Place 7
students by June 1st to earn 1 place; place 13 to earn 2 places
• Monthly Student Supervision Report is due by 2/28
• LCs continue to place students
MARCH
• LCs begin conducting Host Family Orientations
• Majority of August student applications are received by March 15
• Monthly Student Supervision Report is due by 6/30
• LCs continue to place students
• Students return home
• Student profiles updated daily on the Web
• 3rd quarterly survey sent to students
• Monthly Supervision Report is due by 3/31
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Super Memo: fall 2013
JULY
OCTOBER
• Staff confirms student flight information with LCs and Host Families
• January student profiles updated daily on the Web
• LCs continue conducting Host Family Orientations
• LCs continue placing January students
• LCs continue to place students
• 2nd Visits and follow up 2nd visits due for all students
AUGUST
• 3rd and Final National Meeting Qualification Deadline – August 1st!
Place 9 students by August 1st to earn 1 place; place 16 to earn 2
places
• New LCs National Meeting Qualification -Place 4 students by August
1st to earn 1 place; place 8 to earn 2 places
• Staff confirms student flight information with LCs and Host Families
• LCs conclude placement season
• Students attend group orientations in New Jersey or fly directly to Host
Family & LCs will conduct student orientations
• Monthly Student Supervision Report is due by 10/31
NOVEMBER
• AYA National Meeting – November 6-11
• January student profiles updated daily on the Web
• LCs continue placing January students
• LCs begin conducting January Host Family Orientations
• Monthly Student Report due 11/30
DECEMBER
SEPTEMBER
• Final January students are placed
• Students begin to settle in with Host Families & schools
• LCs continue conducting HF orientations
• January student applications begin to arrive
• Staff confirms student flight information with LCs and Host Families
• LCs begin January placements
• August semester students begin to return home
• 2nd Visits due for students in welcome families
• 2nd quarterly survey sent to students
• 1st quarterly survey sent to students
• Monthly Student Supervision Reports due by 12/31
• Monthly Student Report due 9/30
Super Memo: fall 2013
5
AYA RD Team- Michael, Pieter, Maressa, Lisa, Margot, Jackie, Nikki, Brendon, and Mark!
The RD Report
by Andrew Newberry, Placement Manager
The Regional Director team had a tremendous end to the placement season this year! Lisa, Margot, Mike, Nikki, and Pieter did a
remarkable job at ensuring that every single student found that
perfect home away from home. The placement team would like
to thank every Local Coordinator for your constant energy and
enthusiasm for the AYA program! With the August placement
season complete, we are already turning our focus to Spring
Semester. We would like to remind all LC’s that now is the time
to call your schools to see how many wonderful AYA students
they would like to have for Spring Semester! Thanks again to all
the Local Coordinators that have made this another successful
season!
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Super Memo: fall 2013
Special Shout
Out!
Please join us in giving
special congratulations
to Lisa Fealy for being
this year’s highest placing Regional Director! It
came down to the wire,
but Lisa Fealy came out
victorious!
