Year-End Work Review and Farewell Luncheon for Prominent Education Partner

Year-End Work Review and Farewell Luncheon for Prominent Education Partner

The Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston organized a year-end work review meeting on December 13, 2016 to review the educational collaboration projects between Taiwan’s Ministry of Education (MOE) and Houston Independent School District (HISD). The meeting also provided the opportunity to honor Greg Meyers, a trustee of the Board of Education at HISD for 12 years and a long-time educational partner with Taiwan’s MOE. Greg Meyers has resigned from his position serving on the Board of Education, effective from the end of 2016.
In her welcome remarks, Sophie Chou, Director of the Education Division, acknowledged Greg Meyers for his support and accomplishments in connecting teachers and students of the United States and Taiwan together. His efforts created a platform for educators and children to communicate with one another on an international scale, and greatly assisted Taiwan’s MOE and HISD undertake many projects that benefit teachers and students. The Education Division has worked together with HISD on the following projects:
Establishing an agreement for teachers from Taiwan to teach Chinese language classes in Houston Independent School District: Visiting Teacher Program 2014, 2015, 2016
Holding a Mandarin language education workshop: Innovations in Mandarin Education 2014
Providing HISD students from disadvantaged families with an opportunity to undertake short-term studies in Taiwan: Prominent Young Scholars to Taiwan 2014
Helping to host educational exchange programs: Taipei Youth Folk Sports Group 2015 and 2016; Starlight Foundation Storytelling Delegation, 2016
Establishing educational partnership: Agreement on Education between the Taipei Department of Education and HISD 2015
Establishing partnerships between schools: Partnership Proclamation between Huiwen Elementary School and Sharpstown International School 2016; Huiwen Elementary School and Ed White Elementary School 2016
Creating student exchange opportunities: International Pen Pal Project between schools in Taipei City and schools in HISD 2016
Opening afterschool Mandarin Chinese language classes for underserved students: WOW Taiwan Mandarin Program 2016
Initiating a teacher exchange program: Teaching in Taiwan Teacher Exchange Program 2017
HISD educational officers Lance Menster, Jeff McCanna, and Adam Stephens; school principals Chang Chaolin, and Jade Adams, several teachers, and several students who have been on an exchange visit to Taiwan also attended the meeting to give their best wishes to Greg Meyers and to thank him for his dedicated service to education.
The Education Division was also pleased to welcome Richard A. Carranza who was named superintendent of HISD in August. He previously served as superintendent in San Francisco Unified School District. The new superintendent also spoke highly of Greg Meyers, commenting that he is grateful that the children of the HISD community are provided with abundant opportunities for international experience, and their hopes and dreams are being expanded and enriched by the great events and initiatives that have been created for them. Greg Meyers nurtured a sturdy partnership between Taiwan’s MOE and HISD through his collaborative spirit and actions, and the new superintendent will work to see this excellent partnership continue to grow and thrive.