Congratulations to East Washington School Corporation's Michael Gilliam on being recognized as a 2024 Armstrong Teacher Educator Award recipient by the Indiana University School of Education.

The Armstrong Teacher Educator Award is more than a "Teacher of the Year" award. In addition to recognizing educator excellence, the award provides financial support for top Indiana educators to work with current IU faculty and undergraduates in the classroom and early field experiences. 

The school system expresses their pride in Gilliam's honor.

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

The State of Indiana wants to change high school diplomas that are offered; two choices instead of the present four.

The new diplomas are GPS Diploma and the GPS Diploma Plus. Indiana will also continue to offer the federally required alternate diploma, which is designed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.

The GPS stands for Graduate Prepared to Succeed.

There has been no change in the diplomas in the state of Indiana since 1980. According to a press release dated March 27, Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Department of Education, had this to say,” In talking to stakeholders across the state, one thing I have heard on repeat is that, ‘if’ high school looked different for students, then we could better connect them to what’s next. The reality is, the structure of the American high school experience has not changed for most students in over one hundred years”.

The two diplomas offer a more flexible approach and prepare the student for success after they graduate. 

The first GPS Diploma is close to the old Core 40 diploma.

For the GPS Diploma Plus, the student must complete their foundation courses, plus they must complete additional course work necessary to earn their chosen credential of value, as well as complete a high-quality work-based learning experience. Ninth and ten grade students will strategically focus on essential knowledge and skills. This was be accomplished through a set of foundational courses. 

Both diplomas require the student to fulfill three components; foundational knowledge and competencies, employment skills and post-secondary-ready competencies. These foundational and competencies will be obtained in the ninth and tenth grades. Students must master English, Math and Science. Career and post-secondary readiness, communication and collaboration, work ethics, and civil, financial and digital literacy.  Learning these things allows for more flexibility in eleventh and twelveth grades. The student must also engage in something outside of school--this could be volunteer group or a student run enterprise. In the higher grades, students will acquire work-based skills or postsecondary skills.

Something not required are credits in physical education or health credits.

These changes will go through public comments and must be made final by the State Board of Education. Feedback can be through an on line form through Indiana Department of Education.

If successful these changes will go into effect in 2029, and this class will be the first to receive these diplomas.

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

There are several groups that assist with high school exchange students in the United States. Participating students come from countries all over the world. Information on three agencies that arrange for exchange students in the southern Indiana region follows.

Anne Garner Offutt, coordinator for C.I.E.E., is excited to provide information. C.I.E.E. stands for Council on International Education Exchange. Offutt lives in New Albany. She has placed students in several local high schools in the greater Louisville area. Presently Offutt’s seventeen-year-old daughter is in Japan.
In Washington County, she has placed a sixteen-year-old female from Brazil in West Washington High School. Offutt says small schools are usually better.

Many come with the image the students see on TV shows like “High School.”

Offutt hosted one student and felt badly when she placed the student in the smallest bedroom. She was surprised when the student said, “I get this whole room to myself.”  

Before coming to the U.S., the students must past a minimum English test.

There are approximately four hundred students waiting for a host home. Many apply, but only 3% are able to participate. The foreign students are eager to learn and come fully prepared. The students get $125 from the American Council and must have medical insurance.

Senator Richard Lugar started a fully funded program for foreign exchange students from Muslin countries.  

Offutt also said there are two types of visas in the student program that they deal with.  A J-1 visa is for participation in an exchange program, including high school and universities. It is usually good for one year. The other is a F-1 Visa which allows the student to study at an accredited college or to study English at an English language institute for a longer period.

Offutt would love to place more foreign students in the Salem area. She can be reached on Facebook or call 502-592-3204. The exchange program is ideal for the student and host to learn about the other countries.

The second group is I.E. This stands for International Experience. The coordinator is Veronica Lindley, a teacher at East Washington High School and a Salem resident.