National Meeting Qualifiers
* Qualified with a Companion
Cindy Anderson*
New LC! Margaret Evangelesta
New LC! Stephen Ledman
Stephanie Sasz
Thor Bahrman III
Rebeckah Feist
Nancy Looper
New LC! Charm Saults
Tony Barnett*
Linda Fetcher
Rachel Lyon
Revonda Sawyer*
Edyth Bercher
Julie Fowler*
Amanda Mandachit
Rise Schneider
Dina Berg*
Courtney Fraley*
Cindy Martinez
Sheri Schuster*
Jane Bigler*
Daniel Garza
Hugh McMullen
Catherine Scott
Kelly Brown
Katina Gatlin
Maria Teresa Melton
Anita Senesac
Dorothy Brown*
New LC! Robyn Gonzales
Linda Miele
New LC! Susann Sexe*
Melinda Bunch
Louise Hackman
New LC! Judith Miller
New LC! Jeffrey Stevens
Joanne Carlisle
Deborah Hardee
Glenda O’ Regan*
Margarette Stoiljkovic
New LC! Vanessa Hope Cochran
New LC! Julee Hollis
New LC! Johanne Osias
Cathy Tierney
Brenda Danielowicz
Shirley Jackson*
Stacy Pelham*
Juana Maria Trelles*
Debra Dattoma
Laurie Jacobsen*
New LC! Lisa Pollak
Sandra Ward
Mark Dingwall
Ginger Jeffcoat*
Ray Rodriguez
New LC! Kelly Wentzel
Ryan Dunfee
Chandra Jones
Theresa Rogers
New LC! Devonna Zeug*
Steven Eichman
Robert Kelley*
LeeAnn Rolf
2. Tony Barnett, WA
18 Students
3. Glenda O’Regan, PA
18 Students
LC Top Placers
1. Julie Fowler, IL
24 students
4. Revonda Sawyer, AL
17 Students
Congratulations Julie, Tony, Glenda and Revonda on such a successful placement season!
South Beach Qualifiers
Alexis Mason
Jackie Webb
Lindsay Bongi
Sarbrina Park
Bailey Baird
Jonette Ayubi
LouAnn Stokes
Shainance Mkoji
Cindy Stolz
Karen Adams
Margaret Adam
Taylor Locker
Colleen Reid
Katina Gatlin
Michele Hebert
Therese Cook
Deborah Christy
Kristy Schmitt
Phil Blahut
Tressa Miller
Edy Hockaday
Krystal Phillips
Rebecca Lograsso
Heather Walker
Laura Miller
Ryan Dunfee
Super Memo: fall 2013
7
Portugal Fun Facts!
1. Portugal, having had the same defined
borders since 1139, is the oldest country in Europe.
2. The oldest bookstore in the world,
Bertrand Bookstore, is in Portugal’s
capital, Lisbon.
4. Portugal is home to the longest bridge
in Europe, The Vasco da Gama Bridge in
Lisbon. It is 10.5 miles (17 kilometers)
long.
5. Portugal is one of the world’s top surf
spots with a coastline that spans 497
miles (800 kilometers) and it’s know to
have 364 days of surf!
3. Portugal is the largest cork producer
in the world producing 70% of the
world’s cork exports.
6. The art of tile painting and glazing,
known as azulejos, is one of the most
popular art forms in Portugal. Blue and
White tiles spread across the country
and is practiced by artisans today!
A Message from the Grants Team
By Mark Cavanagh, Grants Regional Director
Kudos to all of our Grant Local Coordinators for an outstanding placement season! We had
a strong finish to the placement season and were able to handle a couple of last minute
unexpected adjustments. Our grant students started arriving in late July with a large number
of students arriving the first full week in August. I was able to attend the first YES arrival orientation to meet 32 of our amazing students, who left me in awe after seeing them perform with
their country group in a talent show that was filled with dancing and singing on the last night
of orientation. I look forward to working with all of you throughout the year to ensure that all
of our Grant students have a safe, successful and enjoyable experience. Thank you again to our
amazing Grant LC’s!
Mark, RD, with Glenda, Local Coordinator -PA and
Abdulla, student from Kyrgyzstan at the Grants
Orientation in Washington, DC
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Super Memo: fall 2013
Our Students!
