It always amazes me how quickly a year can pass...
I suppose the best way to summarize the past year is to say that it was both encouraging and challenging. I continue to be so impressed (not surprisingly) with the migrant families that I've had the pleasure of working with. Not only do I continue to marvel at their diligence at work and at home, but also their dedication to helping their children succeed in school, regardless of the barriers they face.
As new Parent Advisory Committee members are chosen in various school districts around Western Washington, I have the opportunity to meet and learn from such a varied group of individuals who are volunteering their limited free time to help us improve our programs for migrant students. Although they would be justified in refusing to serve on such committees, considering the meetings, workshops and events that are involved, these parents are showing their children (rather than just telling them) that education is important. I just hope that they benefit as much from these partnerships as we do.
The challenge, for me and the school district personnel who work with migrant parents, has been to engage a wider audience in this work. It is imperative that we work with the parents of migrant students who are the most at risk of not meeting academic standards, but many times, this is the most difficult group to reach. The more that we can include these parents in our planning, the more successful we will be in creating programs that will support their children in a relevant manner and catapult them toward success.
With the upcoming release of the Migrant Education Program's new 3-Year Service Delivery Plan, we will have a fresh opportunity to think about strategies for building partnerships with migrant families. I am truly excited about what is in store for us!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Migrant Parents- Our Strongest Leaders Emerging
Over the past two weeks, I have had that amazing opportunity to visit a number of school districts in Western Washington to deliver a training that is called "Parents as Leaders". The curriculum was adapted by Dalia Candanoza (my counterpart in the MERO 105 office) from the Student Leadership Program that is offered annually by Secondary Educuation For Migrant Youth. These experiences working with the fabulously motivated and capable migrant parents were both emotional and envigorating.
Working with superstar Migrant Home Visitors like Ruth Valley and Celeste Peralta of Sedro Woolley and Sylvia Mendoza from Nooksack helped to make these trainings truly successful in their purpose. The parents reported feeling more confident in their abilities, more self-aware and ready to tackle their long and short-term goals one step at a time.
I truly appreciate the valuable time that they shared with me and the wonderful wisdom that seemed to bounce around the room during our stirring discussions. I can't wait to work more with these leaders during Project FIT this winter and the Parent Regional Conference this Spring!
Working with superstar Migrant Home Visitors like Ruth Valley and Celeste Peralta of Sedro Woolley and Sylvia Mendoza from Nooksack helped to make these trainings truly successful in their purpose. The parents reported feeling more confident in their abilities, more self-aware and ready to tackle their long and short-term goals one step at a time.
I truly appreciate the valuable time that they shared with me and the wonderful wisdom that seemed to bounce around the room during our stirring discussions. I can't wait to work more with these leaders during Project FIT this winter and the Parent Regional Conference this Spring!
Monday, October 18, 2010
The Lastest and Greatest from Washington's Migrant Education Program State Advisory Committee
I was back in Sunnyside, Washington last weekend for the State Advisory Committee's Member's Training Session. Once again, I was so impressed with the quality and dedicated nature of the members present and the work being accomplished. Because I represent the Western region of Washington state, I'm going to indulge myself for a moment to brag about a couple of the SAC members from our region: Cecelia Rodriguez of Hoquiam and Miguel Alaniz from Mount Vernon.
While this was my first time meeting Miguel, I have had the good fortune to get to know Cecelia a bit over the last few months and have been completely taken with her poise, her dedication to migrant families and students and her willingness to speak up about the issues that she feels are important. At this last meeting though, I also learned that she is capable of much more than critical thinking and talk. I learned that, when there is real work to be done, she's ready to get her hands dirty with that work until it's accomplished.
Miguel is a Mount Vernon High School Student and, I am so happy to say, is wise, brave and insightful far beyond his years. He shared many original ideas about what schools could do to better support students and improve academic achievement, with the sincerity and ease of someone with extensive experience in this setting. I am so excited to be working with him to bring these ideas to fruition and help our schools become more supportive of students like Miguel. I expect great things from this young man, and I know that I'm not alone in that.
