Vita

FRED MEDNICK

p. +1-206-356-4731
e.  fred@twb.org

Fred Mednick, wearing round blue glasses and a black collared shirt, standing against a plain light-colored background.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

  • Founded Teachers Without Borders: a global teacher professional development organization represented by members in 185 countries

  • Professor Emeritus at Vrije Universiteit Brussels

  • Won: Luxembourg Peace Prize and Ahmadiyya Muslim Prize for the Advancement of Peace

  • Designed and implemented Teachers Without Borders’ Certificate of Teaching Mastery, a suite of courses focused on pre-service and in-service education, certified and adopted by seven Ministries of Education

  • Conceived and launched Johns Hopkins University’s School of Education global online teacher professional development program and global partnerships in girls’ educationAdvised Director of Education and Human Development at The Organization of American States and 14 Ministries of Education throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on teacher professional development

  • Principal Investigator (PI) for Cisco’s commitment to the Clinton Global Initiative to support Millennium Development Goals in sub-Saharan Africa

  • Created NGO programs designed to build local capacity; enhance community ownership and educational leadership and cultural inclusion; and ensure rapid feedback systems designed for the reporting of impacts, transparency, and local adoption.

  • Developed B.A. degree in ICTs in Education for pre-service and in-service teachers in Suriname.

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS and EMPLOYMENT

  • 2000 to Present: Founder, Teachers Without Borders. Seattle, WA

  • 2015-Present: Professor and Professor Emeritus (2023), Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Belgium

  • 2013-2014: Assistant Visiting Professor, Johns Hopkins University. Baltimore, MD

  • 2013-2014:  Advisor, Ministries of Education. Organization of American States

  • 2012: Lecturer, Carlson Center, University of Washington. Seattle, WA 

  • 1994-2000: Principal, Helen Taylor Bush School. Seattle, WA 

  • 1986-1994: Dean and Principal, Oakwood School. Los Angeles, CA

  • 1983-1984: Instructor and "Foreign Expert." Henan University. Kaifeng, China

  • 1980-1982: Dean, Oakwood School. Los Angeles, CA

KEYNOTES and SPEECHES

  • 2021. Speaker: “Science of Reading: Within and Beyond Emergencies.” D-Talk: Disruptive Talks: Global Dream. India

  • 2021. Keynote: “Current Challenges Facing Teacher Professional Development in a post-COVID Era.” 13th Education Leadership International Roundtable Conference. Global Education and Training Institute. Lucknow, India

  • 2019.  Speaker: "Family Values, Peace Values." Southeast Europe Peace Summit on “Peace, Security and Human Development in Southeast Europe.” Universal Peace Federation. Tirana, Albania

  • 2019.  Keynote: Fourth Annual Education Solutions Conference. “Practical Solutions for Community Schools to reach Sustainable Development Goal 4.” Center for SDG Global Education: USA.” United Nations High-Level Political Forum, New York

  • 2019.  Keynote/Acceptance Speech: 2018 Ahmadiyya Muslim Prize for the Advancement of Peace.  National Peace Symposium.  Baitul Futuh Mosque.  London, United Kingdom.

  • 2018. Speaker: Leicester Human Rights Film Festival. “Human rights without borders.”

  • 2018.  High-Level Roundtable: UNESCO. 73rd Annual General Assembly of the United Nations. "The power of education to prevent racism and discrimination.”

  • 2018.  Keynote: “Jan Tucker Memorial Lecture.”  National Council for the Social Studies. National conference.  Chicago, Ill.

  • 2017. Keynote: “Global Education and Second Language Learning:  An Academic Accelerator.” Arizona Teachers of English as a Second Language.  Tucson, AZ.

  • 2016. Redelijk Eigenzinning University Lecture: “Global Teacher Networks and Education in Emergencies.” Vrije Universiteit Brussel: Brussels, Belgium

  • 2016. Keynote: “Teaching Without Borders.” Virginia Wesleyan College. Norfolk, VA.          

  • 2016. Keynote: First Annual Symposium on International Education: “Comparative Perspectives on Global Urban Education.” Panel: Brussels Study Institute. Panelist: Grasping Global Cities’ Societal Challenges. Brussels, Belgium.