Country
# of Students
Country
# of Students
Albania
1
Luxembourg
2
Armenia
1
Libya
1
Azerbaijan
1
Macedonia
1
Bahrain
1
Mali
1
Bangladesh
2
Moldova
1
Bosnia-Herzegovina
1
Morocco
1
Brazil
93
Mozambique
1
Bulgaria
1
Nigeria
1
Cameroon
1
Norway
22
Chili
1
Pakistan
7
China
76
Philippines
2
Egypt
3
Poland
8
France
2
Russia
9
Georgia
2
Saudi Arabia
1
Germany
418
Senegal
1
Ghana
1
Sierra Leone
1
Hungary
4
South Africa
1
India
3
South Korea
10
Indonesia
6
Suriname
1
Israel
1
Tajikistan
1
Italy
10
Tanzania
1
Jordan
1
Thailand
29
Kazakhstan
2
Tunisia
2
Kenya
1
Turkey
4
Kuwait
1
Turkmenistan
1
Kyrgyzstan
2
Ukraine
8
Lebanon
2
West Bank
2
Liberia
1
Yemen
2
Super Memo: fall 2013
9
SAGA- Student Advocates for Global Awareness!
By Michele Kabel, Deputy Director
We are pleased to announce the launch of Student Advocates
for Global Awareness (SAGA), an AYA student community intended to help our students hone their leadership skills, become
active in their communities and promote public diplomacy. SAGA
is a fun way to get kids excited about getting involved in their
school and community. Throughout the year SAGA members will
look for opportunities to raise awareness about the importance
of citizen diplomacy, make presentations to local schools and
organizations about their home countries and their experience in
the U.S., and become involved in community service and volunteer projects
SAGA students will have the opportunity to earn rewards and
recognition based on the amount of hours they devote to community service and/or presentations including, T-shirts, an official
certificate of recognition from the AIFS Foundation, opportunities to win iPods and iPads, and the opportunity to win a trip to
a leadership conference (Better Understanding for a Better World
aka BUBW) conference this year!
We have found that students who become involved in their communities by promoting and sharing the benefits of cultural exchange and the spirit of volunteerism, are more deeply impacted
by the program and are able to apply their experiences to their
10
Super Memo: fall 2013
future education and careers when they return home.
SAGA is also a great way, for you to get involved with your students. Encourage your student or cluster to join SAGA and find
a project or organization to get involved with! You can organize
monthly or bi-monthly activities, find places for students to present at and inspire your students to become advocates of a program, which you have actively facilitated in their own lives! This
is a great way to showcase our great students in your community
and to spread the word about AYA.
All students and Local Coordinators will receive an email about
joining SAGA and how to register and log their hours in Early
September! We will also be providing students with suggestions
on how to get involved in their community, including names
of organization and ideas and projects suggested by previous
exchange students!
For more information on SAGA visit:
www.academicyear.org/saga
Student Orientation!
By Elizabeth Azeizat, Student Support Administrator
This summer, the beautiful Embassy Suites Hotel in Parsippany, NJ was
home to close to 400 incoming AYA students attending a four-day orientation. AYA held four sessions throughout the month of August, and each
one of them was a success. With the help of several AYA staff, Local Coordinators and teen volunteers, the orientation went off without a hitch
and students left us with a deeper understanding of the AYA program.
During their time at the orientation the students participated in three
informative workshops and were treated to 2 half-day tours of New York
City. They made stops at the Top of the Rock, Central Park, South Street
Seaport, Time Square, Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, the Intrepid
Air and Space Museum, and had dinner at the Hard Rock Café and the
student favorite Ellen’s Stardust Dinner. It was great watching the expressions on their faces as they saw the incredible sights for the first time. For
most, it was their first time in New York City!
The workshops the student’s participated in were geared towards them
recognizing and adjusting their expectations to help prepare them
throughout the year. Students were given a very thorough presentation
the first workshop day about what to expect throughout their time on
the program, the rules of the program, signs of homesickness and culture
shock and how to overcome both. Students were also spoken to about
staying safe during their time on the program and the different roles
that various AYA staff and Local Coordinators will play during their time
on the program. A new addition to the workshops included information
on a new initiative – Student Advocates for Global Understanding or
SAGA. Students were given information on how to join SAGA and told
about the main goal of the program – to promote global understanding
and cultural exchange through community service, volunteer activities
and school/community presentations. The response towards SAGA was
positive and we hope to have a solid number of students join and submit
their presentations, volunteer hours and of course, photos!
