Press release

CHARLOTTESVILLE , VA , September 20, 2005 – Beginning February 2006, educators participating in WorldStrides educational travel programs can earn Professional Development Points (PDPs) to further their recertification efforts in most states. WorldStrides’ status as an accredited travel school positioned the organization to launch its Professional Development Program and provide assistance to educators seeking to enhance their professional development.

Every few years, many states require educators to complete hours of professional development training to renew their certification. WorldStrides’ programs allow educators to earn PDPs and give their students the educational experience of a lifetime. This is exciting news for educators, who usually pay for their professional development training. On a WorldStrides program educators travel free, and the professional development tools WorldStrides provides are free.

The tools educators need to complete their professional development requirements are provided at a special website for program leaders. There they will find state requirements, national standards, sample forms, and sample administration proposals that aid in earning their PDPs. WorldStrides also issues a transcript that Program Leaders can use when applying for their PDPs. Program Leaders can earn up to 8 PDPs per day of instruction during a standard travel program.

WorldStrides’ Professional Development Program was developed by Amy Westby , Director of Education. A former teacher and administrator, Amy has parlayed her knowledge of the education system and feedback from educators to help Program Leaders meet their professional development requirements: “Educators work incredibly hard for their students and community, and our Professional Development Program is WorldStrides’ way of helping maintain their high standards of professional excellence.”

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About WorldStrides

WorldStrides is the largest and most trusted student educational travel organization in the country. WorldStrides has provided a variety of educational travel programs to more than two million elementary, middle, and high school students since its inception in 1967. As many as 200,000 students in a given year have traveled with WorldStrides to destinations throughout the United States and the world. WorldStrides is headquartered in Charlottesville , Virginia , and has satellite offices in Reno , Nevada , Newport Beach , California , San Jose , California , Marlton , New Jersey , Washington , D.C. , Orlando , Florida , Salt Lake City , Utah , New York , New York , and Williamsburg , Virginia .  For more information about WorldStrides, please visit www.worldstrides.org.