Deputy Director attends SES Conference. From March 4-16, 2001, Dr. Nancy Bresell joined fellow Senior Executive Service (SES) members during the 15th APEX Orientation Program, a course that acquaints executives with the structure, mission, processes, and goals of the Department of Defense. Participants met with DoD officials and senior leaders before their residential program at the Federal Executive Institute. Visits were made to the Unified Combatant Commands and tours of military installations were conducted during the second week. Command officials discussed their organizations, missions, capabilities and current issues affecting DoD.

District leaders attend job fair in Midwest. DoDDS Pacific administrators attended a job fair at Northern Iowa University to interview prospective educators from throughout the United States and provide information about the Department of Defense Dependents Schools. Okinawa District Superintendent, Korea District Superintendent, Japan District Assistant Superintendent, participated in the three-day event.

Advisory Council for Dependents Education (ACDE) to visit Pacific schools. During the week of April 23-27, 2001, four ACDE teams will visit Korea, Okinawa, and Japan district schools. The Council is comprised of representatives from education institutions and agencies, teachers' unions, unified military commands, and also includes school administrators, parents of DoDDS students, and one DoDDS student. Following the school visits, teams will meet in Tokyo to review their observations of dependents’ education in the Pacific and make recommendations to the DoDEA Director.

Six schools to undergo accreditation visit. Five schools in Japan (Byrd ES, Kinnick HS, Perry ES, Perry HS, and Sullivans ES) and one school in Okinawa (Stearley Heights ES) are scheduled to undergo site visits by the North Central Association (NCA) of Colleges and Schools in April 2001. The NCA is the accreditation and evaluation organization for DoDDS Pacific area schools. Stateside team leaders, along with a peer review team, will conduct the on-site visits. The visits encompass a review of school policies, procedures, and resources, as well as an in-depth analysis of the School Improvement Plan and the progress the schools have made.

Junior Science and Humanities Symposium held. The Pacific Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) was held March 25-28, 2001, at Tsukuba Science City, Japan. It is one of 47 regional meetings of the national Junior Science and Humanities Symposium and is conducted for American students in grades 7-12 who complete science research projects. Students from Japan, Korea, Guam, and Okinawa districts participated in this event, sponsored and funded by the U.S. Army Research Office, the Office of Naval Research, the U.S. Air Force Research Office, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), and the Obana Company LTD.

Yokosuka students perform at Carnegie Hall. Fourteen students from Kinnick High School's advanced band were selected to join a 45-member ensemble representing Japan in an April 1, 2001, matinee concert at Carnegie Hall. Students played both American and Japanese selections during their 25-minute performance. The event is part of Carnegie Hall's student concert series.

Camp Zama commander awards medal to DoDDS Pacific employee. Major General Alan D. Johnson, Commander, US Army, Japan, awarded the Chief of Pacific Transportation Management Office (PACTMO), the Superior Civilian Service Award consisting of a medal, lapel button, and citation certificate. He received the award for demonstrating superior service for the joint transportation management initiatives he implemented between DoDDS PACTMO and the 17^th ASG, Camp Zama, which resulted in a cost efficient, safe, and reliable bus transportation system for students in Camp Zama and Atsugi Naval Air Facility communities. This is the third highest award given to a civilian.