Education Delegation

After a year's worth of discussion and planning by the Stavropol Committee, we welcomed a delegation from the Stavropol Krai to Iowa. The exchange, which included the Stavropol Krai Minister of Education, Alexey Shabaldas, marked a rekindling of a relationship that dates back to 1988. Other members of the delegation were Anatoliy Zhigailov, the Director of the Stavropol Regional Center for Talented and Gifted, and Boris Zhogin, Ph.D, a consultant.

The focus of the delegation was two-fold. The first was to meet with educators and administrators to learn of programs and educational systems, including continuing education, business training and youth leadership training. Numerous meetings were held with officials from Des Moines Area Community College. The delegation stayed at the International House on the DMACC Ankeny campus. They also had informative and productive meetings with David Maxwell and Nancy Williams, presidents of Drake University and AIB College of Business, respectively, and with Ted Stillwell, Director of the Iowa Department of Education. The delegation discussed Youth leadership programs with Jim Aippersbach, President of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, and adult continuing education with Simpson College . They toured area high schools and gifted and talented programs.

The second focus of the delegation was the activation of communication, programs, and exchanges between Stavropol and Iowa . To this end, the delegation was formally welcomed by Lt. Governor Pederson, and received an informal and impromptu tour of the Iowa Capitol by state senator Daryl Beall of Fort Dodge . The delegation was also received by the Stavropol Committee, where discussions of follow-up projects and future exchanges took place, followed by food and refreshment. During the course of the exchange, old friendships were renewed, new connections were made, and all involved with the Iowa-Stavropol partnership articulated a resolve to overcome circumstances which in the past had become obstacles to the relationship.