An international delegation of educators from India recently visited Freeport High School to learn more about higher education methods in the United States.
The group of 36 was greeted by Principal Linda Carter, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kishore Kuncham, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Gerard W. Poole and Executive Director for Operations Michael Singleton.
After a breakfast and welcoming remarks, the visitors were split into two groups to tour the building to get a better understanding of the broad scope of classes offered in Freeport. Assistant principals Nelson Holland and Joseph Mille conducted the tours.
"Public school education in America is the cornerstone of our democracy," said Dr. Kuncham. "Our goal has been to provide opportunities to our students, no matter what their backgrounds, to learn 21st century skills," he said. Kuncham briefly explained the egalitarian principles of public schooling to the group who largely represented private institutions. Dr. Kuncham went on to encourage the exploration of school partnerships, professional development and exchange programs with the visiting administrators.
A panel comprised of Director of Pupil Personnel Services Dr. Alice Kane, Math Department Chair and Community School Coordinator Jacqueline Matos, Director of English Language Arts Pamela Maltese, English Department Chair Andrea Kane, incoming English Department Chair Liana Valletti and Poole explained their roles in Freeport Schools and answered questions regarding the district's educational goals and practices and how they meet and exceed the New York State Common Core Learning Standards. Among the topics discussed were teacher training and continuous professional development, differentiated instruction in the classroom, leadership within the secondary school system, and new pedagogy and assessment methodologies.
A similar group visited Freeport just a few years ago. This visit was coordinated through the office of William D. Lynch III, study abroad counselor/international recruiter at SUNY College at Old Westbury. All of the visiting educators were presented with informational packets and small tokens of appreciation.
