News Item Details

Summit ESC Members Meet with Delegation of Education Administrators from Iraq

Posted: 10/5/2018

On Wednesday, Sept. 26, Superintendent Joe Iacano and select members of the Summit County Educational Service Center’s (ESC) Student Services and Curriculum & Instruction teams met with a delegation of 10 education administrators from Iraq.

The visiting delegates were selected by the U.S. Embassy based upon their workings in early childhood initiatives at the collegiate and governmental levels. In meeting with representatives from the ESC, the delegates had the opportunity to discuss early education curriculum, in addition to conflict resolution curriculum designed to empower at risk youth to be successful in their education and life skills. The delegates’ project is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program and organized by Meridian International Center at the National level.

Summit ESC was selected to be a part of this project by the executive director of Global Ties Akron, Michelle Wilson. Wilson contacted the ESC because of her knowledge of the extensive preschool services Summit ESC provides to 10 school districts in the Akron area.

“Each day, Summit ESC works to make a lasting impact on students, and now we have the opportunity to do so internationally. We couldn’t be more thrilled to share our passion for education,” said Superintendent Iacano.

The Summit ESC’s goal was to provide the delegates information on how the ESC meets the needs of their diverse population in the early childhood setting, including at-risk, typically developing and special education students. Additionally, the ESC and the delegates discussed managing curriculum planning and addressing issues around behavior and mental health. The second part of the meeting included a visit to the Newberry Preschool in Cuyahoga Falls, where the delegates had the opportunity to see both staff and students in action.

“We are excited to have this opportunity to showcase early childhood initiatives happening in Summit County that are reflective of best practices in Ohio and across the U.S.,” said Kim Meeker, student services coordinator. “We hope that the delegates walked away with information that will support development in their early childhood programs in Iraq.”

Superintendent Iacano, accompanied by members of the Student Services Team; Kim Meeker, Kristen Nowak and Katie Leigh and Matt Young, director of the Curriculum & Instruction Team welcomed the delegates to the ESC.