Hen Hud Welcomes Educator from India

Dr. Mathew Swerdloff, Director of Instructional Technology for the Hendrick Hudson School District, spent a month in India earlier this year via a Fulbright fellowship. While there he made a number of connections with Indian educators, and began an informal educational exchange that continued this month.

In mid-July, Dr. Swerdloff hosted Professor Umesh C. Vashishtha, Professor of Education at the University of Lucknow, India and took him to observe a number of schools, including the Summer Learning Academy at Hendrick Hudson’s Frank G. Lindsey Elementary School.  The two also went to SUNY New Paltz to collaborate on a research project, and Western Connecticut State University to attend a dissertation defense and to meet staff and students.

Swerdloff reported, “He really appreciated getting to see our students and teachers.  Everyone was so welcoming and informative.  The professor commented to me how energetic the teachers were, and how child-centered the classes seemed.  He had many questions and we made many comparisons.”

Professor Umesh had a long talk with retired Hen Hud teacher Barbara Madias, who works at the Summer Learning Academy, and Summer Academy Principal Elisa Rosen about the program, which serves students through 7th grade who need extra help over the summer.

The Academy, which is wrapping up this week, ran this year from July 1 through July 24 at the Frank G. Lindsey School. It is staffed by Hendrick Hudson faculty and staff.