  • 2015. Speaker: “Teacher Professional Development Priorities in Latin America and the Caribbean.” Organization of American States: Meeting of Latin American and Caribbean Ministers of Education. Panama City, Panama.

  • 2015. Keynote: “Flipped 21st Century Teacher Development.” Education We Want Conference. CMS World Unity Convention Center. Lucknow, India.

  • 2014. Keynote: “Global Teacher Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.”  Virtual Educa Conference. Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

  • 2014. Speaker: “Satellites and Education in Emergencies.” Google Headquarters. Vint Cerf Plenary Interplanetary Network Conference. Mountain View, CA.

  • 2014. Presentation: “Girls’ Earthquake Science and Safety Initiative.” The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Washington, DC

  • 2013. Keynote: “Global Education: Student Voices in Global Affairs.” Model United Nations. Taipei, Taiwan

  • 2013. Speaker: “Teacher Efficacy and Global Development.” Harvard University. Harvard International Development Conference, Boston, MA.

  • 2013. Moderator and Panelist: “Education in Emergencies.” Emergency Aid and International Development Forum. Washington, DC.

  • 2013. Speaker: “Global Networks and Teacher Professional Development.”  Cisco Systems. Annual Board of Trustees Meeting. San Jose, CA.

  • 2012. Speaker: “Open Educational Resources and Global Teacher Networks.” W.F. Hewlett Foundation. Hewlett Grantee Annual Meeting. Palo Alto, CA.

  • 2012. Keynote: “China’s Science Inquiry Methods: A Connection to Student Achievement.”  Qing Yang Bureau of Education Conference. Chengdu, China

  • 2012. Speaker: “Global NGOs in Higher Education.” University of Pennsylvania. School of Education Guest Lecture Series (2012). Philadelphia, PA.

  • 2011-2013. Key Panelist: “Education, Creativity, and the Mind.” Blouin Creative Leadership Summit. New York City, NY.

  • 2011. Keynote: “Global Teachers, Global Change.” East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools. Annual Conference. Borneo, Malaysia.

  • 2010. TEDx Talk: “Building Education from Below the Ground and Up.” Denver, CO.

  • 2010. Speaker: “Literacy, Leadership, and Open Educational Resources.” United States Agency for International Development. Annual Literacy Conference. Washington, DC.

  • 2010. “Speaker: Global Teaching; Local Solutions.” Oxford Univ. Beyond Borders Conference. Oxford, UK.

  • 2010. Graduate School Commencement Address: “An Appeal to Graduates: Share What You Learn.” Northern Colorado University. Greeley, CO.

  • 2009. Speaker: “Online Platforms and Teachers as Change Agents.” Stanford University. Carnegie Association for the Advancement of Teaching Staff Professional Development Lecture Series. Palo Alto, CA.

  • 2008. Speaker: “Education, Islam, and Development” Federal Parliament. Special Session on Education and Development.  Ontario, Canada.

  • 2007. Keynote: “Open Teacher Development in Closed Societies.” OER Conference. Utah State University. Logan, UT.

  • 2006. Presentation: “Educational Reform in Pakistan.” President’s Office. Islamabad, Pakistan.

  • 2005. Panelist with Dr. Jane Goodall and President Oscar Aria (Costa Rica): “Teacher Leadership and Global Change.” Government of Costa Rica. San Jose, Costa Rica.

AWARDS and HONORS

  • 2023: Professor Emeritus. Designation by Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Brussels, Belgium

  • 2018:  Ahmadiyya Muslim Award for Peace.  Peace Symposium.  London, UK.

  • 2018:  Luxembourg Peace Prize for Teachers Without Borders.  Global Peace Forum. 

  • 2014-2016: Global Innovation Award. Education We Want. Lucknow, India

  • 2014: FedEx Award Runner Up. Education for Disaster Prevention Innovation competition

  • 2013: Commendation. White House Equal Futures Partnership. Girls’ Quake Science and Safety Initiative.

