SSEC Hosts K-12 School Principals From the Education Commission of Changping District, Beijing, China

December 21, 2015

On December 31, 2015, Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) Director, Carol O'Donnell, along with Kathrine Blanchard, Professional Services Program Specialist, Jean Flanagan, Education Research Specialist, and Ashley Deese, Education Technology Specialist, met with a delegation of K-12 school principals from the Education Commission of Changping District, Beijing, China. This delegation was hosted by the Triway International Group, a group certified by the China State Administration of Foreign Experts Affair (SAFEA) to host government and business delegations that come to the U.S for study abroad and exchange programs. These principals came to the United States on a short study trip to learn about education policy, curriculum development, and after-school programs in the United States. During their visit to the SSEC, the 19 principal delegates learned about the mission of the SSEC, its curriculum materials and professional services for K-12 teachers and education leaders, the results of the SSEC's recent Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER) i3 Validation study, recent trends in science education reform in the US, and SSEC's international efforts, including its role on the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) Science Education Programme (SEP) Global Council--a global network of science  academies. 

Photo of Smithsonian Science Education Center staff with school principals from Beijing, China.SSEC staff with K-12 principals from the Education Commission of Changping District, Beijing, China