Michael "Aronson"

When I entered school this morning I was greeted by a number of teachers and students with "Hello Mr. Aronson!" My confused look prompted them to ask "you didn't see the paper over the weekend?"

By Thomas J. McKillen
Managing Editor

Germantown High School teacher Michael Aronson will be teaching and learning next fall. Aronson has been accepted for a Fullbright Scholarship Exchange and will be teaching in Ghana next year. As part of the exchange, a social studies teacher from Ghana will be teaching at the high school.
Aronson explained the exchange program to the Germantown School Board April 28. The program has been in existence for 65 years and is administered through the State Department.
“For me, this is an important step in a three-year journey,” Aronson said.
He explained that informal work to apply for the exchange began three years ago while he started the formal application in the fall. After the application, he was interviewed by a board of educators who previously were Fullbright recipients. He received support from Superintendent Kenneth Rogers, who previously was a Fullbright Scholar.
On Dec. 15, Aronson learned he was recommended for the program and received a phone call in early April that he was accepted for the program. Aronson’s wife jumped for joy when he received the acceptance phone call.
“We’ve been somewhat hoping and planning for this,” he said.
The teacher coming to Germantown has taught for more than 20 years and is the chairperson of her school social studies department.
Aronson noted that Ghana is a former British colony and that English is the official language of the nation.
“I think all around it’s an amazing cultural experience for the 20 or 50 students who come in contact with her directly. The staff in social studies is very excited about this,” Aronson said. “The pieces are all there to have this work well.”
He added that Elmbrook is the only district that currently is part of the Fullbright exchange.
The board offered congratulations to Aronson for being accepted in the program.
“I can’t wait to hear from your upon your return and have the opportunity to interact with your partner while she’s here,” board member Michael Schultz said.
Rogers added that he “can’t imagine anything negative. We get a teacher that expands our knowledge of the world. When (Aronson) comes back we expand the knowledge of the world beyond us.”
Aronson indicated that he will keep a blog chronicling his experiences overseas.

Nope, I hadn't. Unfortunately, the online version of the VERY local newspaper (Germantown only) doesn't have the same picture that my "above the fold" story contained in the print version. But, the text is all the same.

Darn, why doesn't the paper ever spell my name wrong when I get arrested!