Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Educators attract the spotlight


By MEGAN THOMAS
Express Staff Writer

The educational efforts of Blaine County School District administrators earned a collection of awards in April.

The Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program, sponsored by the Japanese government, selected Mary Gervase, the school district's assistant superintendent, to attend a short-term study program in Japan. Gervase's selection to the October study program highlights a collection of honors earned by the district's past and present educators.

"Receiving this Fulbright scholarship is a chance to return to Japan as a professional educator, to meet and confer with fellow educators on international and global education issues facing all of our students and to contemplate what our curriculum, a world curriculum, must include to prepare our students to be global citizens," Gervase said.

The scholarship program provides American teachers and administrators an opportunity to immerse themselves in Japanese culture. The immersion in education includes visits to schools, colleges, cultural sites and industrial facilities.

Gervase visited Japan last summer and has a significant appreciation for Japanese culture.

"I have been practicing aikido, a Japanese martial arts, for two and half years with my teacher, Genshin Sensei at the Being Peace Center in Hailey. This initially fueled my interest in everything Japanese, the cultural arts, Soto Zen Buddhism, the architecture, the people and the martial arts," she said.

In addition to Gervase's selection, the district's former superintendent and current superintendent received recognition at the Idaho High School Activities Association April 6 meeting.

The association selected Phil Homer, the former superintendent of the Blaine County School District, to be inducted into the Association's 2005 Hall of Fame.

"Mr. Homer is being recognized for his many years of exemplary service supporting high school student activities. His advocacy has spanned his many hopes in education as a teacher, middle school principal, high school principal, superintendent, coach and serving on Activity Boards," Gervase commented.

The association also selected Blaine County School District Superintendent Jim Lewis to receive the 2005 District IV Distinguished Service award.

Homer and Lewis receive their awards in August.




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