This summer’s delegation, who earned the appellation the “Fab 40,” followed in the project tradition as remarkable educators doing remarkable work, like the alumni of previous programs. The “Fab 40″ represented every region of Pakistan, sharing their areas’ rich traditions with one another and with their American friends. You all are greatly missed in Plymouth.

Best wishes to our Pakistani friends and to ITA – with all of the critical work being done with flood relief initiatives and in Pakistan’s education sectors.

Blake

Alumni have reported sharing Project training with over 100, 000 of their colleagues and students.  The statistical outcomes result from implementation of activities in Pakistan developed during the Project’s intensive institutes  at Plymouth State University. But most importantly, building relationships is at the core.   The Project has been funded by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Citizen Exchanges since 2003.  The cross-cultural and -educational exchange  component is the essence of the Project. Pakistanis and Americans have shared experiences and formed friendships that transcend boundaries.

With planning underway for the 2010 institute and follow-on activities in Pakistan, the focus will continue on science education and educational leadership.  Each institute examines issues from different perspectives for continuing professional development enrichment in Pakistan.  Many factors shape the curriculum, including Ministry of Education goals and alumni advice.  The 2010 institute will explore ethics and advocacy in educational leadership and environmental education.

The rigorous merit based nomination and selection process soon will be underway in Pakistan, facilitated by the Project’s in-country service provider, Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi.  It also will be assisted by Departments of Education and educational institutions.  The Project, its Pakistani alumni, Plymouth State University’s staff and faculty,  and New Hampshire’s Lakes Region communities look forward to welcoming more Pakistani educational leaders as guests, colleagues and friends.

Today Commissioner Barry was a guest on New Hampshire Public Radio’s The Exchange hosted by Laura Knoy.  More information is available on http://www.nhpr.org/exchange.

Congratulations again to Commissioner Barry from the Pakistan Project and the alumni of the Pakistani Educational Leadership Institutes.

Plymouth State University’s Pakistani Project is preparing to welcome its sixth delegation of Pakistani educational leaders for an intensive professional development institute that is the Project keystone. Pre- and post- institute Project activities in Pakistan are coordinated and facilitated by in-country partner Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA). Institute alumni act in an advisory capacity to the Project and assist in institute design and development. The United States Department of State and institutional stakeholders in the United States and Pakistan provide additional collaboration.

The 2009 Pakistani Educational Leadership Institute (PELI) will explore themes from previous institutes. They will be addressed from different perspectives in order to enrich continuing professional development opportunities for the PELI alumni network and colleagues in Pakistan.

The educational leadership component will address conflict resolution. Science education will examine issues that range from policy to pedagogy, using watersheds as a linking theme. The literacy workshop will focus on the effective delivery of teacher training. Interdisciplinary initiatives that integrate cultural heritage and the environment will explore the layered landscape. As a framework for the Institute curriculum, each delegate will be required to develop a Master Action Plan (MAP) for implementation in Pakistan. The MAPS will include objectives, activities, and measurable outcomes.

At the completion of the Institute, the delegates will receive Certificates of Professional Development and recognition as Master Trainers. They also will become alumni of Plymouth State University, with lifelong access to all alumni resources that include the extensive online capability of Lamson Learning Commons.

During the Institute, the delegates will share their accomplishments and serve as Ambassadors for Pakistan. They also will be honored members of the Plymouth State University community, engaging in professional development opportunities with their American colleagues in the Arts in Education Institute, Plymouth Writing Project, and the Institute’s International Watershed course for Pakistani and American educators.

New Hampshire’s Commissioner of Education, Dr. Virginia Barry, a former Provost and former acting President of Plymouth State University, will lead a question and answer session on American education during the Institute’s orientation. Visits to Newfound High School, Bristol, New Hampshire, New Hampton School, New Hampton, New Hampshire, and the John Tobin School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, will provide more opportunities to share experiences with fellow American educators from both the public and private sectors.

Community members also eagerly await the arrival of the delegation. A farmhouse tea, Mount Washington Valley luncheon, pond-side pizza party, Pemi-Baker Literacy Task Force pot luck dinner, and barbecue hosted by New Hampshire’s Pakistani community will offer relaxation amidst the intensity of the Institute schedule.

Special thanks to Plymouth State University’s dedicated and hard working campus-wide Pakistani Committee,  Pakistan partner ITA, the U.S. Department of State, and Project supporters everywhere for making this possible. Special thanks to Plymouth State University’s President Sara Jayne Steen and Provost Julie Bernier for their thoughtful support of the Project.

A very special thanks to the Project’s 100 alumni who provide continuing inspiration due to their remarkable work in Pakistan as agents of change.

And a very special welcome to the 2009 delegation from all of us at Plymouth State University and the College of Graduate Studies.

