‘Next Step’ leads Summit educators to China

By Paul Greulich, Staff Writer
SUMMIT — Three local educators have brought their experience visiting schools in China home to the classroom.
Julie Glazer, assistant superintendent of schools for curriculum and instruction, Paul Sears, principal of Summit High School and Felix Gil, principal of the Summit Primary Center, were among 400 United States educators and school administrators selected to participate in the 2009 Chinese Bridge Delegation known as Taking the Next Step, a one-week education visit held in early December 2009 that was designed to strengthen and expand Chinese language and culture programs in U.S. schools.
While in China, the Summit representatives attended presentations on successful instructional models and available resources, joined in partnership-building activities and shared experiences and best practices for building Chinese language and culture programs with other U.S. and Chinese educators.
“The cultural exposure and the exposure to the schools was a great opportunity,” Gil said.
In addition to meeting Chinese counterparts, the visitors also mingled with other American educators who worked in Chinese language instruction in their schools.
Gil said it was interesting to see the Chinese perspective on education. He said the Chinese were similarly interested in American teaching methods.
“What we do very well is tapping into individual children’s’ energy,” Gil said. “That is something they want to learn from us.”
At a Jan. 21 Board of Education meeting, the three administrators presented a slide show of their visits to Chinese schools and cultural sites and provided an overview of the goals and purpose of the trip.
District Superintendent Nathan Parker was impressed by the presentation.

Read more in this week's UC LocalSource, Click Here to SUBSCRIBE TODAY