Long continues world travels

Tim Long is thinking globally.

And he's acting locally.

Long, superintendent of Jay Schools, believes local students and faculty must have a worldwide perspective if they're going to prosper in the future.

"Economically, we're a world without borders," Long said this week. "I think to ignore that we are cheating the future."

Long recently returned from China where he was among 360 American education decision-makers as part of the 2009 Chinese Bridge Delegation. It was his second exchange visit to China this year; the first funded by a private foundation and the most recent funded by the Chinese government and the College Board.

"If you had ever said to me that I would be in China I would never have believed it, let alone twice," said Long.

The delegation met with officials from Hanban, China's official agency to promote Chinese language and culture, in Beijing then broke into smaller groups to visit regional schools. Long's group traveled to Shanghai, where he toured two primary schools and a high school.

In February, a group of five Chinese educators will visit Indiana, coming from Anshan, where Long established partner-school arrangements between Chinese and Jay schools.

Then in April, six Jay educators, led by assistant superintendent Wood Barwick, will travel to China to visit partner schools.

Those participating will be art teachers Leslie Newton and Kathy Ayers and social studies teachers Trina Sommer, Devon Lykins, and Jessie Mangas.

"All have been working on learning Chinese," said Long.

"Hopefully in 2010 we'll be able to exchange some students as well," he added.

Hanban also provides funding that could bring a Chinese instructor to the county for three years.

"I just think it's a good thing for the district," said Long.

Not limiting his horizons, Long is in the process of establishing a non-profit organization that hopes to improve educational opportunities in Ethiopia and Mexico, as well as China.

"We all want to change the world," Long said. "I think that's one way I can give back."

In addition to those efforts and his duties as superintendent, Long continues to do educational consulting for Monroe Central Schools and is on the faculty at Ball State University.

"I don't do any more than I can handle," said Long. "I'm wired to work. There have been times I've been working for five school corporations at one time."

Approaching 50, he was the youngest superintendent in the country when he first took the reins at 32. "I've been doing this a long time," he said.[[In-content Ad]]