There are distinct advantages to being a community partner in MTP. For the second year three schools in Callisburg were paired with schools in Kesennuma. Because of our familiarity with our partner communities and schools, we were able to go right to work. Our experience the previous summer meant we had already gained the trust of our partners and were able to go right to work in the Kesennuma classrooms.

We were also able to build upon research begun the previous years on our pair projects and because of the bonds built between our schools, we were able to expand our participation to reach beyond the MTP required projects such as Bugs and Soil and our Pair Projects to begin exchanging lessons at a variety of levels.

My partner was Miyagi Prefectural Kesennuma High School. I had a wonderful relationship with many teachers at the school and was able to work side by side with them in their classrooms.

I was fortunate to have relationships with many excellent science teachers at Kesennuma High school and I have learned many things from them. Atsushi Kubota was a wonderful technology partner over the past two years. In addition to his excellent English skills, he was a wizard with the nuances of video conferencing. I especially appreciated the help of Taka Kato my current partner, and Yasu Sato, last year's partner. I am also grateful for Mrs. Takahashi, the science lab instructor who spent many long hours helping me understand new knowledge about soil animals.

I am also grateful to Dr. Shimano of Miyagi University of Education for helping me build no-cost Berlese devices so our students could capture soil animals. His willingness to work with me and other Callisburg teachers has fostered a new partnership that I will address later in this writing.

When I returned to the U.S. I was able to join additional video conferences with one of the Kesennuma teachers who has a Master's Degree from Boston University in U.S. Presidential History. As a social studies teacher, I was fortunate to have the expertise of Satoka Sawauchi when teaching my students about the U.S. Presidency.

Mr. Kubota also arranged a video conference with a group of Australian students and teachers who were visiting Kesennuma High School. My students were able to break new ground in forming relationships thanks to MTP.

This year we also began a Japan/America Club for Callisburg Students. They began Pen Pal relationships with Kesennuma students and made posters for the Japan American Society of Dallas/Fort 's annual Motchisuki festival.

The biggest impact came in the form of recognition by the Texas House of Representatives and Texas Senate. Because of the relationships of the Callisburg and Kesennuma communities and the support of the fractals supporting both communities including North Central Texas College, Miyagi University of Education, the Japan America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas Christian University, The Thomsen Foundation Wilflower Research Center, The Texas Regional Collaborative for Excellence in Science Education, and our respective communities, students in Callisburg and Kesennuma have gained significant ground in environmental education. The State of Texas recognized these accomplishments by passing resolutions in both houses and hosting representatives from each of the participating organizations at the Texas Legislature. Of course, the highest honor and recognition should go to the people of Japan and the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Master Teacher Program for making the partnership possible.

We are grateful, also, that we will be participants for the final year of MTP and will once again be partners with the schools of Kesennuma. But instead of being sad that the program is coming to an end, we are excited about our future. We are planning a "Sister School" relationship with schools in Kesennuma. Furthermore, we are in the process of applying to become a Regional Center of Expertise in North Texas and plan on forging a relationship with communities and schools in Miyagi Prefecture in much the same fashion that Sendai has formed an RCE.

The Callisburg Community and its fractal partners of NCTC, TCU, Thomsen Foundation, Texas Regional Colaborative, the Japan America Society of DFW, and our state and local governmental representatives have learned that collaboration and cooperation within our own region as well as with our partners in Japan has brought the world one step closer to sustainability. The world is a much better place because of JFMFMTP. We will do our best to continue what you have started. Thank your for the opportunity.

Tim Jones
Callisburg High School

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  Memezawa-san Miyagi University of Education, Katsushi Komatsu Shishhiori Elementary.jpg (101.03 KB)


  Hatakeyama-san of Omose Elementary School, Texas State Rep. Rick Hardcastle, Oikawa-san Kesennuma Board of Education.jpg (62.49 KB)