About Global Indiana
Global Indiana is dedicated to creating international relationships between educators in our state and fellow educators in other countries. We do this through the establishment of sister schools. Through government contacts in China, Spain, Ecuador, Brazil, France, Taiwan, Liberia, Germany, and elsewhere, and through the personal contacts of our board of directors, we have created more than 100 partnerships as of 2016.
History
Global Indiana became incorporated in May of 2008, but its origins go back much further. In 2003 Chris McGrew, then a consultant with the Indiana Department of Education, traveled to Hainan Island off the south coast of China. Global Indiana board member and businessman, Aaron Zou worked with Chris to establish the first K-12 school partnership between an Indiana school and a school in China. Zou daughters, Sara and Rochelle, would be spending a year in Hainan, and Zou wanted to link his daughters' school, Concord Ox Bow Elementary School in Dunlap, IN, with the Haikou Jingshan School in Hainan. Other trips with various groups, including school leaders from the Metropolitan School District of Washington Township in Indianapolis, followed that first trip. In the winter of 2005 McGrew sent a message to all the superintendents in the state alerting them to a meeting to be held at MSD Washington Township to discuss the feasibility of sending a group of school leaders to China. The meeting was held, and with the help of the China Exchange Initiative of Newton, Massachusetts, Mr. McGrew submitted a grant application to the Freeman Foundation to subsidize the travel expenses for the group. That first trip visited Beijing and Dalian in March of 2006, and the charge to the travelers was only $500. Participating in "Wave I," as it came to be known, were school leaders from the following Indiana school districts: MSD Washington Township, Decatur County Schools, Turkey Run School Corporation, Lafayette School Corporation, the Signature School. Also traveling were representatives from Indiana State University and Purdue University.
When they returned, the travelers called a follow-up meeting, again at Washington Township. Other school leaders were invited to investigate the possibility of a second trip. Carolyn Henderson and Charlotte Mason of the CEI attended the meeting. After discussion regarding the formation of a group to ensure the best use of these travel experiences, Mrs. Henderson suggested the group be named "Global Indiana." The first members of the governing board for Global Indiana were selected at that meeting. Volunteers included Phil Boley, who became the group's first president, as well as Chris McGrew, Carol Burns, Caterina Blitzer, Heidi Ross, John Conant, and Steve Akard. Claire McKinney became the organization's first treasurer, and Kathy Corbin was also added.
Wave II went to Beijing and Dalian in March of 2007. The Freeman Foundation again provided major funding, and the cost remained at $500. Global Indiana presented two pre-departure orientation meetings, one each at Indiana State and Indiana Universities. Participating in Wave II were MSD Washington Township, Brownsburg Schools, and Lafayette Schools along with Indiana State and Purdue.
During the 2007-2008 school year, Global Indiana expanded its executive board. Added members included Mary Ann Dewan, Rick Doss, and Gary DeCoker. A record 48 educators wanted to go to China with Global Indiana's Wave III scheduled for March of 2008. That year, Freeman decreased its funding and just over half of those individuals were selected for that trip. The other schools waited until fall, and with the help of EF Educational Tours, Wave IV traveled for $1,000 plus visa. That was GI's first trip to Zhejiang Province, and an excellent relationship was born with the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Foreign Affairs as well as with the Provincial Department of Education. New schools represented on that trip were South Central Schools in Porter County, MSD Wayne Township Schools including Ben Davis High School and Lynhurst 7th and 8th Grade Center. While plans were underway for Waves III and IV the board arranged for paperwork to be filed with the Indiana Attorney General to become officially incorporated. Global Indiana was officially incorporated in May, 2008. The board and officers undertook additional steps to obtain official not-for-profit status.
Global Indiana as an organization took its fifth trip to China in October of 2009. Both Washington and Wayne Townships had additional schools represented. Clark Pleasant, North Judson-San Pierre, and the Orchard School were newcomers on that trip.
Each year additional trips followed a similar pattern. Many districts sent repeat groups from the same school or included additional schools in their district. Wave VI in March of 2009 might have had the most adventurous trip. Led by Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, former Global Indiana board member, this group nearly became stranded on a mountain road leading to the Great Wall. Not to be deterred by the weather, group members slogged through snowdrifts for almost a mile to get to the top of the mountain where they stood on the Great Wall to take photographs in the snow. Included on Wave VI were the following schools:
Cedarville Elementary School, Fort Wayne; Clinton Central Elementary School, Michigantown; Covenant Christian High School, Indianapolis; Clay High School, South Bend; East Noble Middle School, Kendallville; Hamilton Elementary School, Hamilton; North Side Middle School, Columbus; and the Orchard School, Indianapolis.
