Dubsky: Globalization changing education
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published Sept. 26, 2007

Teachers and students need to constantly learn new educational languages in the 21st century or face being left behind in a competitive world, North Olmsted School Superintendent Cheryl Dubsky said in her state of the schools address.

While addressing the North Olmsted Chamber of Commerce last Thursday in the district’s annual report, Dubsky said ways of preparing students for the future change frequently in response to ever-changing technology.

“As we converse with each other today and in the future, we need to speak a new language,” Dubsky said. “Not the language of business or educational jargon, but the language of greatness. What separates a good business or educational organization from a great one? Who we are, what we are, what we say and what we do creates a culture – both within a community and within the school district as a subset of the community.”

Dubsky took over as superintendent of the North Olmsted City Schools earlier this year from Kurt Stanic, who retired from the district after four years. While associate superintendent, Dubksy led the way in putting in a place number of new academic programs which helped the district obtain excellent rankings in the annual state education rankings. Dubsky used an eight-minute video presentation on the schools to help illustrate her points about changing technology as well as involving members of the audience with questions during the presentation.

She said old educational techniques will no longer suffice for modern-day teaching.

“We need to talk together about 21st century learning and how to collectively help young people achieve the skills and attributes that will allow them to survive and thrive in the new global economy,” she said. “Teaching and modeling the skills of leadership, work ethic, collaboration, communication and problem solving are within the power of every individual and institution within a community and within this room.”

Educators and students face more diverse challenges in modern schools, she said.

She noted that as of the end of the 2006-07 school year, the district had served 362 students identified as being pupils with limited English proficiency. As of Aug. 30, there were 131 students enrolled in grades K-12 that may be identified as being Limited English Proficient. Of those students, 54 percent had a primary language of Arabic, 8 percent speak Spanish with the remaining languages including Romanian, Lusogo, Chinese, Filipino, Gujarati, Indian, Latvian, Cambodian, German, Lebanese, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian or Urdu.

Despite the new challenges, she said the district has maintained high standards and had strong achievers.

As examples, she cited the following: The high school students’ average ACT and SAT scores of 22 and 1096 respectively  ranked with the top-performing students across the state; last year, senior Michael Steward scored a perfect 2400 on the SAT; another senior, Nicholas Pupera, was named outstanding senior at the Polaris Career Center class of 2007; the overall class of 2007 was offered more than $7.3 million in renewable scholarships from colleges and universities and $60,000 in community awards.

She said they will have to remain smart and competitive, noting that India and China are expected to be the two largest English speaking nations in the world within five years.

She said the school district is committed to having the children learn what they need to do well.

“We have our challenges ahead,” she said. “The world seems to be turning even faster and faster with relentless change. Society is different, families are different, school is different, the community is different. We’re preparing students for a future that is yet unknown – as all parents and educators for generations have had to do. Our charge as educators has always been important, but today it is perhaps more important than ever.

“Together we can keep the best of  the old as well as teach and model the best of the new. Please remember that no significant learning occurs with a significant relationship — a sense of connectedness. If we believe, care and value our kids, we will continue to work together to be a great school district and community.”

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