One of our continuing endeavors throughout DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam is to successfully nurture and enhance our numerous professional partnerships, both within the military communities as well as in the surrounding civilian communities. This is in support of the DoDEA Community Strategic Plan (CSP), which states, “All levels of the organization will develop, promote, and maintain a network of meaningful partnerships and alliances to enhance social, emotional, and academic growth, and to maximize resources.”  Seeing the impact of the strong parental, military, and local national partnerships we have established within our schools, districts, and the entire Pacific Area fills me with a sense of accomplishment, for these partnerships provide invaluable benefits to our students. Let me take a moment to highlight some of these.

During SY 04-05, we developed a new and promising collaborative program with Harvard University ’s on-line professional development program, WIDE World, which is part of the Education Technology Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.  Forty-three (43) Pacific educators took the on-line course, “Teaching Math Fundamentals on the Way to Algebraic Thinking in the Elementary School.” This represents the first time Harvard University has agreed to work with DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam and clearly demonstrates the world class professionalism of our administrators, teachers, and students.

This week, more than 120 students will be attending the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium.  DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam has long standing partnerships to support this program, to include partnerships with representatives of the Japanese government, Tsukuba University , Japan Space Agency, the United States Embassy, and our military service organizations.  This program introduces students in eighth through 12th grade to original research in science, math and engineering. Students learn about research and experimentation and the importance of scientific research in human affairs. Additionally, the symposium exposes them to academic, industrial, and governmental opportunities. Each year our partners provide funding, facilities, informational tours, speakers, judges, and international exchange opportunities for participating students and teachers. Partnerships such as these help us ensure that we maximize all resources available in support of high student achievement.

The JASON Expedition highlights the success of a unique partnership between education, government, private corporations, and private research. JASON Expeditions provide students with hands-on inquiry-based learning of current science topics and events that illustrates the work of real scientists.  Dr. Robert Bullard, founder of the JASON Expeditions, directs the development of this supplementary science curriculum using the expertise of the world’s leading scientists and educators. The program integrates well with the DoDEA science, social studies, and language arts curriculum standards and applies an interdisciplinary approach to learning and teaching. 

The GAVRT (Goldstone Apple Valley Radio Telescope) Project provides DoDDS students world-wide with the opportunity to command the 34 meter radio telescope, use computers to record radio waves, and analyze data from across the solar system and the universe. The GAVRT training last spring familiarized middle school teachers with the new DoDEA science standards and supported classroom teachers in planning interdisciplinary units of study. Employing GAVRT as a supplemental resource, the teachers have an authentic context for teaching and learning.

Other examples of our partnerships include the Cisco Networking course which prepares students to become network engineers, for entrance into a technology career field, or for further technology study. The program includes a complete range of basic and advanced networking concepts - from pulling cables to such complex concepts as subnet masking rules and strategies. Successful completion of the Cisco Networking 1 & 2 courses (a two-year program) will help prepare the student to pass the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) examination. This year, the DoDDS-Pacific IT Division piloted a career practicum program where students in the Cisco Networking and IT Essentials courses got to work with staff in my office and administrative technologists in the field.

DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam also has an ongoing alliance with the College Board.  One of our best practices is to have representatives, selected by the College Board, visit Pacific schools throughout the year to assist students and families with the college application and admission process, with a focus on testing, financial aid, and adjusting to college life. 

Within our local communities partnerships include student mentoring and tutoring programs, parental involvement in school improvement, the Adopt-a-School program, and collaboratively planned events such as career exploration days. 

These partnerships exemplify the collaboration between DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam and an array of other agencies and organizations within the Pacific and across the world.  The African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child” has significance as we look at the many partnerships we have formed with our counterparts to ensure cutting edge learning experiences for our students.

Nancy C. Bresell
Director, DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam