Huzhou Education Conference a Great Success

Seven school superintendents from Indiana, upon entering the auditorium, were greeted with a huge sign draped across the back of the stage.  Mostly in Chinese, it also proclaimed in English, “Zhejiang-Indiana Basic Education Forum.”  That was the scene at Huzhou (pronounced who-zhō) High School where State Superintendent Glenda Ritz and six other members of her delegation spoke through translators to about 150 Chinese principals.  Presenters and their topics were as follows:

State Superintendent Glenda Ritz - Keynote on Indiana education and intercultural exchange

Dr. Kathy Steele, Superintendent at Crawfordsville - The Governance of public education in the U.S.

Dr. Jim Roberts, Superintendent at Batesville - Challenges financing education and educational exchange

Mr. Tom Hunter, Superintendent at Greensburg & Dr. Ginger Bolinger, Superintendent at Madison - Teaching creativity, problem solving, and cooperation

Mr. Mark Millis, Asst. Superintendent at Richmond - The American high school

Mr. Phil Boley, Executive Director of Global Indiana - Sustaining a valuable school partnership

Following the full morning of speeches, the principals and visitors joined one another for lunch.  All were satisfied with the conference and expressed the desire to more such gatherings.