Chinese Educators Visit Norwin High School, Hahntown Elementary School
Group from Wenzhou and Peking, China, Schools
Learn about Norwin’s STEM Education Programs
A delegation of ten Chinese educators
toured Norwin High School in early
February to see an example of an
innovative STEM education program in
the United States.
The Chinese educators, who hail
from the Wenzhou and Peking regions
of China, toured Norwin High School
and Hahntown Elementary School on
February 8, 2018. They discussed the
STEM Innovation Program offerings with
administrators, and learned about the
structure of the American school day.
The International Foundation Alliance
of Pittsburgh facilitated the visit. Norwin
administrators showed the Chinese
educators several classes at Norwin
High School, including Manufacturing II,
Introduction to Engineering Design, AP
Biology, and AP Chemistry. Cadets from
the High School’s Air Force Junior ROTC
class demonstrated a drill and drone
maneuvers for the delegation. The
group also observed a programmable
robot that follows specific technological
commands as it interacted with Norwin
students in the Life Skills program.
“The Norwin School District
exemplifies all that is right with our
public education systems, and is
beginning meaningful discourse and
collaboration with school systems in The
People’s Republic of China,” said Dr. Tim
Glasspool, director of the IFA-Pittsburgh
Center.
The IFA-PIT’s mission is to promote
and support international education
and cultural experiences for school-
age students and educators through
scholarship and shared experiences.
Dr. Glasspool and Mr. Don Dai, who is
president of IFA EduChina, accompanied
the contingent. Mr. Robert Perkins,
President of the Norwin Board of
Education, was part of the District’s
welcoming committee.
Norwin was honored to be one of two
southwestern Pennsylvania high schools
selected for the delegation’s tour. The
District’s STEM Innovation Program
provides a high-tech environment with
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NORWIN
open work spaces for team-building
and skill development in the ‘Five C’s’ of
21st Century Education: Careers, critical
thinking, collaboration, communication,
and creativity.
The Norwin STEM Innovation
program focuses on five major career
pathways that are aligned with high-
demand occupations needed in our
region and throughout the U.S. These
include Advanced Manufacturing,
Biomedical Sciences, Computer Science
Engineering, Energy & Engineering, and
Aerospace Engineering.
The Chinese Educator Delegation has
invited a Norwin educator delegation to
visit China in September 2018, and has
asked Norwin School District to consider
hosting sixth and seventh-grade Chinese
students for two weeks in October. The
latter would require arrangements with
Norwin families to host the students.
Dr. William Kerr, Norwin
Superintendent of Schools, said
the Administration is exploring this
possibility, including required logistics,
expectations, and coordination, before
making a formal presentation to the
Board of Education.
“Building a professional working
relationship and partnership with
Chinese educators and students will
provide rich educational opportunities
in the future, based on the belief that
our students and educators are, in many
respects, already global citizens,” Dr. Kerr
said. “This is a unique opportunity that
the Administration will further explore.”