News Release

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 2006
Contact:  Frank O’Gara
Voice:  (703) 588-3260
Email: frank.ogara@hq.dodea.edu

DoDEA MARKS AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK

ARLINGTON, VA — The 85th Annual American Education Week (AEW) will be observed in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools worldwide from November 12-18, 2006.

This year’s theme, "Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility," highlights the importance of bringing together educators, school staff, parents, students, and communities in a unified effort to build great public schools. AEW is celebrated by schools across the nation and supported by many educational organizations, including the National Education Association (NEA).

"In our DoDEA communities, we can take this time to recognize and reflect on the important partnerships our schools have forged with parents, students and commands to improve the quality of education for children." said Dr. Joseph Tafoya, DoDEA Director. "Our schools take on an additional role and significance in our communities -- often providing the stability, routine and focus for families affected by current global events, deployments and separations," he added.

Tafoya believes the key to education is teamwork.

"Education is about teamwork," he said. "It's not just about teachers and students. It’s about education support staffs, parents, commands, and communities combining their efforts to help students fulfill their potential, to develop ideas and inventions, to imagine a better world."

Education depends on the partnerships that are forged between teachers, education support staffs, parents, students and communities. Parental and community involvement are keys to success. American Education Week is a great time to visit your schools and see how those partnerships contribute to making good schools great schools.

Many DoDEA schools will sponsor events and activities throughout the week that are designed to demonstrate the bonds between schools and communities and highlight the special contributions teachers, school staffs and parents make to schools every day. For more information about events that may be sponsored in DoDEA schools in your area, contact local school principals.

American Education Week was established as an annual event in 1921 to spotlight the need for education to combat the illiteracy and lack of physical fitness that plagued American youth in the wake of World War I. The week now has 13 national co-sponsors, including the National PTA, National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, and U.S. Department of Education.

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