Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania) July 9, 2009

HEADLINE: Retiring Educator Says Students Need More Than Facts

By Kate Luce Angell

During his 37 years in education, George Staudenmaier was a German teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and -- from 2007 until nine days ago -- Burrell School District's superintendent.

"The only thing I haven't been is a school board member," said Mr. Staudenmaier, 61, who began his retirement June 30.

His successor is Shannon L. Wagner, who had been assistant superintendent. Mr. Staudenmaier not only has spent his teaching and administrative career in the Penn Hills and Burrell districts, but he also is a proud product of the Western Pennsylvania public educational system.

He is a 1965 graduate of Norwin High School who received a bachelor's degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1969 and a master's degree in education from the University of Pittsburgh.

Mr. Staudenmaier said he has been a passionate advocate for public education throughout his career.

"Ask yourself, what institution has done more to create our society?" he said. "What institution has given more opportunities to people than the public educational system?"

Too often, he added, the public hears only bad news about public schools.

"The news media don't come beating down my door when we achieve 'adequate yearly progress,' " he said, referring to a measure of school achievement under the 2001 act of Congress known as No Child Left Behind.

Signed by President George W. Bush at the beginning of his administration, No Child Left Behind was intended to increase standards of accountability for public schools. But its emphasis on testing and punishment for schools that don't continually improve has made it controversial among educators.

Mr. Staudenmaier said No Child Left Behind is the biggest change he had seen during his years in education.

"It's completely changed the dynamic," he said. "But sometimes I've had to question whether that's all good."

No Child Left Behind focuses on core subjects, he said, leaving teachers less time for subjects such as art, music and foreign languages.

"Students need to be exposed to a wide range of experiences to achieve their potential," he said.

During 21 years of teaching German in Penn Hills, Mr. Staudenmaier said he'd seen firsthand how contact with a different culture had benefited his students. He is proud of local and national awards they garnered.

But his proudest achievement as an administrator, he said, is Burrell's involvement in the University of Pittsburgh's Educational Leadership Initiative program.

"Three years ago, we were one of seven schools chosen to participate in the pilot program," he said. "And it's helped prepare us for the future of education."

The program focuses on building collaboration within schools and communities with the intent of producing new ideas and better practices.

Mr. Staudenmaier said that with human knowledge doubling every 18 to 24 months, education can no longer be geared only toward teaching facts.

"New students have to be equipped with critical thinking skills, the ability to use technology and the ability to work collaboratively" to compete in a changing world and to negotiate the ever-growing sea of information.

Another innovation that will help Burrell students meet the future, said Mr. Staudenmaier, is a move away from thinking of a school as just a building.

"This is our second year offering a complete online summer school, and we've opened enrollment to students from other school districts," he said.

He foresees the day when teachers will work half-days at school and the other half at home, managing online classes.

"If one of our vo-tech students wants an elective but it's not offered at their building," he said, "they can take an online course and, on evenings and weekends, work with their teacher to get that class.

"You have to have vision. The world is changing."

Mr. Staudenmaier said that although he'll miss being superintendent, he looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Sandy.

He also will do consultant work for local school districts and is planning to write a book about the importance of mentoring new teachers.

"And I'm going to try to get a little fishing in," he said, noting that he's fished very little because superintendents maintain a busy schedule throughout the summer.

He said he was confident in Ms. Wagner's ability to lead.

"She has a good sense of the vision and direction of the [school board]," he said.