Chris Johnson, director of international education, is heading to Mongolia to help develop a school exchange and collaboration involving four schools, two in Mongolia and two in Denver. The Feb. 23 to March 3 trip is part of the Denver Sister Cities Committee’s Denver-Ulaan Baatar program formed in 2001.

“International educational exchange at every level is growing in emphasis as the world evolves into a global community,” Johnson says. “This exchange will help promote internationalization between schools and communities across two continents and in Denver’s case, increase access to education abroad to distinctly underrepresented communities.”

The four high schools being considered for the program include two urban schools, including the Future Complex in Ulaanbatar, Mongolia, and the Center for International Studies at West High in Denver, and two rural schools, Erdmiin Dalai Complex in the Middle Gobi, Mongolia, and Rock Point Community School in the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. The pilot program, Phase I, is planned for the 2006-2007 school year.

Johnson is on the foundation board of CIS, Denver Public Schools Magnet Schools for International Studies magnet school for international studies as an expert on international educational exchange. Denver Sister Cities promotes peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation with cultural, educational and economic endeavors. Denver Sister Cities International Inc. was formed in 1963.

The trip is being underwritten by the Zorig Foundation and the First Data/Western Union Foundation.