AIG Holds Spain Conference

by Winston Skinner
The Times-Heard

 

(November 20, 2001, Newnan, GA) Representatives of the Coweta-based Achievers International—Georgia sponsored a meeting in Atlanta to help link educators in the United States and Spain.

The program was held on the morning of November 13, 2001, at the Georgia Capitol Education Center. The purpose of the videoconference was to kick-off a new business/education partnership between schools in Georgia and Spain. The participants both in Atlanta and in Asturias, Spain, made introductions, discussed goals, and possible products to import and export.

Juan Antonio Vega, director of Ciudad Industrial Valnalon, a government supported primary-through-university training program that infuses entrepreneurship and economic education into existing curriculum, was attending a conference in Mexico City and came to Atlanta to visit AIG and participate in the video conference.

The European enterprise project began 14 years ago in the region of Asturias in northwestern Spain.

The Georgia Council on Economic Education supported the program through a grant in cooperation with the National Council on Economic Education with funding from the U.S. Dept. of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement. Dr. David Martin, Director, and Ms. Marie Wilson, Associate Director of GCEE, have provided support through the GCEE since the inception of AIG seven years ago.

At the site in Atlanta were students and teachers from Eagle’s Landing High School in McDonough and Kennesaw Mountain High School in Kennesaw. Mrs. Merrilee Stephens and 17 students from Eagle’s Landing are partnered with Ies Astures in Lugones, Spain, and Ms. Lisette Newmark and 12 students from Kennesaw Mountain High School in Cobb County are partnered with Ies Escultor Juan de Villanueva in Pola de Siero, Spain.

Stephens, Newmark, and their students attended the conference.

Connected through Georgia Statewide Science and Medical System video conference, organized by James Brown, technical analyst for the Georgia Department of Administrative Services, were Mrs. Mimi Dennis, principal, and 26 Dodge County Elementary School students partnered with Cra Laviana Y Sobrescobia School in Laviana, Spain, and Mrs. Debra Bailey and John Drew, coordinators, and 28 students from Columbus High School, partnered with Colegio Palacio de Granda in Granda-Siero, Spain.

Part of the program, but unable to attend, were students of Ms. Debra Moyer of Calhoun High School matched with Ies Cerdeno School.

In Spain were representatives of the five schools, Jose Manuel Perez Diaz, Ciudad Tecnologica Valnalon of Langreo, Spain, and other officials.

"We are very grateful to the State Legislature for having the foresight to create the Capitol Education Center. Our kick-off from that facility allowed two high school groups to travel to Atlanta and participate in an international video conference while two other schools joined us via GSAMS," said Bette Hickman, AIG Executive Director.

"The moment the Atlanta audience and the two GSAMS sites greeted the group from Spain, the magic began. Two hours of excited conversation followed. The world continues to grow smaller through technology," she said.

Mrs. Geraldine Welch, associate director of AIG, also attended the meeting.