Our next State Advisory Committee meeting is Saturday, November 6th in Wenatchee, Washington. These meetings are open to the public with opportunities for comments from the audience. If you want to see these superstars in action, join us! For more information, you can contact Elizabeth Ramos of Migrant Students Data and Recruitment at 800-274-6084.
While this was my first time meeting Miguel, I have had the good fortune to get to know Cecelia a bit over the last few months and have been completely taken with her poise, her dedication to migrant families and students and her willingness to speak up about the issues that she feels are important. At this last meeting though, I also learned that she is capable of much more than critical thinking and talk. I learned that, when there is real work to be done, she's ready to get her hands dirty with that work until it's accomplished.
Miguel is a Mount Vernon High School Student and, I am so happy to say, is wise, brave and insightful far beyond his years. He shared many original ideas about what schools could do to better support students and improve academic achievement, with the sincerity and ease of someone with extensive experience in this setting. I am so excited to be working with him to bring these ideas to fruition and help our schools become more supportive of students like Miguel. I expect great things from this young man, and I know that I'm not alone in that.
Our next State Advisory Committee meeting is Saturday, November 6th in Wenatchee, Washington. These meetings are open to the public with opportunities for comments from the audience. If you want to see these superstars in action, join us! For more information, you can contact Elizabeth Ramos of Migrant Students Data and Recruitment at 800-274-6084.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Home Visitors in Skagit and Whatcom United for Families
This week, I had the wonderful experience of working with a group of enthusiastic, fun and no-nonsense Home Visitors and Parent Liaisons from Skagit County. We were united in a common purpose- to help create a conference for and by migrant families in which parents will create stronger connections with other parents and connect with meaningful resources, support and services that will empower them to use their voices, understand their rights and responsibilities and support their own education for their families to succeed.
With such a group of bright, experienced professionals who both understand and genuinely care about migrant families and students, I am very enthusiastic about what the product of our work will be.
Please feel free to share any ideas, experiences or advice that will help us in this project. And save the date!!! Saturday, April 30th at Burlington High School. We'd love to have your help!
With such a group of bright, experienced professionals who both understand and genuinely care about migrant families and students, I am very enthusiastic about what the product of our work will be.
Please feel free to share any ideas, experiences or advice that will help us in this project. And save the date!!! Saturday, April 30th at Burlington High School. We'd love to have your help!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Brave Young Migrant Students Choosing thier Own Models
Earlier this month, I had the amazing opportunity to meet some truly incredible young men from Toppenish High School. Not only were these migrant high school students kind, well-mannered and very well put-together, but they were also gracious about sharing thier experiences (both possitive and completely gut-wrenching) at Toppenish High.
These boys are participating in a program that was started by Jeane Williamson, Toppenish High's Migrant Graduation Specialist (also a member of the State Advisory Committee for Migrant Education- aren't we lucky!!!). The program is called Hospitality Court, and was created as a way for parents and others to feel comfortable and welcome at the high school. The outcome of this program, as evidenced by the boys' confidence and professionalism, has far exceeded its initial goal.
Jeane is clearly very proud of her boys, and she should be! Each of the young men, in turn, introduced himself to the State Advisory Committee, talked a bit about his experience in Hospitality Court and what his life had been like before he began. From thier stories, a consistent picture was painted of the difficult choice that had been their reality until recently: join a gang, or live in fear. Also consistent in each story was the positive impact made by the single choice to dress up for Hospitality Court. Jeane says that she didn't have the expectation that the boys would have any particular uniform for their work, but that one of the students, on his own, decided to start wearing a suit. Upon feeling the difference in the way that people looked at him and treated him, he continued to do so, and now, slowly, the other young men have joined him.
When asked if they have felt any static from the other kids in the high school over their participation in the Court (they have to greet students and visitors alike with a smile and handshake), or their choice of dress, they said that they hadn't. Somehow, the respect that they are showing others in their role, is mirrored back at them. Many of the boys talked about the possibilities that they now see for their future that just weren't clear to them before this experience. Jeane is taking their act on the road and exposing her stars to as many different professional settings as possible. If you ask, she just might bring them to your program...
This is a perfect illustration of the power of a Migrant Graduation Specialist and a few brave men!