Wave VII traveled to China in October of 2010, and more schools were added to the list of those having partners in China. They included Tecumseh Middle School, Lafayette; Oakland High School, Lafayette; Adams High School, South Bend; Chapel Hill Seventh and Eighth Grade Center, Indianapolis; DeKalb Middle School, Waterloo; J.R. Watson Elementary School, Auburn; Maple Creek Middle School, Fort Wayne; Metropolitan (Charter) High School, Indianapolis; and Brown County Junior High School, Nashville.
The April 2012 school mission was the eighth to visit China from Indiana, and it included many of the same schools already listed above. A few new ones were added: Wave VIII included Edgelea Elementary School; Lafayette; Jefferson High School, Lafayette; Oakland High School, Lafayette; Jefferson Elementary School, Warsaw; Scott Elementary School, Evansville; and Country Meadow Elementary School, Evansville. Also accompanying this group were representatives from the International Center of Indiana and Marian University.
October 2011’s Wave IX to China was the first to have fewer than fifteen participants. The increasing cost of airfare and of lodging in China, plus new departure fees from our travel vendor were part of the reason. The economic climate of the state and revenue cuts for public schools also contributed to the reduction in the number of travelers. Nearly all of our travelers paid the cost of their travel from personal funds. Nevertheless, it was an excellent trip—the first and only Global Indiana trip to include the ancient capital of Xi-An where the Terra Cotta Soldiers were discovered by archeologists in the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. The only new school creating a partnership was Harrison Elementary School, Warsaw. The rest of the group included representatives from Ivy Tech Wabash Valley and schools which had previously formed partnerships and were strengthening their ties with a second or third visit.
Wave X traveled in October of 2012. It benefited by being scheduled during the new extended fall break observed by many of the schools in or near Indianapolis. The Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township in Indianapolis sent fifteen of its employees, including their new assistant superintendent and a principal. School partnerships were formed by the Decatur Gold Academy and Valley Mills Elementary School. Accompanying Decatur Township were central office administrators from Fort Wayne Community Schools along with a principal and a representative of the Fort Wayne Sister City Committee. Wave X was the shortest trip ever taken by Global Indiana. Travelers were in the country only seven days. Even in that short amount of time, warm international friendships were formed.
Global Indiana organized a distinguished group, led by Glenda Ritz, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, in October of 2013. Mrs. Ritz and superintendents from eight school districts attended the Zhejiang-Indiana Basic Education Forum held in Huzhou and several delegation members presented to approximately 150 Chinese principals.
Meanwhile, a new partnership was being formed in Quito, Ecuador. Teachers from West Lafayette, Covenant Christian, Decatur Central, and South Adams schools traveled to South America, and were hosted by Liceo Campo Verde. They also visited six other schools in the city.
When they returned, the travelers called a follow-up meeting, again at Washington Township. Other school leaders were invited to investigate the possibility of a second trip. Carolyn Henderson and Charlotte Mason of the CEI attended the meeting. After discussion regarding the formation of a group to ensure the best use of these travel experiences, Mrs. Henderson suggested the group be named "Global Indiana." The first members of the governing board for Global Indiana were selected at that meeting. Volunteers included Phil Boley, who became the group's first president, as well as Chris McGrew, Carol Burns, Caterina Blitzer, Heidi Ross, John Conant, and Steve Akard. Claire McKinney became the organization's first treasurer, and Kathy Corbin was also added.
Wave II went to Beijing and Dalian in March of 2007. The Freeman Foundation again provided major funding, and the cost remained at $500. Global Indiana presented two pre-departure orientation meetings, one each at Indiana State and Indiana Universities. Participating in Wave II were MSD Washington Township, Brownsburg Schools, and Lafayette Schools along with Indiana State and Purdue.