Plymouth State University’s Pakistani Project is in the planning phase for next summer’s Pakistani Educational Leadership Institute.  The primary topic will be educational leadership in science education, with a secondary focus on conflict resolution and social tolerance.  Thanks to the State Department, our Pakistan partner, ITA, and our alumni for feedback and thoughtful suggestions.  The Institute will be content rich and also provide more learning resources for alumni connectivity.

Thank you again for all your contributions.  We welcome your input!

Best wishes,

Blake

More information is available on the Plymouth State University, College of Graduate Studies, website: www.plymouth.edu/graduate/doctoral/index.html.  Dr. Kenneth Heuser is the Doctoral Program Coordinator.  His e-mail address is kenh@plymouth.edu.

The doctoral program will examine many of the issues addressed in the Pakistani Educational Leadership Institutes.  They include global aspects of leadership and its impact on society; educators as system leaders and agents of change in their communities; and support and advance of knowledge and research that contributes to educational innovation and reform.

Special thanks to Plymouth State’s Pakistani alumni for their contributions in the critical area of educational leadership.

Best to you all from New Hampshire, with snow starting to cap the mountains,

Blake/Madame Director

The PELI website belongs to all of you, with PELI 08′s posted Master Action Plans reflecting the intensity of the institute as an educational and cultural experience for everyone involved – from both the U.S. and Pakistan. Special thanks to partner Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi for in-country facilitation.

The hallmark of this summer’s institute entailed cross-cultural and educational engagement across communities. From Plymouth State University’s College of Graduate Studies professional development initiatives with your New Hampshire counterparts to local libraries and community festivities, you garnered “glowing reports” as one of your fans commented just last night. Thank you so much for your contributions: on campus and off; in the classroom, out in the field, and in the dorm; and in Boston and Washington.

As a Pakistani Project update – Graduate Assistant Bich Tran completed her M.Ed. and received a job offer from a local New Hampshire school. But she always will be part of the project, sharing her insights and Vietnamese culture as an extension of the rich cross-cultural exchange.

Master Action Plan designer Kim Rawson was married to Ryan on a glorious New Hampshire day overlooking the mountains. She put together a “Pakistan” table with John Allen, Mary Ann McGarry, your Lincoln host Lisa Riley, and Kim’s dear friend Sania from Gujranwala, so we all ended up talking about – yes – Pakistan.

Thanks to PELI 08 for a rich and dynamic institute. Thanks for sharing your visions and hopes. And thanks for giving voice to the valuable work that you are doing in Pakistan’s educational sectors. As a delegation and as individuals, you created a wonderful tapestry of experiences and memories.

To all of PSU’s PELI alumni: 04, 05, 06, 07 and now 08 -

Best wishes,

Blake (aka Madame Director)

During the Institute’s Orientation Week, you will be participating in introductory seminars, learning about a range of available resources, and meeting the the University’s dedicated Pakistani Committee. The Committee consists of professionals from the University community who are involved with the Pakistani Project throughout the year. It also expands to include graduate faculty, graduate students, doctoral and undergraduate interns, and community volunteers.

The Institute schedule is packed with educational and cultural opportunities. Because of the grant goals, much of the academic component will be field based. You will be exploring dynamic environmental and cultural heritage models developed by the National Park Service and the White Mountain National Forest. Other academic sessions will focus on sustainable energy initiatives for inclusion in the classroom and educational leadership, management and planning. Please share with us any pertinent curricular frameworks and standards.

You also have been invited to join the Arts in Education Institute and Plymouth Writing Project for interactions with your New Hampshire counterparts.

We have been reading your nomination packets with great interest. It will be fascinating to hear more about the wonderful work that you all are accomplishing in Pakistan – the learning always goes both ways.

At Plymouth State we look forward to welcoming you as our honored guests and colleagues. Special thanks to ITA and the Pakistani Project’s alumni for their input on Institute planning.

Regards,

Blake Allen, Director, Pakistani Educational Leadership Institute

Michelle Lauriat, Administrative Assistant

Plymouth State has been awarded a selective State Department open competition grant that continues the University’s Pakistani project and valued partnership with Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi.  

Most importantly, the grant proposal integrates input from all eighty of you – the intensive brainstorming that has taken place during the summer institutes in New Hampshire and the critical work that you have undertaken during follow-on activities in Pakistan.  

The grant focuses on “…demonstrating active and responsible citizenship through education in environmental stewardship and cultural heritage preservation.”   Within the context of the layered landscape, the curriculum for next summer will explore models that effectively integrate policy, environmental stewardship, cultural heritage preservation, and community-based educational initiatives, with schools as delivery sites. 

The coursework will continue a strand from previous institutes and examine communities as interdisciplinary classrooms without walls and integrate numerous Road Shows.  The framework consists of international, Pakistan, and United States standards and best practices in the relevant areas.  Next summer’s institute also will include an academy with Pakistan and New Hampshire educators collaborating in a cross-cultural exchange to enhance the richness of their respective learning communities.

As always, your input is welcome. And many thanks for all your contributions! Best wishes from Team Pakistan at Plymouth State and from Blake, ”Madame Director.”