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Freebird McKinney is a Village Teacher and a Global Educator. As the 2018 North Carolina State Teacher of the Year, he had the honor of inspiring countless students inside and outside of the classroom, both in public high schools (for 17 years), and at Elon University. His mission has always been to motivate students to find their own voices and roles as global citizens, as well as encouraging fellow educators to expand their classrooms into the global community. Partnering with Go Global NC and Dustin’s Greenhouse, he led students and educators on global immersion programs to Mexico, China, Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos, South Africa, and Europe. Previously, in his role as the Director of Government and Community Affairs for the NC State Board of Education, Freebird served on multiple boards and commissions dedicated to expanding educational access and opportunity for NC students. This role also allowed him to work with the NC Department of Public Instruction, the NC General Assembly, school districts across NC, and education partners in creating opportunities for teachers and students to see that they are indeed “Educator Diplomats.” Now serving as the Participate Learning Director of Partnership Development, Freebird is continuing to actualize his passion for global education by supporting partner districts and by sharing the benefits of global learning in developing students who are prepared to contribute in a globally competitive and connected world.