European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 01, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse Monday february 1, education the stars and stripes Page 11 Frankfurt principal the Best of the bunch7 by Jimi Jones education writer Frankfurt Germany de sic Maszko does t understand the concept of retiring to pursue something one really desires. I m doing what i want to do said the Frankfurt High school principal. It a lot of headaches and problems but it s still fun exciting a reason to get up in the morning.". It s also something Simaszko apparently docs Well. Recently the 25-year education Veteran was named the depart ment of defense dependents schools 1993 principal of the year. It is Only the second year that the Over seas school system has recognized Princi pals with such an award. Simaszko was selected among Princi pals at the system s More than 200 schools in 18 countries worldwide. For Siemaszko the fun of the Job comes in working with people helping them Deal with curricular issues making sure people can enjoy doing their jobs and giving strokes Here and there when they do things that attitude has prompted High re Gard for Simaszko by Many of the school s roughly 900 pupils. What stands out most about is Czwasz to in the mind of student Vanessa Vin Diola was his appearance at a school Fash Ion show. Frankfurt High school principal de Siemaszko Tea Char Larry Burner he s the Best of the Bunch he s very student oriented a student Van it Vindiola he s very smart. He knows what to say what not to assistant principal Bob print you Donl work Tor de you work with edit showed me that he cared the 17 year old said. It made me feel Good. He s come in our classes and talked with us Vindiola said. He s very smart. He knows what to say what not to his colleagues speak of a Strong leadership style that allows teachers to be creative and innovative. I be worked for six or seven Princi pals said computer science teacher Larry Burner who has taught at the school since 1984. He s the Best of the Bunch. He s very you Don t work for de you work with de said Bob Prinz an assistant principal at the school he s not dictatorial. He values my opinion and corrects me when i m wrong with genuine honesty and care. This is my first administrative assignment and i could not have asked for a better Simaszko s career with the Oversea school system began in 1972 at Frankfurt Junior High school and has since taken him to Kcf Lavik Iceland and other schools in Germany including Bonn Vil seek Ramstein and Giessen. He finally landed at Frankfurt High school the largest in the Germany re Gion and at one time labelled its worst for the 1989-90 school year. The move was a bigger better and More challenging professional Opportunity for him and it also accommodated his wife of 16 years Carol Ann who wished to return to teaching. His wife a graduate of Frankfurt High school teaches at the Frankfurt International school. There has Bacri no Lack of challenges. Simaszko reeled off a list that included keeping parents informed or getting your teaching staff to move along the lines you think arc important and in the Best interest of kids or trying to convince kids that they need to act in a rational humane and respectful manner or trying to integrate kids into overseas there arc lots of things to worry about he added lots of problems to confront and try to find reasonable solutions principal of the year honors conjure up humility As Well As Pride for the Frank Furt High administrator. A lot of people have to do things very Well in order for someone like me to get the recognition he said noting that the award represents hard working teachers kids that pay attention and administrators who share authority. On the other hand he said after working 20 years it s Nice. It recognizes the profession As Well As the individual. I feel fortunate that it happened to be High schooners at Edzell find a Friendly education off base a Meridith . Bureau Cults Scotland High school students from Raf Edzell Don t have a school on base they can attend and going to scottish schools is out of the question because of disparities Between the scottish and american systems. A solution was found in Cults a Little Village near Aber Deen. It s called the american school in school was started when the Oil Boom hit the North sea said John c. Thomas the school s superintendent. The school is set up so that the building and grounds Are owned by an american corporation pal Oak. The shares in that corporation preowned by the Oil Compa Nies approximately 40 of the 160 students attend ing High school Are fro Edzell. They attend the ninth through 12thgrades. The Aberdeen area school also operates an elementary and Middle school but Edzell to Thomas dents have their own school for those grades on me this is a Complete Iso degree change from where i went last said Neal Wood an Lith grader from i moved Here i was in Mississippi in one of the larger cities. We had Over 1,600 students in my Wood said going to a school with closer to 160 pupils including seventh and eighth graders is a completely different the parents like the arrangement better than the recent is much better than the children having to at tend school at High Wycombe said Belle Kemmett Mother of a student from Edzell. The children had to stay in dormitories and we were worried about the children not being properly us it flick Wycombe is just North of London so Edzell students would visit their families in Scotland Only on holidays and during summer Are much happier that the pupils Only have to take a 60-Minutc bus ride to the Aberdeen area. Some of the students also like the arrangement. I m glad that i can be close to Home and near my friends said Mariah Reilly an Lith grader. But it is different being around the Oil the Aberdeen area school is one of 600 to 700american International schools in virtually every Capi Tal of the world and in every country Thomas schools have curricula similar to the department of defense overseas school system. In Many countries the majority of the students arc foreign nationals Thomas said. But the Aberdeen school population is nearly 95 percent american either from the base or families of americans working in the North sea Oil , the students still come from a variety of school districts and backgrounds in the states. We cannot be innovative and unique Thomas said. We heed to offer a Basic Middle of the Road Type educational when they return to Houston Oshkosh wis. Or Okinawa they need to be Able to fat in and continue their education program without the school does Cater to students special needs. In one Case a student is studying German even though the school offers Only French and Spanish. Thomas said German speaking parents were found to Tutor the for the school normally is paid by parents but for the Edzell students the Cost is covered by the department of defense dependents schools. Current tuition costs 7,300 pounds a year or close to $11,000. Although the Aberdeen area school is not part of Odds it maintains a close relationship with the elementary school at teachers have attended Dodds sponsored workshops at Edzell and have Laid the ground work for a teacher is sensitive to the demands placed on the students from Edzell who spend two hours a Day trav Eling to and Fri to school. For instance it s difficult for them to use the school Library without staying late but the Library at Edzel closes at 5 . Which is before they typically arrive Home from we have to build in time where some of the kids can get Down to the Library Here and do their work Thomas although he wants to have a school where Aca Demic standards Are High we have to recognize that we have to provide some time during the Day for those 848 Murdith Winder from left students Michelle to null Neal Wood and Mariah Reilly from Raf Edzell stand in front of their High school near Aberdeen Scotland. Edzell kids to interact with our kids who live in the school was established in 1972, with an enrol ment of 36 pupils and eight teachers. Today the elementary and High school combined have an enrolment of approximately 360 pupils and 48 full and part time teachers
