We've arrived!

Educators from Catskill to Schoharie, South Colonie to Schalmont landed in Beijing, China early Saturday morning (EST), departing from a jet into a bustling city filled with youth and energy. While the clocks in Albany read 1 a.m. Saturday, it was already 1 p.m. Saturday in Beijing – a 12 hour difference in time that might as well be a lifetime difference in terms of the city, culture and yes, educational systems.

The delegation of teachers, school board members, superintendents and administrators are here on a mission to close that gap – to maximize the abilities that technology has given us to break down cultural barriers and take it to the next level.

With the exchange agreement between Tech Valley High School and Tianjin High School No. 41 in China serving as a model, the Tech Valley Region delegation plans to ink agreements with other schools in China that will bring Chinese educators to local classrooms, and send American educators to China. The agreements may also serve as a basis for student exchanges.

Educators from both countries are looking to capitalize on each others’ strengths to benefit the respective students. For example, Chinese teachers are looking to the Tech Valley Region teachers to learn how to better craft creativity in their students.

Notes:

While to most in the Tech Valley Region, the name Beijing brings about instantaneous thoughts of Chinese culture and dancers, the reality is that Beijing is quite westernized. Street signs appear in both Chinese and English, “Buckle up for Safety” signs greet drivers, and there are countless American restaurants in the city – from McDonald’s to Pizza Hut to Starbucks.

Delegation arrives: Erika Loucks, from Schoharie, Diana Conroy from Questar III BOCES 

and Katherine Gerbino from Capital Region BOCES

Schodack Superintendent Robert Horan greets our Chinese education liaison at the Beijing airport minutes after arriving