She has placed Anna Krimm from Mainz, Germany with a family in Pekin. Anna is 16 years old and in the 10th grade at East Washington High School. I spoke with her on the phone, and she can speak very good English. When asked how she learned it, she said in school, and her friends speak English together.  Her favorite subject is math.

Exchange students experience all of the events an American student has including prom, team sports and band. In fact, Anna recently won a silver award at a state band solo and ensemble contest. She won with a solo performance on the flute. She plans to have a career in mathematics or science research.

The third group is CETUSA, this stands for Council for Educational Travel U.S.A. The coordinator for this group is Diane Yows of Fishers, IN. She is in charge of the state of Indiana. Presently she has no students in Washington County, but has placed a student in Jeffersonville who goes to Jeffersonville High School.

All three groups have energetic coordinators, who are ready to talk with local residents about being a host family. Students come with insurance and spending money. All must pass a minimum English test. All a host does is provide a nice home and extra plate at the table. The students are usually here for one year on the J1 visa.

Being a host is pretty simple. You do not have to have children in high school, can be single parent etc. The requirement is providing a room, bed and a caring spirit. The agencies can place students anywhere that there is a willing host. These students tend to be outgoing over-achievers.

The best way to contact the agencies is on their Facebook pages, where you can also take a look at the students who are interested in residing in another country.

As a host you and your student will learn customs of another country and build lasting friendships.

Students in Brown County Schools are gearing up to press play and inspire their community next month when they take center stage during the district’s first-ever TEDx event.

All are invited to the 2,000-seat Brown County Music Center on May 18 to hear from inspirational speakers and support the community’s youngest residents during this free event. The theme is “Just press play: YOU hold the remote control to life.” 

“We need as many people to fill that music center as possible,” Superintendent Emily Tracy said.  “It is an opportunity for our kids to share ideas they are passionate about and it instills confidence at a young age. TEDx is a constant reminder that we all can do big things no matter our age.”

In addition to student TEDx talks, Kenny Moore II from the Indianapolis Colts, Founder of the STARTed Up Foundation Don Wettrick, Butler Professor and Neuroscience expert Dr. Lori Desautels, and Sister Jeanne Hagelskamp will all speak at this thought-provoking community event. Regional Opportunity Initiatives is one of the event sponsors. 

What began as Tracy visiting Cajon Valley Union School District in San Diego transformed into Brown County Schools hosting its first TEDx event, the first officially licensed K-12 school TEDx event in the Indiana Uplands.

“I was inspired that a low-income, incredibly diverse school district was able to provide these (TEDx) opportunities to students. I thought, if they can do it, we can do it,” Tracy said.

Using grant funding, Tracy and other district educators visited Cajon Valley schools last spring to experience its TEDx event firsthand. 

“One of our teachers asked me, ‘How do we do this for kids at Brown County?’ I knew I had a green light,” Tracy said.

Planning for Brown County’s own TEDx began last August. In June, all five schools were licensed as TED-Ed schools. Tracy then became a licensed TEDx host and organizer.  

Forty students volunteered to be members of the district’s TED-Ed clubs. Auditions were held for students interested in giving speeches on the big stage.  

“Presentation literacy isn’t an optional extra for the few. It’s a core skill the State of Indiana has identified as one of the top five characteristics that all students should leave K-12 with,” Tracy said. “TEDx can teach you how to communicate with others effectively, articulate your ideas clearly, and speak with confidence.”

The fun begins at 8:30 a.m. outside of the music center with an immersive outdoor experience where all attendees will get the opportunity to contribute to a collective mural by local artist Kurt Eagleman, make friendship bracelets, and enjoy a performance by the Brown County pep band. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. and the first 300 attendees through the door will receive a gift bag. The event will run from 10 a.m. to around 1:30 p.m. Food trucks will be available after the show, too. 

“I am just so proud to be able to put this on for the state, and I hope to help other school districts scale an event like ours across Indiana,” Tracy said.

To reserve your free tickets, call the Brown County Music Center box office at 812-988-5323 ext. 1.