"Strong international vision" in UCS leaves impression on Chinese educators

A group of Chinese educators had some strong words of encouragement for Utica
Community Schools parents and staff.

"This district has a very strong international vision and the staff is very
open minded," said Hou Zhujiu, headmaster of the Chongqing Bachuan International
School.

Three educators from Chongqing Province in southwest China toured global
programs in Utica Community Schools to set the stage for more collaborative
efforts with their schools.

The educators - which included Zhujiu, Yao Lingli, vice president of the
Chongqing Friends High School, Fu Minghua, secretary general of the Chongqing
Education Association for International Exchange - met with district leadership
and visited classrooms at the Utica Academy for International Studies, Oakbrook
Elementary and Browning Elementary.

Minghua said the visitors were struck by the depth of commitment and the
emphasis on providing global experiences across grade levels.

"Today left a very deep impression on me," he said.

Utica Community Schools already has an established a cooperative agreement
with the Chongqing Municipal Education Commission.

The officials were visiting as the result of an established partnership
between Saginaw Valley State University and Chongqing, China.

Last year, Saginaw Valley selected Browning Elementary Principal Tricia
Hassell as the only Detroit-area educator to participate in the Gerstacker
Fellowship.