The second day of workshops gave students the opportunity to really
get involved. They were able to take what they learned during the first
workshop and analyze various scenarios they may encounter throughout
their program year and determine if these scenarios are emergencies,
concerns, or common cultural adjustments. Students were then able to
use these guidelines to help them solve common problems that they
may experience throughout their year such as difficulty keeping up with
their academics, internet and social media use, balancing social activities
with family time, etc. These workshops were a big success and students
were very responsive, very analytical and asked questions about other
scenarios that they were apprehensive about such as difficulty making
friends, possible conflict with host siblings, etc. It was great to see the
students get involved at the very start of their program year!
We would like to extend a special thank you to the Local Coordinators
that volunteered their time for AYA this summer. We know orientation
is a busy time with long hours and you all did a great job for us! Special
recognition goes to: Cindy Anderson, Revonda Sawyer, Courtney Fraley,
Daniel Garza, Sandra Burgers, Anita Senesac, Hugh McMullen, Steve Eichman, Amanda Mandachit, Lindsay Bongi, Mark Schaffer, and Shirl Jackson.
Thank you to all of you for your hard work and amazing energy with the
students! This orientation month was a success and we hope that our
students will take this experience to help them start their program in a
successful, open minded and flexible manner!
Super Memo: fall 2013
11
Compliance Corner
By Ashleigh Caws, Compliance Administrator
Thank you for helping us complete another successful placement
season at AYA! This summer, you all showed your dedication and true
passion for the program by placing all of our students quickly and
safely. Our Compliance Team is so proud to see all of our Local Coordinators understanding and complying with the regulations throughout
the placement process, and helping us out during this crunch time.
You guys rock!
Supervision is well under way! We are thrilled that all students have
arrived safely into the USA to begin their abroad experience! Now it is
up to you to ensure they are safe, adjusting well to American culture,
and following our program rules throughout the year.
Your timely completion of supervision and second visit reports is crucial to the success of our program. We depend on you to provide us
with feedback about our students and report any concerns or safety
issues. This process creates an open line of communication between
LCs and AYA staff which in turn helps us provide support to you and
your students. This information also enables us to promptly and accurately update our overseas partners and the students’ natural families.
Thank you for being our eyes and ears out in the field!
AYA Compliance Team, Sarah, Ashleigh and Ana!
Supervision Reports & 2nd Visit reports can be found in your LC portal!
Supervision Reports
Welcome families
•
All supervision reports are due the last day of every month,
each month (reports must be submitted on time for payment!)
•
•
Please note that September and August reports are combined, so please list contacts for both months in your September report due September 30th.
Welcome placements require a second visit within 30 days of
the student’s arrival, and then again every 30 days until the
family becomes permanent or the student moves to a new
home.
•
When you submit a 2nd visit report for a welcome placement,
a new “Follow up Report” will be generated for you to confirm.
This report will be due one month from the date you submitted the first report. Please complete the visit by the due date,
and then submit for payment.
•
All students must be met with in person within a month
of their arrival; following the first month, in-person visits may
occur every other month.
•
Students in a single person placement must be met with in
person each month.
2nd Visits must:
•
Take place within 60 days of the student’s arrival for all permanent placements!
•
Take place every 30 days from the student’s arrival if the
student is in a welcome family!
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Super Memo: fall 2013
Emma Stein is a wonderful resource for 2nd visits; please contact her
with any questions at all! She can be reached at:
203-399-5526 or [email protected]
Field Staff Happenings!
By Erin Sesil, Field Staff Administrator
Hi Everyone! What an exciting placement season! Your hard work and dedication has
impressed all of us tremendously. Field Staff would like to extend congratulations to
all of you! It is because of you, amazing LCs, that our program is such a wonderful success. We are looking forward to another wonderful year ahead and are so happy that
you are a part of our team!
AYA Field Staff Team, Sarah, Erin and Emma!
