Ukrainian Parliament member gets firsthand look at American schools in Rockland

Natalya Pipa, who is also the secretary of education, science and innovation, was on a mission at Viola Elementary School in Suffern to spread peace and learn about education in the United States.

News 12 Staff

Aug 12, 2022, 9:52 PM

Updated 846 days ago

Share:

A Ukrainian member of Parliament got a firsthand look at the American education system with a tour of a school in Rockland County.
Natalya Pipa, who is also the secretary of education, science and innovation, was on a mission at Viola Elementary School in Suffern to spread peace and learn about education in the United States.
"I think it's a really good school with a lot of educational spaces," says Pipa. "You can feel it from a lot of different things, especially from teachers and students."
Suffern was the only school district that Pipa visited in New York.
"Education is symbolic of everything that's good in the world, and so when we can see educators and politicians who are interested in moving education forward come together for the benefit of children, the world is going to be an OK place," says Dr. Erik Gundersen, superintendent of the Suffern Central School District.
During her tour, Pipa admired the library and student garden. She spoke with a student from Ukraine whose family found refuge earlier this year in Suffern.
Pipa also visited a school in New Hampshire.