Education delegation looks to China to form partnerships | Schools

A delegation of educators from across the region will travel to China early next month in an effort to further the educational and cultural ties between the region and China.

The 19 educators from several area schools, as well as Capital Region BOCES and Questar III BOCES, will travel to China on Friday, November 4 to meet with several education leaders there.

The group’s goal is to build upon the memorandum of understanding that was reached between Tech Valley High School and Tianjin High School No. 41 in Tianjin, China.

“We expect to expand the memorandum of understanding with Tianjin High School No. 41 to extend the relationship that Tech Valley High is already reaping the fruit from to benefit other schools in the region,” said Capital Region BOCES Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Dr. Kathryn Gerbino in a statement.

Gerbino, along with her counterpart at Questar III BOCES, Diana Conroy, will lead the delegation whivh also includes representatives from Tech Valley High School, Catskill, Schoharie, Schodack, South Colonie, Cobleskill-Richmondville, and Schalmont schools. 

School boards across the region understand the value of forming these partnerships and support the effort, educators said.

While in China, the delegation will meet with educators in Tianjin and Guangzhou, as well as other schools, says TVHS’s communication’s coordinator Mike McCagg. Visits to the schools and observations of classes are also on the agenda prior to the delegation’s return to the United States on Nov. 13.

McCagg tells WNYT that a key goal of the delegation’s visit to China is to create partnerships, through which Tech Valley Region schools and Chinese schools will exchange faculty members and perhaps even students

"While these partnerships would come at a minimal cost to area schools - whose faculty hosts the educators during their stay - the benefits are tremendous," Gerbino said.

Diana Conroy, assistant superintendent at Questar III BOCES, said exchange programs between area schools and those in China serve to promote a greater understanding between the two countries.

"Not only is there this keen interest in exchange of curriculum and pedagogy but also the desire to nurture positive relationships between students, teachers and administrators. The world is becoming more volatile and as educators it is our responsibility to lead by example and foster healthy, positive connections between our nations," Conroy said in a statement.