Sarah, Emma and I have been working hard this summer on some new and exciting
things that we have in store for you this year- so be on the look out! Some include our
new LC Facebook page, networking opportunities throughout the country and ongoing L.E.A.R.N trainings.
We are always here to help! Please don’t hesitate to reach out, we so enjoy hearing
from you and are more than happy to help you with anything that you may need!
Facebook Page
Building a strong line of communication with our LCs is so important to us. In efforts
to implement new and exciting ways of communicating with our LCs, we have created a private Facebook page so that we can share stories, news updates, articles and
photos with each other. We are impressed with the response that we have already received and really enjoy your posts so far! If you are not yet connected, please contact
Field Staff. We will get you set up right away!
L.E.A.R.N Trainings
By Sarah Evans, Field Staff and Training Administrator
Based on feedback and many discussions with LCs,
we have launched an entire series of professional development opportunities via conference call for ALL
Local Coordinators, new and veterans! We decided
to call this the LEARN program (Local Coordinator
Education and Resource Network) because it provides
you with the education, resources, and networking
you need to be a successful LC. These web & phone
based trainings (run through GoToMeeting) will be
offered throughout the year to assist you in how
to handle many different things, from supervision
to fun activities you can do with your students and
families. Many of these training sessions are optional.
Some mandatory refresher trainings may be offered
throughout the year and will be noted accordingly.
Our first topic, “The First 30 Days”, was a huge success,
and the next topic, Mediation, was even MORE successful. To date, over 100 Local Coordinators have
taken advantage of these professional development
opportunities. I strongly encourage you to sign up
if you have placed a student, if you are supervising a
student, or if you want to learn even more about your
role as an LC! Please look for emails from me about
the sessions being offered at [email protected].
Super Memo: fall 2013
13
LC of the Month
June: Ginger
Jeffcoat, NC
LC of the Quarter:
Glenda O’Regan, PA
By Lisa, Regional Director
“I am proud to announce that Glenda
O’Regan has been selected as Local
Coordinator of the Quarter. Glenda
has been an LC and has hosted
with AYA since 2008 where she has
opened her home to two students
each year. Glenda has proven to
be one of my most reliable Local
Coordinators during not only the
supervision year, but the placement
season. She has always given her all
to finding wonderful families, and
making sure that all of her students
and families have a memorable
experience. Glenda devotes much
of her time to spreading the word
about hosting exchange students
and is a wonderful advocate of our
program. Glenda has always made it
a point to turn in all of her paperwork in a timely fashion and has
assisted AYA in many ways to make
sure that our files stay up to date and
compliant. This year, Glenda worked
hard to place out assignments that
had been given to her and ended the
placement season with 18 students. I
look forward to seeing Glenda again
this year at our National Meeting in
Portugal. She is a wonderful asset to
the AYA team, and I am very thankful
for all of her continuous hard work
and dedication!”
“Ginger has been so
helpful to all of us and
does so much to make
our year great! I am
always able to speak
openly with Ginger.
She respects me and my opinions and explains
everything really well. One of my favorite memories was having a sleepover at Ginger’s home
with all of her other students. It was so much
fun! We went out to dinner and then she took us
to the movies! I trust Ginger so much and I know
that she went above and beyond for all of her
students!” – Sven, Germany
“Ginger is such a great Local Coordinator!
Whenever I need her she is always there for me,
responding to my emails within minutes. We are
Super Memo: fall 2013
“While I personally have only worked with Ginger
for half of the 2013 placement season, I can truly
say that she is a phenomenal Local Coordinator.
