ELIZABETH MERCEDES KRAUS-MARCOS OF THE CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN LAS VEGAS, NV RECEIVES NCIV’S EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
WASHINGTON, DC – Today Ms. Elizabeth Mercedes Kraus-Marcos, a dual-language elementary school teacher in the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, NV, received NCIV’s Phyllis Layton Perry Educator of the Year Award. The Award celebrates the work of outstanding educators who have helped increase global awareness in their classrooms and communities. Matthew McNeelege, President of the Board of Directors for the World Affairs Council of Las Vegas (WACLV), presented the award during the concluding luncheon of NCIV’s National Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Ms. Krause-Marcos has been a key leader in generating community support for the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). She has participated in two IVLP projects where she hosted visitors from Italy and Australia. Her projects are structured to foster the development of problem-solving skills in her students and to encourage community partnerships.
Along with her work with the IVLP, Ms. Krause-Marcos has led the Turkish Cultural Foundation’s Spotlight on Turkey Program in Las Vegas. For this event, she developed a day-long program for teachers to incorporate Turkey’s rich history into the classroom, while promoting the understanding of Muslim culture in the community. Ms. Krause-Marcos further demonstrates her dedication to citizen diplomacy by facilitating rugby partnerships with European teams and engaging her students in CNN’s Freedom Project to combat human trafficking.
NCIV President Jennifer Clinton said, “Elizabeth Mercedes Kraus-Marcos’s enthusiasm and commitment to promoting cross-cultural understanding is evident in her work in the classroom and her community. The example she sets has not only impacted individual students and international visitors, but future leaders in her community and around the world as well. The seeds of understanding and connection she plants in her work bring us closer to a more peaceful, prosperous and secure world.”