Cumberland County Schools Teacher of the Year selected for international opportunity

Cumberland County Schools (CCS) is proud to announce that its 2025 Teacher of the Year, Alianna Sigler, has been selected to participate in the prestigious Go Global NC 2025 program. This unique professional development opportunity will allow Sigler to join a delegation of North Carolina educators traveling to the Netherlands in June 2025 to explore the country’s high-performing education system, sustainability initiatives and innovative approaches in agriculture and technology.

The Go Global NC 2025 program, funded through the Simple Gifts Award, is a comprehensive experience aimed at fostering global perspectives in North Carolina classrooms. Participants will engage in a series of virtual and in-person orientations, followed by a transformative 12-day immersion in the Netherlands. Highlights include visits to schools renowned for their equity-focused practices, vocational education programs and collaborative efforts to support disadvantaged students, including refugee and immigrant families. Delegates will also explore the Netherlands’ globally admired agricultural innovation ecosystem.

Sigler, an EC teacher at Elizabeth Cashwell Elementary, expressed her enthusiasm about the program in a press release stating: “I am looking forward to experiencing a new culture with a network of North Carolina educators. I anticipate bringing some of these successful and impactful practices back to my campus and our district and promoting global practices to support all students as the CCS Teacher of the Year.”

The program itinerary includes stops in Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and other areas of the Netherlands, offering participants a deep dive into the country’s historic, cultural and educational landscapes. The delegation will also witness firsthand the Netherlands’ leadership in sustainable agriculture and STEM-focused innovations, which have propelled the country to become the world’s second-largest agricultural exporter.

For more information about Go Global NC and its programs, visit www.goglobalnc.org.