During the 2007-2008 school year, Global Indiana expanded its executive board. Added members included Mary Ann Dewan, Rick Doss, and Gary DeCoker. A record 48 educators wanted to go to China with Global Indiana's Wave III scheduled for March of 2008. That year, Freeman decreased its funding and just over half of those individuals were selected for that trip. The other schools waited until fall, and with the help of EF Educational Tours, Wave IV traveled for $1,000 plus visa. That was GI's first trip to Zhejiang Province, and an excellent relationship was born with the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Foreign Affairs as well as with the Provincial Department of Education. New schools represented on that trip were South Central Schools in Porter County, MSD Wayne Township Schools including Ben Davis High School and Lynhurst 7th and 8th Grade Center. While plans were underway for Waves III and IV the board arranged for paperwork to be filed with the Indiana Attorney General to become officially incorporated. Global Indiana was officially incorporated in May, 2008. The board and officers undertook additional steps to obtain official not-for-profit status.
Global Indiana as an organization took its fifth trip to China in October of 2009. Both Washington and Wayne Townships had additional schools represented. Clark Pleasant, North Judson-San Pierre, and the Orchard School were newcomers on that trip.
Each year additional trips followed a similar pattern. Many districts sent repeat groups from the same school or included additional schools in their district. Wave VI in March of 2009 might have had the most adventurous trip. Led by Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, former Global Indiana board member, this group nearly became stranded on a mountain road leading to the Great Wall. Not to be deterred by the weather, group members slogged through snowdrifts for almost a mile to get to the top of the mountain where they stood on the Great Wall to take photographs in the snow. Included on Wave VI were the following schools:
Cedarville Elementary School, Fort Wayne; Clinton Central Elementary School, Michigantown; Covenant Christian High School, Indianapolis; Clay High School, South Bend; East Noble Middle School, Kendallville; Hamilton Elementary School, Hamilton; North Side Middle School, Columbus; and the Orchard School, Indianapolis.
Wave VII traveled to China in October of 2010, and more schools were added to the list of those having partners in China. They included Tecumseh Middle School, Lafayette; Oakland High School, Lafayette; Adams High School, South Bend; Chapel Hill Seventh and Eighth Grade Center, Indianapolis; DeKalb Middle School, Waterloo; J.R. Watson Elementary School, Auburn; Maple Creek Middle School, Fort Wayne; Metropolitan (Charter) High School, Indianapolis; and Brown County Junior High School, Nashville.
The April 2012 school mission was the eighth to visit China from Indiana, and it included many of the same schools already listed above. A few new ones were added: Wave VIII included Edgelea Elementary School; Lafayette; Jefferson High School, Lafayette; Oakland High School, Lafayette; Jefferson Elementary School, Warsaw; Scott Elementary School, Evansville; and Country Meadow Elementary School, Evansville. Also accompanying this group were representatives from the International Center of Indiana and Marian University.
October 2011’s Wave IX to China was the first to have fewer than fifteen participants. The increasing cost of airfare and of lodging in China, plus new departure fees from our travel vendor were part of the reason. The economic climate of the state and revenue cuts for public schools also contributed to the reduction in the number of travelers. Nearly all of our travelers paid the cost of their travel from personal funds. Nevertheless, it was an excellent trip—the first and only Global Indiana trip to include the ancient capital of Xi-An where the Terra Cotta Soldiers were discovered by archeologists in the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. The only new school creating a partnership was Harrison Elementary School, Warsaw. The rest of the group included representatives from Ivy Tech Wabash Valley and schools which had previously formed partnerships and were strengthening their ties with a second or third visit.
Wave X traveled in October of 2012. It benefited by being scheduled during the new extended fall break observed by many of the schools in or near Indianapolis. The Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township in Indianapolis sent fifteen of its employees, including their new assistant superintendent and a principal. School partnerships were formed by the Decatur Gold Academy and Valley Mills Elementary School. Accompanying Decatur Township were central office administrators from Fort Wayne Community Schools along with a principal and a representative of the Fort Wayne Sister City Committee. Wave X was the shortest trip ever taken by Global Indiana. Travelers were in the country only seven days. Even in that short amount of time, warm international friendships were formed.
Global Indiana organized a distinguished group, led by Glenda Ritz, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, in October of 2013. Mrs. Ritz and superintendents from eight school districts attended the Zhejiang-Indiana Basic Education Forum held in Huzhou and several delegation members presented to approximately 150 Chinese principals.
Meanwhile, a new partnership was being formed in Quito, Ecuador. Teachers from West Lafayette, Covenant Christian, Decatur Central, and South Adams schools traveled to South America, and were hosted by Liceo Campo Verde. They also visited six other schools in the city.