WIESBADEN, Germany - Teachers and administrators were welcomed to Baumholder and Wiesbaden during special events.
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"As a newcomer to the community and a new commander who will have a child in one of the Wiesbaden schools, I was pleased to hear nothing but good things about these schools," said Col. Jeffrey Dill, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden commander, while welcoming Wiesbaden Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Europe teachers and administrators at an event held in the Wiesbaden High School Aug. 26.
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As school staffs took time out from working on their classrooms in anticipation of opening day, several new administrators were introduced. In Wiesbaden that included Hainerberg Elementary School Assistant Principal Bradford "Brad" Seadore, Aukamm Elementary School Principal Sue Gurley and Wiesbaden High School Principal Sharon O'Donnell. Baumholder welcomed new school administrators Principal Dr. Darren Johnson and Assistant Principal Michelle Woodfork at Smith Elementary School, Wetzel Elementary School Assistant Principal Cathy Marziali and Baumholder Middle High School Assistant Principal Richard Jimenez.
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Dill described the ongoing transformation efforts to improve DoD schools in Wiesbaden as part of the overall transformation of U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden.
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"The good news is, we're getting improved facilities," he said, telling the teachers about renovation and construction work including a new multi-purpose building that will provide lunch services for Hainerberg Elementary and Wiesbaden Middle School students and new facilities at the high school. "Work going on at the high school will make it an even better facility."
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But with the ongoing transformation comes some inconveniences, he added, such as decreased traffic access and the hustle and bustle of ongoing construction.
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During a teachers welcome at Baumholder's Rheinlander Lt. Col. Paul Pfahler, USAG Baumholder commander, and Kaiserslautern District Superintendent Lawanna Mangleburg introduced new teachers and welcomed them to the new school year. Mangleburg charged the educators to remain focused on their students.
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Dill also described the Army Family Covenant efforts providing invaluable services and resources aimed at improving the overall quality of life for Soldiers and their families.
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Heidelberg District Superintendent Frank Roehl asked the teachers to continue "to set high expectations" for their students but to remember that with ongoing deployments and other challenges brought on by military life, they must continue to be sensitive to the needs of students "to put to rest the concerns of those deployed service members. It's important for the school to be that solid place where they can go day after day.
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"We can't have any higher calling than being a teacher - but doubly so of supporting the needs of our Soldiers and their families," said Roehl. "My challenge to you is to be open-minded."
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During the Wiesbaden teachers welcome school liaison officer Peter Witmer also introduced representatives from the schools' partner units. This year Hainerberg Elementary School is partnering with the 66th Military Intelligence Brigade, Aukamm Elementary School with 102nd Signal Battalion, Wiesbaden Middle School with the Corps of Engineers (Europe Division) and Wiesbaden High School with 1st Armored Division.
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"Welcome back," concluded Dill, "from a well-deserved vacation. I look forward to a great year."
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