European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 9, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Jimi Jones education writer Wiesbaden Germany a All he Ever wanted to do was be a coach. Nothing else a said Joe Blackstead. Quot i had no aspiration to be a school  but that a exactly what he became. And after a 42-year career in the department of defense dependents schools Blackstead retired this no nth As the director of the military overseas schools for the european Region. During those years Blackstead has seen major turnovers in education since he first coached kids in basketball football and baseball at Niernberg. Most rewarding Over the years was seeing children learn and develop he said sharing stories about his pupils and mentioning in particular a recently retired major general whose me he touched. Quot its not just this Guy. There Are dozens and dozens of them and i had nothing to do with it a he said giving credit to teachers Ana i youngsters Ling a he added about the he  Quot change a thing years he spent in Dodds and he said the Only drawback to administration is not being with pupils. Quot i can to change the fact that the Day is too snort a said Blackstead who has a doctorate in education administration. Quot you just can to spend time with children like you a  As an administrator he recognized the importance to Dodds of such programs As the study of teaching methods of teaching that a helped considerably in alleviating the Quot Gap noted in Pupil test scores a and school improvement plans. The school improvement plan concept is an example of the Many Quot Good things writable to schools today Blackstead said. And in that Dodds Heads the class he said. Quot we be become leaders in that area a he said. In the North Central association for the accreditation of colleges and schools Quot Dodds had the Best program in any of the 19 states that the inca  Dodds achievement in school improvement contributed to Blackstead s earning the a can a John w. Vaughn award for excellence in education. Blackstead also the Germany chapter of Phi Delta Kappa selected him the 1992 educational administrator of the year. For Blackstead being honoured As one of Dodds top administrators marked a significant Detour from his original plan of being a High school teacher on an Indian reservation in his native North Dakota. While in High school he played football and basketball 39 Well As ran track. These athletic skills enabled him to enter the University of North Dakota at grand Forks on a football scholarship. However a three year stint with the Navy during world War ii interrupted his studies. After the War Blackstead completed his Bachelor of the University of Portland in Oregon. Upon graduation he began his first teaching Job in Portland earning $2,900 a year. After two years there he joined the military school system where his salary jumped to $4,205. Quot i was going to stay one year that Sall a he said. In 1952, wanting to visit Spain Blackstead took the Dodds position in Germany. His intent was to teach for a year then spend the summer in Spain on his Way Back to America. Upon seeing Spain Blackstead decided to stay in Germany for another Chance to experience Spanish culture. Eventually he was Able to teach at Madrid High school in Spain. After three years at Madrid he took his first principalship at Johnson High school in Japan in 1959. Two superintendent Tours and a regional Deputy directorship kept him in the Pacific until 1973, when he came to Germany As director for the then Dodds North Germany Region. When the North and South sections merged in 1983, Blackstead became director of the Germany Region he held that position until four months ago when the three european regions consolidated into one. A. Yvo a a a. Since retiring to Arizona Early this month Blackstead wants to spend More time with his three daughters and two grandchildren. He also plans to learn to play the trombone he said recalling his admiration for big band artists such As Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller and new Orleans jazz clubs. Although his nine years of High school coaching in Dodds gave Way to his tenure As an administrator Blackstead feels the four years he spent teaching math and coaching sports at Niernberg High school were Quot probably the greatest satisfaction that i achieved in my working  a a Niernberg one of eight High schools then was a Small school and we used to beat Frankfurt Munich and Stuttgart with regularity a he said. Quot i take great Pride in not what i accomplished but what my kids  20 villages still isolated in As Ardih oases Rome apr rescuers fought to reach 20 Northern villages still isolated by floods tuesday but a break in the weather brought Hope for italians battered by torrential Rains that killed at least 56people. Two Days after the worst of the Rains scenes from Italy a North presented a devastated landscape overturned cars floated along mud churned Rivers a to set was lodged in a tree and a dead pig Hung Halfway out of a farm window. Rescue workers continued to find bodies including an old woman in Alessandria still clutching a Black leather purse containing a Gold Chain and watch and the equivalent of about $1,900 in soaked lire news reports said. Prime minister Silvio Berlusconi whose government was criticized for responding inadequately to the disaster fat Romisda $260 million in immediate re if a. A a a Quot the Cabinet Mel in emergency session tuesday. A most devastated by the three Day deluge was the Rich agricultural area of Piedmont famed for its wine truffles and Fiat cars. Damage in Piedmont alone amounted to $3.5 billions id officials in the Region bordering France. Civil defense authorities said 10 be were still unaccounted for around Cuneo a City 20 Miles from the French Border. Rescue workers were trying to reach 20 villages there. At least 50 towns were completely or partly without electricity. Fiat stopped an Assembly line because parts could not reach the Plant. It was believed to be the first weather related stoppage since world War ii. Fineo 11115 Impact of flooding in Ita it is indicated in this helicopter View of an italian Riviera area swamped by torrential rainfall. A the White truffle season was wiped out with the Price standing at $115 an ounce. Farther East in the Lombardy Region a state of Alert remained in effect for the to River which crested its Banks in several spots overnight. Authorities also worried about the Security of a dam at a rain swollen Lake near Turin Piedmont a main City and Home to Fiat. Officials said the weekend of rain in the Northern regions of Piedmont Lombardy Liguria and Valle do Costa was the worst in 81 years. Rain tapered off tues Day but Clouds filled the skies and showers were scattered Pope John Paul ii sent condolences to Church leaders in Asti and Turin. At least 23 people also died Over the weekend from Rains in France Spain and Morocco