Tech Valley High School, Questar III and Capital Region BOCES announced on Monday a major new partnership agreement with Tianjin High School No. 41 in Tianjin, China.
The agreement, which was the send-off to a three-day tour of the region by 32 Chinese students and four educators from Tianjin, is designed to better prepare students from the region and China for the global workforce.
“This partnership puts into place a framework through which they will send faculty, administrators and students to Tech Valley High School to observe and take part in ‘shadowing’ opportunities. We will likewise take part in those opportunities to send our faculty, staff and students to China to learn how they are preparing their students and to bring that information back to the Capital Region,’ said Capital Region BOCES Assistant District Superintendent for Instruction Kathryn Gerbino.
“This is meant to enhance collaboration and understanding between the two countries in general, as well as between administrators and teachers,” she added.
Teachers and students from across the region will benefit from this partnership as the information gathered in the exchanges is shared through the dissemination process already in place in the two BOCES and Tech Valley High School.
Evidence of the wide-reaching impact of the new partnership is the fact that the delegation visiting TVHS to sign the agreement will tour several area schools while in the region and meet with faculty and staff there.
Capital Region BOCES District Superintendent Dr. Charles Dedrick, who is also Questar III’s interim district superintendent, said “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.”
“We hope that our students, teachers and administrators can learn some of the best practices from Tianjin and we hope that the students and administrators from Tianjon will learn some of the best practices taking place at Tech Valley High,” said Dedrick.
Questar III Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Baltes said the agreement helps better prepare students to compete in the global economy.
“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!”
He added, that “as we come to know each other better, perceived barriers erode and a robust synergy is created when the energy of youth couples with the seeds of creativity. The possibilities are endless…and I am particularly proud that the partnership of Capital Region BOCES and Questar III that resulted in the ‘birth’ of Tech Valley High School is playing a special part in shaping this vibrant future for our young people and creating everlasting friendships.”
Tech Valley High Principal Dan Liebert said told the guests, “You have come to the right place. We are twin schools separated by half a world focusing on students, teamwork and creativity.”
While in the region, the students and educators will take-in classes at TVHS, meet with leaders in the Tech Valley Region’s research and emerging technology businesses and meet with lawmakers. They will also visit students and teachers at Schodack, South Colonie, Schoharie and Bethlehem schools, as well as Capital Region BOCES’s culinary program. Students from Questar III’s culinary arts program at Rensselaer Educational Center in Troy helped prepared food for the delegation as part of its hand-on curriculum.
Additionally, UAlbany is providing tickets to a men’s basketball game Monday night and will recognize the delegation at the game and Proctors is conducting a special showing of an IMAX movie Tuesday evening.
The delegation is visiting Tech Valley in search of emerging educational practices that will better foster critical thinking and other 21st century skills.
The group is “most interested in educational practices that support inquiry, problem-solving, critical thinking and creativity for students,” Gerbino said.
Tech Valley High School and the Tech Valley Region was chosen for the agreement and visitation by the school because TVHS – as a member of the New Tech Network of schools and one of its demonstration sites – is a leader in educational innovation. Additionally, Capital Region BOCES, TVHS and Questar III have worked hard to forge a relationship with schools in China because of the growing importance China is playing in the global economy.
The new partnership was created first out of a visit last year by Capital Region BOCES, State Education Department and local school officials to China.
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