These boys are participating in a program that was started by Jeane Williamson, Toppenish High's Migrant Graduation Specialist (also a member of the State Advisory Committee for Migrant Education- aren't we lucky!!!). The program is called Hospitality Court, and was created as a way for parents and others to feel comfortable and welcome at the high school. The outcome of this program, as evidenced by the boys' confidence and professionalism, has far exceeded its initial goal.
Jeane is clearly very proud of her boys, and she should be! Each of the young men, in turn, introduced himself to the State Advisory Committee, talked a bit about his experience in Hospitality Court and what his life had been like before he began. From thier stories, a consistent picture was painted of the difficult choice that had been their reality until recently: join a gang, or live in fear. Also consistent in each story was the positive impact made by the single choice to dress up for Hospitality Court. Jeane says that she didn't have the expectation that the boys would have any particular uniform for their work, but that one of the students, on his own, decided to start wearing a suit. Upon feeling the difference in the way that people looked at him and treated him, he continued to do so, and now, slowly, the other young men have joined him.
When asked if they have felt any static from the other kids in the high school over their participation in the Court (they have to greet students and visitors alike with a smile and handshake), or their choice of dress, they said that they hadn't. Somehow, the respect that they are showing others in their role, is mirrored back at them. Many of the boys talked about the possibilities that they now see for their future that just weren't clear to them before this experience. Jeane is taking their act on the road and exposing her stars to as many different professional settings as possible. If you ask, she just might bring them to your program...
This is a perfect illustration of the power of a Migrant Graduation Specialist and a few brave men!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Profile of A Fearless Leader- Kevin DeVere
This past Friday morning, I grudgingly woke up at 5:00 a.m. in order to get to a training in Olympia about the fantastic, but sometimes elusive CONEVyT- the Mexican Government's program for continuing education for it's citizens, at home and abroad. I attended this training because I wanted to be able to offer support to the migrant districts in Western Washington who would like to implement access to this program for their families. Realizing that it took place during the last week of school for many districts, I didn't expect to see many familiar faces at the training... Boy was I in for a surprise....
Of course, there were the intrepid super stars from Burlington- Jill Peterson and Luis Lopez- both very excited to get CONEVyT started in their already-developed Family Resource Center with computers, internet access and childcare available every week to migrant families. I was excited to see them and very impressed that they found time in the end-of-school year mayhem to get to Olympia on a Friday. Then I looked around the room some more and spotted the FPD from Nooksack Valley- Kevin DeVere, poised to gather information and undeterred by the knowledge that the training was to take place in Spanish.
For those of you who aren't familiar with Nooksack Valley- it's way up north. Kevin was most likely leaving his house at 5:00am (when I was just waking up) in order to get to this training on time. Not only did he come from far away, but he had to leave his Elementary School (and by HIS, I do mean that he is the principal of the school). He also expected to have to miss his former elementary students' graduation from high school that evening (hopefully he made it since the training ended earlier than expected...) and he knew that he'd have to figure out how to understand the information that was to be presented in a language that he doesn't have a full handle on. Kevin makes things happen though, and this was important to him. So he got to the training, asked me to interpret for him and got to work.
The reason that I'm sharing all of this with you is that I feel like we all make sacrifices to do what's best for our migrant students and families and I think that Kevin DeVere is a great example of that spirit. During a break, I had the chance to ask Kevin what keeps him so motivated and dedicated to working with the Migrant Education Program with all of its requirements, Service Delivery Plans and grant processes. He explained to me that when he really looks into the eyes of the migrant students in his district, he needs to know that he is doing all that he can to make quality education possible for them.
I'm not going to pretend that Kevin is always easy to work with- sometimes he has us jumping around right and left to get him what he needs and he makes no apologies for demanding information- by a certain time, in English AND Spanish and in parent-friendly terms. And really, why should he apologize for asking for what our students and families need in order to improve migrant student acheivement? He makes us all work harder and better and for that I thank him (and so should you)! I just hope that Sylvia Mendoza (the equally incredible and dedicated home-visitor for Nooksack Valley) never leaves her position. They are a fabulous team!
