Student Publishing Opportunity:
Bilingual Children’s Books
The Institute for Global Learning partners with Creo en Ti Media, an educator-led publishing company and student-centered, bilingual literacy project designed to promote early childhood literacy. Creo en Ti expands access to bilingual children’s books while giving high school language students the opportunity to become published authors and illustrators.
Through the partnership, Creo en Ti professionally publishes at no cost to Member Schools, bilingual children’s books written and illustrated by their students in English and another global language. Books have been published in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Arabic, and Mandarin Chinese.
How It Works
This opportunity is designed for global language and art teachers and their students. Participating schools identify student-created bilingual children’s books for consideration by Creo en Ti Media. Through IGL’s partnership with Creo en Ti, Member Schools have access to a designated submission portal and a commitment to publish books from within the IGL community.
Who Can Participate
+ Authors should be students in Grades 9–11 and may be second-language learners or heritage speakers.
+ Second-language authors should have proficiency comparable to Level III or higher.
+ Illustrators may be the author or another student in Grades 9–11.
Submitting Student Work
The school’s Global Director or designated IGL Point of Contact is responsible for selecting and submitting student work. Schools may submit up to three draft manuscripts per language.
Submissions should include a draft manuscript and may include sample or partial illustrations. While illustrations are encouraged, they are not required at the time of submission.
If Selected
Students selected by Creo en Ti enter a yearlong professional editing and mentorship process leading toward publication. Drafts may require significant revision, and students may be asked to collaborate with additional authors or illustrators.
Published students retain their intellectual property and earn royalties from future book sales.
Timeline
Proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis from September through April. Selected students work as a cohort through the editing and publishing process, with publication possible as early as the following spring.
Nominate an educator or student for one of Institute for Global Learning’s annual Salomon Prize awards recognizing global citizenship, curriculum design or contribution to the field of global learning!
The Institute for Global Learning celebrates students and faculty for their learning and growth in the field of global education through the annual Salomon Prizes named in honor of Dr. Manjula Salomon and Stuart Salomon. The Salomons are two of the most significant contributors to our community over the past ten plus years. Manjula was involved in the incorporation of GEBG, now Institute for Global Learning as non-profit and served for three terms as founding board member, and served as an assistant head of school at multiple member schools leading their school-wide efforts in global education. Stuart drew on his background as a member of multiple English faculties around the world to help Institute for Global Learning establish the Global Writers Initiative which has allowed us to organize summits, facilitate professional learning communities, create bilingual student publishing opportunities, and host writers as speakers – connecting writers with global identities, perspectives, and expertise to educators and students at member schools and districts. Manjula and Stuart spent their long careers working with students and teachers from Tehran to Jakarta to member schools Deerfield (MA), Hotchkiss (CT), and Palmer Trinity (FL). These annual prizes are named the Salomon Prizes in recognition of their dedication and essential support of the Institute for Global Learning mission.
Honorees are students from member schools who effectively use writing or other media to illustrate/reflect their intercultural and global growth through classroom study, travel programs, or other school experiences; Faculty curriculum honorees have designed purposeful, exemplary curricula that target global competencies and facilitate student development as globally minded citizens; and the Global Educator of the Year honoree demonstrates both innovation in global education at their school as well as contribution to the field of global education at large.
The 2026-27 Salomon Prizes include 2 student prizes in the amount of $350 and 3 faculty prizes in the amount of $500. For students, prizes will be awarded to two individuals–one at the Middle School Level and one at the High School Level–for written work that reflects their pursuit of global citizenship. For faculty, prizes will be given to two teachers for outstanding global curriculum development and to one educator for innovation and contributions to the field of global education. A committee consisting of community volunteers, Institute for Global Learning Board Members, and staff select Salomon Prize recipients and Honorable Mentions.
Submissions will be due January, 2027.
Salomon Prize for
Student Expression and Thought on Global Issues
Middle School Level (grades 5-8)
High School Level (grades 9-12)
Entries are original student work that uses writing or other media to illustrate/reflect their intercultural growth or engagement with global issues through classroom study, travel programs, or other school experiences
Salomon Prize for
Faculty Curriculum Design
Primary Level (grades 1-4)
Middle and High School (grades 5-12)
A global classroom activity, lesson, assignment or unit of study: this can be a single lesson, a week-long activity, or an interdisciplinary initiative that targets global content and/or competencies.
Salomon Prize for
Global Educator of the Year
The Global Educator of the Year honoree demonstrates both innovation in global education at their school as well as contribution to the field of global education at large.
Individuals can nominate a global educator for this honor by submitting a name, title, and member school along with a brief rationale for the nomination. Self nominations are permitted.
Salomon Prize Guidelines
Student Submissions
Middle and High School student entries must be independently developed with minimum guidance from others. We kindly ask that the student’s Salomon Prize entry is entirely their/her/his work. The word limit is a maximum of 750 words. Each school is allowed 2 entries per division.
The Salomon Prize recognizes students’ authentic reflection and evolving understanding of global issues. We are most interested in original thinking, lived experience, and personal voice.
Students may use tools, including generative AI, in supportive ways, such as organizing drafts or revising for clarity. However, reflective content, analysis, and personal narratives should represent the student’s own thinking and growth.
Authentic voice, depth of reflection, and evidence of growth are the priorities of the Salomon Prize. Clear and thoughtful writing strengthens a submission and allows students’ thinking to be clearly understood.
For additional guidance, please review our Student Guide to Using AI Ethically in Reflective Writing.
Faculty Submissions
Faculty curriculum entries should include the following components:
+ Identification of the learning goals and objectives (“Transfer Goals”)
+ Articulation of the activities that comprise this course/unit/lesson
+ Documentation of demonstration of learning—three examples demonstrating the range of the class
+ Key resources, handouts, planning documents, etc.
Selection Process
The judging will be done by a panel of global educators not connected with member schools submitting entries. Final selections are announced in the spring. School global coordinators will receive email notification and should then communicate the information with the student or faculty member.
Salomon Prize Entries must be submitted by a school’s global education coordinator on behalf of the student or educator. The global education coordinator is expected to review each faculty and student entry for quality, originality, and connections with global themes. Submissions include an entry form and submission of work.
Submissions will be due Wednesday, January 20, 2027.
John Bing Scholarship for Faculty Professional Development Abroad
The John Bing Scholarship for Faculty Professional Learning Abroad supports an educator from an Institute for Global Learning member school to participate in an IGL immersive professional learning program outside their country of residence.
The scholarship honors Dr. John Bing, a researcher and leader in intercultural relations whose career has ranged from service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Afghanistan to scholarship at the University of Massachusetts Center for International Education. Established by Stuart and Manjula Salomon, the scholarship recognizes Dr. Bing’s commitment to learning and growth through immersive intercultural experiences.
The scholarship provides full program tuition and up to $1,500 toward travel expenses.
Applicants must:
- Be an educator at a current IGL member school
- Describe how they will apply their learning within their school
- Have limited access to resources available for international professional learning and/or have prior experience with international professional learning
Applications will open when a 2027 IGL summer professional learning program abroad is announced.