Even though he officially retired in 2009 from Wawasee Community School Corp. as career and technical education director for Wawasee, Fairfield and West Noble high schools, North Webster resident Phil Metcalf  is involved with education now more than ever. He is being honored for his efforts as well.

Metcalf recently received an award from AdvancED, a company he works with internationally and from Ball State University. Also, he is serving as interim career and technical education director while his successor is on maternity leave.

The latest honor is the AdvancED International Services Excellence in Education Award. The accreditation service works in 37 states and 75
countries helping school do their best to teach their students.

The award recognizes Metcalf’s “unparalleled leadership in promoting and advancing excellence in education.” The award will be presented at the 2012 AdvancED Summitt, June 24-27, in Washington, D.C. This is the fourth year he has worked with AdvancED but he was working for its predecessors before the merger.

Metcalf has traveled primarily to the Middle East and Far East helping private and Department of Defense schools become certified by AdvancedED. “It makes me shake my head because here at home, most of what is heard about American education is that it needs to improve, but overseas, all these schools want to teach like schools in the United States. We have become the international standard,” he marveled.

In the Middle East, he has worked with certification teams and schools in Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Quatar, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates. Japan, Thailand, South Korea and American Okinawa are where he has served in the Far East.

“Everyone wants the same thing for their kids everywhere I’ve been. What is best for their kids and the opportunity for them to obtain good skills and education,” he explained.

Former Wawasee Superintendent Mark Stock got Metcalf involved with data workshops for the old North Central Academic Accreditation Association. He did a good job and was asked to do more.

Metcalf said, “The process in most schools, whether in the United States or overseas, is a three-day event. First, the team looks at the artifacts the school presents such as data and photos. Next the team interviews the school’s students, teachers, parents and visits classrooms. The third part is deliberation and evaluation.” A final report is given on what was found with suggestions on how to improve in areas the team feels need it.

Humorous things often happen with differences in the language and culture. A Danish team member spoke British English, which led to some confusion of terms for various items. Metcalf especially enjoyed returning to a school in Thailand that had implemented many of the suggestions the team had given them two years previously. He commented, “I wish we could do more follow-up. It’s a great motivator.”

The North Webster native, Phil and his wife, Karilyn, make their home in North Webster on Webster Lake and both are very involved in the community. Phil is a graduate of North Webster High School Class of 1966 and Ball State. He taught at Milford Junior High School for 13 years, Wawasee High School for 13 years and for two years at Ball State. He was the director of the career and technical services for 10 years.

He is appreciative of the support given him by his wife. Hobbies include yard work, reading, working out at the YMCA in North Webster and attending movies with Karilyn.

He is also a member of the North Webster Community Public Library Board, chairman of one of the boards of visitors at Butler University, alumni chairman at Ball State and is president of the North Central IVY Tech Board of Trustees. He will be back training for AdvancED in Alpharetta, Ga., later this summer.