Of course, there were the intrepid super stars from Burlington- Jill Peterson and Luis Lopez- both very excited to get CONEVyT started in their already-developed Family Resource Center with computers, internet access and childcare available every week to migrant families. I was excited to see them and very impressed that they found time in the end-of-school year mayhem to get to Olympia on a Friday. Then I looked around the room some more and spotted the FPD from Nooksack Valley- Kevin DeVere, poised to gather information and undeterred by the knowledge that the training was to take place in Spanish.
For those of you who aren't familiar with Nooksack Valley- it's way up north. Kevin was most likely leaving his house at 5:00am (when I was just waking up) in order to get to this training on time. Not only did he come from far away, but he had to leave his Elementary School (and by HIS, I do mean that he is the principal of the school). He also expected to have to miss his former elementary students' graduation from high school that evening (hopefully he made it since the training ended earlier than expected...) and he knew that he'd have to figure out how to understand the information that was to be presented in a language that he doesn't have a full handle on. Kevin makes things happen though, and this was important to him. So he got to the training, asked me to interpret for him and got to work.
The reason that I'm sharing all of this with you is that I feel like we all make sacrifices to do what's best for our migrant students and families and I think that Kevin DeVere is a great example of that spirit. During a break, I had the chance to ask Kevin what keeps him so motivated and dedicated to working with the Migrant Education Program with all of its requirements, Service Delivery Plans and grant processes. He explained to me that when he really looks into the eyes of the migrant students in his district, he needs to know that he is doing all that he can to make quality education possible for them.
I'm not going to pretend that Kevin is always easy to work with- sometimes he has us jumping around right and left to get him what he needs and he makes no apologies for demanding information- by a certain time, in English AND Spanish and in parent-friendly terms. And really, why should he apologize for asking for what our students and families need in order to improve migrant student acheivement? He makes us all work harder and better and for that I thank him (and so should you)! I just hope that Sylvia Mendoza (the equally incredible and dedicated home-visitor for Nooksack Valley) never leaves her position. They are a fabulous team!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Migrant Education Program Superstar- Jill
Yesterday, I had the amazing opportunity to spend some time with a super-intelligent, dynamic and dedicated Migrant Home Visitor named Jill Peterson. Jill works in the Burlington Edison School District and wears many hats within the schools there serving students and families alike. She has served on the Parent Advisory Council for the Office of the Education Ombudsman which put together "The Missing Voices: What families Say about Family Involvement in Education." You can read the report by following this link: http://www.governor.wa.gov/oeo/reports/family_involvement_report.pdf. She also had a blog of her own that I have been reading to guide some really interesting conversations with my husband and children. It's at: http://powerofpartnership.wordpress.com/
To be completely honest, I really don't know how to support Jill with her work in the Burlington-Edison School District, because I feel like I am the only one who learns anything from our interactions. During our meeting, I filled several pages with notes that I took from her suggestions about everything from alternatives to traditional PAC models to using green, and technologically savvy ways of contacting parents that will actually reach them, to the latest in family involvement research and ideas that I will use while parenting my own children.
Since I'm sure that I'm not Jill's only fan (I get the impression that she has knocked her share of socks off), I hope that she doesn't mind that I'm sharing with all of you the impression that she's made on me. I am so happy for our program to have Jill working so hard for our migrant students and families and I can't wait to get to know all of the other super stars of the migrant education program better.
Thanks!
To be completely honest, I really don't know how to support Jill with her work in the Burlington-Edison School District, because I feel like I am the only one who learns anything from our interactions. During our meeting, I filled several pages with notes that I took from her suggestions about everything from alternatives to traditional PAC models to using green, and technologically savvy ways of contacting parents that will actually reach them, to the latest in family involvement research and ideas that I will use while parenting my own children.
Since I'm sure that I'm not Jill's only fan (I get the impression that she has knocked her share of socks off), I hope that she doesn't mind that I'm sharing with all of you the impression that she's made on me. I am so happy for our program to have Jill working so hard for our migrant students and families and I can't wait to get to know all of the other super stars of the migrant education program better.
Thanks!
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