Ginger is extremely hard working, and dedicated
to the AYA program. She does an exceptional
job working closely with her host families and
students to ensure they have a memorable experience. Ginger, no matter what the task, has gone
above and beyond to make sure the job gets
done in an efficient manner and never gives up. I
am happy to have Ginger as one of my coordinators, and on the AYA team. Thank you for all you
do!” -Lisa Fealy, Regional Director
July: Jackie
August:
Webb, PA
DeVonna
Zeug, MN
“As the Regional
Director for new
LCs, I have had
the opportunity
to work with Jackie over the past
few months, and I am so impressed with
her dedication and work ethic! I am thrilled
to say that after two months of working
tirelessly to place two German students in
her local private school, her efforts have
paid off and Jackie has placed them both
and qualified for the incentive trip to South
Beach, FL! Jackie proved to be a responsive
and reliable liaison between our office and
her school as they worked together for two
months to find the right students for their
school and then locate host families for
them. It was a long, arduous process that
most people may have given up on – but
not Jackie! Her persistence and drive has
paid off and she is now the proud coordinator of two lovely German girls for this
fall. I have every confidence that Jackie will
exceed her South Beach qualification and
we will see her in Portugal! Congratulations
Jackie and keep up the great work!”
– Margot, Regional Director
14
able to have both serious conversations and lots
of fun together! Ginger has done everything she
could to make me feel so comfortable throughout my time here in the United States. I am so
glad that she is my Local Coordinator!”
– Luis, Germany
“DeVonna started
hosting with AYA back
in 2009, and became
a Local Coordinator
in February of 2013.
DeVonna has proven to be a wonderful host family and coordinator. She has dedicated her time
to spreading the AYA mission to various people
and schools throughout Minnesota throughout this placement season. Despite some road
blocks along the way, DeVonna has not let this
stop her from finding wonderful families. She
is one of my most responsive Local Coordinators who continually turns in her paperwork in
a timely fashion. DeVonna has placed many
students this season and has qualified herself and
a companion to attend our National Meeting in
Portugal. I am very grateful to have DeVonna on
our team and am excited to continue working
with her throughout the year. Thank you for all of
your hard work and dedication. Congratulations,
DeVonna- can’t wait to meet you in Portugal!”
– Lisa, Regional Director
AYA Summer Excitement
We’ve moved! Our new address is now:
Academic Year in America
1 High Ridge Park
Stamford, CT 06905
AYA Team Building!
Super Memo: fall 2013
15
Get to Know Mark and Emma!
Mark Cavanagh
Birth Date:
November 12
Horoscope:
Scorpio
Birth Place:
Yonkers, NY
College/ University attended:
Southern CT State University
How long have you worked for AYA?:
7 months
Favorite Hobby?
Snowboarding
Fondest Childhood Memory?
Camping with my family and my best friend’s family for a
whole week down in Virginia.
Do you have children?
No
Do you have Pets?
Two dogs (both rescue)
Favorite place you have traveled to?
Mexico
Favorite Book or Movie or Both?
Book: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
Movie: Empire Strikes Back (Star Wars)
Have you ever studied abroad?
No
Favorite Food?
Pizza
Something about yourself that most people do not
know?
I worked as puppeteer for one year when I was 19 years old.
Emma Stein
Birth Date:
February 2 (Groundhogs day!)
Horoscope:
Aquarius
Birth Place:
New York City, NY
College/ University attended:
Roger Williams University
How long have you worked for AYA?:
Since December 2012, 8 months
Favorite Book or Movie or Both?
Books: The Harry Potter series
Movie: Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Favorite Food?
Tortellini with pesto
1 High Ridge Park | Stamford, CT 06905
(800) 322-4678 • www.academicyear.org
Favorite Hobby?
I love traveling and spending time with my friends.
Fondest Childhood Memory?
Skiing in Colorado with my family
Do you have children?
Not yet
Do you have Pets?
My family has 2 dogs, 2 cats, and horses.
Favorite place you have traveled to?
Queenstown, New Zealand
Have you ever studied abroad?
I studied abroad in Wollongong, Australia
Something about yourself that most people do not
know?
I have a nail polish addiction! I have a huge collection and
paint my nails way too frequently.
is a publication of the AIFS Foundation Academic Year in America program