release date: February 8, 2011
Contact:
Dr. Charles S. Dedrick, Capital Region BOCES District Superintendent, Questar III BOCES Interim District Superintendent, 518-862-4901
Mr. L. Jeffrey Baltes, Questar III BOCES Chief Operating Officer, 518-479-6885
Dr. Kathryn Gerbino, Capital Region BOCES Assistant District Superintendent for Instruction, 518-862-4930
A delegation from China will be in the Capital Region Feb. 13 – 17, visiting Tech Valley High School, BOCES and several area school districts as models for its own education reform efforts.
The group of 32 students and four education leaders will be guests of Tech Valley High School, Capital Region and Questar III BOCES, and will also visit South Colonie, Bethlehem, Schodack and Schoharie school districts, as well as Capital Region BOCES’ Career and Technical School in Albany.
“We are excited to host this delegation from China, and that they recognize our schools as an education model that works,” said Capital Region BOCES and Questar III Interim District Superintendent Charles Dedrick. “We see this as the beginning of a long-term partnership with Tianjin No. 41 High School that will benefit them and our students and schools.”
“Schools need to better prepare students to compete in a global economy,” said Questar III BOCES Chief Operating Officer L. Jeffrey Baltes. “This cultural exchange creates a meaningful connection to help bring this goal to fruition by placing Tech Valley High School at the center of a robust link between not only our two countries, but also our educational communities. The benefits are monumental!”
The Chinese want to experience the U.S. educational system — and specifically what Tech Valley High School offers — because of its accent on project-based learning and fostering creativity. China continues to revise its educational system, particularly with an eye toward encouraging students to be more creative and innovative problem solvers.
The Chinese visitors are coming from Tianjin, the third largest city in China. The students are from Tianjin No. 41 High School and the educators attending include the school’s assistant director of the Department for Student Management, the coordinator of Senior Grade One, principal and assistant principal.
“We've been working with them to establish an exchange between Tech Valley High School and their schools since our visit — and they are coming to formalize that," said Capital Region BOCES Assistant District Superintendent for Instruction Kathryn Gerbino. Gerbino and other American educators visited China in April 2010. The partnership will be officially established with a ceremony at 9 a.m. on Feb. 14 at Tech Valley High School.
Other activities scheduled for the group’s visit include:
Monday,
Feb. 14:
9
a.m. - Formal welcoming reception at Tech Valley High School with
University at Albany President George Philip, BOCES leaders and
South Colonie, Bethlehem, Schoharie and Schodack school district
superintendents.
10:45
a.m. – Chinese educators visit Schodack Central School District.
1:15
p.m. – Tour of Bethlehem Central School District.
Tuesday,
Feb. 15:
9:30
a.m. – Tour of Schoharie Central School District.
11:45
a.m. – Lunch at Capital Region BOCES’ Career & Technical School,
Albany campus, prepared by Culinary Arts students. Chinese students
will also hear a presentation from SkillsUSA students, about Career
& Technical Education.
1
p.m. – Tour of South Colonie Central School District; students will
also attend a ninth-period class.
Wednesday,
Feb. 16:
8:30-11
a.m. – Mini Exposium for students at Tech Valley High School,
featuring business and higher education partners.
1
p.m. – Tour of the Capitol.
2:30
p.m. – New York State Museum tours.
For more details, visit the Tech Valley High School website.
