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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Educators from the Callisburg Independent School |
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District and schools in Kesennuma, Japan, are taking part in the |
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Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Master Teacher Program, and their |
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inspiring exchange of ideas is enhancing the quality of education |
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for students in both countries; and |
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WHEREAS, The Master Teacher Program is a remarkable |
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collaboration between Japanese and American educators that |
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furthers cross-cultural learning and the development of |
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international curricula and allows students of different |
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nationalities to work together in researching important issues; and |
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WHEREAS, In the course of the program, the teachers visit |
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their partner country to learn more about the community and school |
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they are collaborating with; through these visits and online |
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activities, they develop joint science projects that will be |
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carried out by their students later in the year; also taking part in |
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the project are authorities from universities and businesses in the |
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United States and Japan, who provide vital expertise to the |
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students and assist them in performing research; and |
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WHEREAS, The Japanese participants in the |
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Callisburg-Kesennuma joint venture include Yukihiko Oikawa of the |
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Kesennuma City Board of Education, Noriko Memezawa of the Miyagi |
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University of Education Environmental Education Center, Yuichi |
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Hatakeyama of Kesennuma Omose Elementary School, Seiichi Yokoyama |
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and Hiroko Miyazaki of Kesennuma Shishiori Elementary School, |
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Katsushi Komatsu and Satoru Miura of Kesennuma Omose Junior High |
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School, and Takanobu Kato and Satoka Sawauchi of Miyagi Prefectural |
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Kesennuma High School; and |
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WHEREAS, Their counterparts from Texas include Donald |
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Metzler, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and |
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instruction for Callisburg ISD, Danita Ortwoski and Deana Melancon |
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of Callisburg Elementary School, Tom Demetrion and Carla Taylor of |
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Callisburg Middle School, Tim Jones of Callisburg High School, Dr. |
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Eddie Hadlock, the president of North Central Texas College, Lisa |
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Bellows, department chair, and Sara Flusche of the science |
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department at North Central Texas College, Dr. Carol Fletcher of |
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the Texas Regional Collaborative for Excellence in Science |
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Teaching, and Dr. Molly Weinburgh, the director of Instructional |
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Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education at Texas Christian |
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University; and |
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WHEREAS, Both the Callisburg and Kesennuma educators have |
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taken part in the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund joint ventures in |
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each of the past three years; the Texas school district has become |
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an especially prominent player among the American contingent in the |
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Master Teacher Program, providing three of the 10 U.S. schools |
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selected for 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, The students in the Callisburg-Kesennuma |
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collaboration are studying water quality in rivers near their |
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communities and will share their findings through monthly video |
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conferences; these activities will allow them to learn important |
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scientific and environmental information as well as foster greater |
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understanding between the two nations, and it is a pleasure to |
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recognize all of the participants in this rewarding program; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the Japanese and Texas educators taking |
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part in the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Master Teacher Program |
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and extend to them best wishes for success in their educational |
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project; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for participants of the program as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |