Director praises DODDS as 'a well-oiled
machine' in responding to attacks
By Eric B. Pilgrim,
Stars and Stripes
Eric Pilgrim / Stars and Stripes
DODEA director Dr. Joseph Tafoya visits a kindergarten class at Rhein-Main Air Base in
Germany on Friday. |
RHEIN-MAIN AB, Germany — Dr. Joseph Tafoya watched the horrors of Sept. 11 from a
television in the principal’s office at Bitburg Middle School.
He had come to Europe days before with a lofty goal — to set foot in every
Department of Defense school in Europe and to set eyes on as many students as he could
before leaving in October.
But as the Department of Defense Education Activity director watched history unravel
that day, he realized the goal wouldn’t be met.
"Obviously from that moment, my schedule has changed," Tafoya said.
The next day, Tafoya and about 57 others boarded the only airplane flying back to the
United States, back to his office about five miles from the Pentagon.
Schools closed.
Offices closed.
Now more than a month later, he’s back in Germany and looking to tell educators,
administrators, bus drivers, technicians and anybody associated with schools that
education is absolutely paramount.
"The closures, because of the initial uncertainty of what was going to happen,
really underscored how important the schools were to folks," Tafoya said. "So
when commanders say we need to keep our schools open, and our kids need to be learning, it
just provides a sense of security that, in fact, we can move on."
Tafoya has moved on. Since arriving Tuesday, he has hit the ground practically running,
visiting several schools in Ramstein, Kaiserslautern, Baumholder, the Heidelberg area and
Rhein-Main.
He said his message hasn’t changed and is, in fact, even more concrete since Sept.
11.
He is for decentralization, putting power in the hands of principals.
"Giving principals and people in the local area more autonomy is even more crucial
at this time," Tafoya said. "They don’t need to hear from me in Washington
what to do when a crisis erupts."
Tafoya said when crisis did erupt Sept. 11, he watched from the office as educators and
administrators in the school took charge and got the students home safely.
"I saw a well-oiled machine," Tafoya said. "I saw a machine that went in
with a minimum of phone calls, with a minimum of hysteria, sprang into action and got
things done. It gives me a little more confidence when I’m in D.C., knowing that
people over here can make these kinds of decisions quickly, effectively, and in the best
interest of our kids."
Although life has changed for everyone in Europe, from the car searches to the new
force protection commercials airing on AFN, Tafoya said it isn’t noticeable on the
children.
"While there may be a guard standing outside the door, I get the sense that people
are back into their jobs of educating kids inside the door," Tafoya said.
"I’m seeing what I saw before Sept. 11, kids on task, teachers teaching."
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