Recently, I had the opportunity to guide Philip Wang, Director General of the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Miami, on a tour of my community on the Emerald Coast of Florida. He was drawn to our region by my efforts to progress Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) achievement in Northwest Florida, but we also discussed all manners of economic and workforce development. On this trip he met with University of West Florida students and faculty, received a warm welcome from the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce, along with a special proclamation drafted by Okaloosa County Commissioner Nathan Boyles. He expressed his fervent support for our PHF TEAMS initiative to recognize STEM teachers and shared how in his homeland of Taiwan, teachers are so appreciated that they were not required to pay income tax. Our community was impressed to hear that his nation places such great value upon the role of educators. I have found over the years that diplomatically, we do well to glean wisdom from our international friends. As we transition to meeting future educational demands, I believe we have room to grow from these relationships.