  • 2012-2013: Exemplary Resource. OAS: TWB Peace Education and Teacher Development

  • 2013: Winner, People’s Choice Non-Profit. Verizon Foundation

  • 2012: Lead Education Selection.  Commonwealth Ministers of Education briefing book

  • 2010: Champion of African Education Award. Ashoka/W.F. Hewlett Foundation. Millennium Development Ambassadors Program in sub-Saharan Africa

  • 2009: Seattle Best Non-Profit Award. Best Education and Teacher Association

  • 2006: Invited Guest for Cisco at the Muhammed Yunus Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony

  • 2003: Desmond Tutu: Special Recognition. TWB Teaching and Learning Centers

  • 2006-2008: National Finalist. Volvo for Life Award. Innovative use of technology

  • 2007: Special Commendation. The U.S. Peace Corps. For service to teachers in Honduras

  • 2006: Giraffe. Exemplary community leaders who “stick their neck out”

  • 1997: Fred Mednick Faculty Resource Center. The Bush School

  • 1983: California Outstanding Educators Award. Johns Hopkins University Gifted and Talented Program

PUBLICATIONS

Mednick, F. (Aug. 20, 2025). “The tarnished prize Trump desperately wants.” Washington Post. Retrieved from: https://wapo.st/3Ho9VON

Mednick, F. (2024). In the Small Places: Teacher Changemakers and the Power of Human Agency. Collective Ink Publishers. 9781803414836, 1803414839

Mednick, F. (2018). “I am not a stranger here.” Leicester Human Rights Festival (blog). Retrieved from http://bit.ly/2wRx70n

Mednick, F. (2015). “Research briefing for the eighth ministerial of education ministers.” Inter-American Council for Integral Development – Organization of American States

Mednick, F. (2014). “The rise of non-formal education.”  New Horizons for Learning. Johns Hopkins Univ. Baltimore, MD

Mednick, F. (2014). “Inequality and social inclusion in the Americas: working to create educational opportunities for all” (chapter). In “Inequality and social inclusion in the Americas:  13 essays.” Organization of American States: Secretary-General. Washington, DC.

Mednick, F. (2013). “Science inquiry methods in China.”  Chengdu, Ministry of Education

Mednick, F. (2012). “Teacher development in Latin America.” San Jose, CA:  Cisco Systems

Mednick, F. (2011). “Old dogmas and new tricks” (Chapter). Commonwealth minister's 2011 briefing book.  London, UK:  Henley Media Group Limited

Mednick, F. (2010). “To Haiti from China: with sorrow and love.” New York:  Louis Blouin Foundation (blog)

Mednick, F. (2009). HIV for educators. Editor. University Press of Florida.  Orange Grove Texts Plus. ISBN-13: 978-1616100391

Mednick, F. (2008). “Education and Islam.” Gather.com

Mednick, F. (2004). “Lesson 42:  Excerpts from rebel without a car.” (chapter). Biederman, L. Parent school. Forward by Penelope Leach, Ph.D. New York:  M. Evans and Company, Inc.

Mednick, F.  & Jain, V. (1999). “Qualities of an educated teen for the 21st century: Reflections on the study-process in Udaipur.”  Udaipur, India:  Shikshantar Publishers

Mednick, F. (1996). Rebel without a car:  Surviving and appreciating your child’s teen years.  Minneapolis, MN: Fairview Press.  Rebellen ohne führerschein: Wie sie die pubertät ihres kindes überleben. Beltz Publishers. Berlin, Germany

Mednick, F.  (1995). “Lessons.” Notes Plus and Ideas Plus:  National Association of Teachers of English

Mednick, F. (1985). From newcomers to naturalists: Early American literature.Kaifeng, China:Kaifeng University Press

EXPERTISE and RESEARCH ENGAGEMENTS

  • Leadership in non-profit organizations: strategic planning; stakeholder mobilization; fundraising/grant writing; sustainability; professional development of staff; impact measurement and evaluation; scale and sustainability.

  • Capacity building: policy formation; teacher networks; and pre-service and in-service teacher professional communities of practice for NGOs and civil society organizations; education in emergencies; teacher training institutions, and Ministries of Education.

  • Course development and large-scale impact initiatives in educating girls; the prevention, planning, intervention, and educational reconstruction for education in emergencies; peace and human rights education; diversity and inclusion; global education.

  • Global networks and the intersection of global education and (1) academic achievement in youth (2) psycho-social well-being (created global exchange programs and digital storytelling for classrooms and organizations).