Long honored for intercultural efforts

INDIANAPOLIS - Jay Schools Superintendent Tim Long was recognized Wednesday morning by Indiana Superintendent of Public Education Tony Bennett and the Indiana State Board of Education for his efforts to foster intercultural learning.

"Cross-cultural competency will be an increasingly valuable skill in today's global world," Bennett said in a press release. "Dr. Long should be commended for his efforts to expand the international horizons of Jay County's students."

Long has formed a working relationship between Jay Schools and schools in China the past two years.

Long was accepted in late 2008 as one of several U.S. administrations to be part of an exchange program funded by the China Exchange Initiative.

During the '08-'09 school year, Yajuan She, an exchange student from Changsha City in Hunan, China, attended Jay County High School. During her time in Jay County, she helped teach Long Chinese in preparation for his trip and he helped her learn English.

Jay Schools hosted a Chinese principal in February 2009. During that trip, the principal toured all of the county's schools in a weeklong-visit.

Long then took his 16-day trip to China in April 2009, where he visited several schools and made connections in the country.

He again traveled across the Pacific in December as one of 360 American educators as part of the Chinese Bridge Delegation, funded by the Chinese government and College Board.

In February, five teachers from Angang Senior Middle School in Anshan, China, visited Jay County, where the delegation met with Bennett and toured the county's schools.

A group of five Jay County teachers and assistant superintendent Wood Barwick traveled to China in April for a two-week trip as Jay's side of the exchange program.

In May, the Jay County School Board approved the hire of Chinese exchange teacher He Yan Xin, who will teach art/culture at West Jay Middle school during the 2010-11 school year.

And in June, a group of Chinese teachers and students is scheduled to tour the county.

"Our world is shrinking very quickly," Long said in the press release. "Any school that does not have a global component really runs the risk of not preparing student for the future."

Long has also stated in the past that he was in the process of establishing a non-profit organization that could create connections with Ethiopia and Mexico. He has been superintendent of Jay Schools since fall 2006.[[In-content Ad]]