www.emory-lavista.org

Sally Harrell, Co-President sallyharrell@riverside.net

Marshall Orson, Co-President marshall.orson@devonwoodmedia.com

Nancy Moore, Vice President davidenancymoore@bellsouth.net

Donna Toulme, Corresponding Sec dtoulme@bellsouth.net

Greg Studdard, Community Rel. gsms123@aol.com

Multiculturalism and DCSS

Panel Presentation

Karen Boswell, Principal, Pleasantdale Elementary School

Rebecca Jackson, Principal, Henderson Mill Elementary School

Sandra Nunez, Director of ELL Studies Program, DCSS

Linda Lanier, PTA Co-President, Sagamore Hills Elementary

Maggie Garcia Wade, Spanish Speaking Parents Committee, Sagamore Hills Elementary PTA

Sandra Nunez, Director, English Language Learners Studies Program

ELPC Co-President, Marshal Orson welcomed principals, DCSS administrators and BOE members in attendance. They thanked host school, Pleasantdale Elementary whose Principal, Ms. Karen Boswell, thanked her faculty, staff and parents for assistance in hosting. The panel was introduced and thanked for their willingness to participate.

Principal Boswell began by emphasizing the family atmosphere at Pleasantdale Elementary. She introduced some vital staff members who facilitate inclusion of Spanish speaking students and families: Ms. Hunt, interpreter; Mr. Rivas, the school social worker, and her Spanish speaking teachers. Principal Boswell noted that information from school goes home in Spanish and English and that International Night held in the fall is a popular way for Pleasantdale Elementary families to come together.

Ms. Hunt continued by describing the Pleasantdale Elementary Resource Room that has grown to serve parents whose first language is Spanish. Though DCSS has district-wide resources available to parents at the http://schools.dekalb.k12.ga.us/sequoyah/departments... Sequoyah Middle School, a school-based resource was considered essential as many families have limited access to transportation. Ms. Hunt noted that her role is to facilitate communication among teachers, students, and parents though she is not a teacher. She does some language instruction as well to assist parents in becoming more comfortable with English. At Sequoyah Middle School International Center, English lessons and resources are offered and Ms. Hunt coordinates a field trip to Sequoyah for parents. Additionally, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) http://www.maldef.org/ presents at the school to educate parents about rights and responsibilities. DCSS has wireless based translation Talk & Listen Kits which are vital for live translation (read article for illustration) http://talkandlisten.com/news/language-barriers.php Ms. Hunt was especially appreciative of the newly developed UGA course to help school-based interpreters. Another valuable resource was Hispanic Education Night that occurs before school begins and familiarizes Spanish speaking parents with school policies, resources and procedures.

Henderson Mill Elementary Principal Jackson highlighted the diversity of e school with pride, noting is as one of the schools greatest assets. In addition to a culturally and economically-diverse community, she noted services for students with various disabilities. Principal Jackson noted that diversity is also greatest challenge and rarely evident in racial relations but most apparent in disparate performances among groups. She highlighted programs such as Early Intervention Program in Math and Reading. Henderson Mill has 2 ELL teachers and a translator in attendance twice weekly. She noted the excellent work of the PTA who formed a diverse PTA board that mirrored the diversity of the student population. She complimented former Henderson Mill PTA President, Ellen Schwartz who was in attendance. Principal Jackson mentioned the Fall Festival that promotes inclusive relationships among families and echoed the importance of the Talk & Listen Kits® at the PTA meetings. Additionally, parenting classes were offered in English and Spanish. In closing, Principal Jackson reflected on lessons learned with difficulty translating with some humorous anecdotes noting the need to always having to adjust.

Ms. Sandra Nunez, Director of ELL Studies Program, DCSS http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/support/ell/ the office that addresses the linguistic and cultural diversity of families. Within DCSS, Ms. Nunez noted 14, 000 international students (born outside of US) and those born in the US to parents who speak another language. At the International Student Center http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/international/index.html there is a centralized registration program to identify those students who might need translation services or language support services through ESOL classes. Each year, 3500 newcomers are registered with some qualifying for services. DeKalb County is one of largest refugee resettlement in the nation. For example, in DeKalb County there are approximately 2000 refugee families versus 81 in Gwinnett County School System. Ms. Nunez noted the different rights of immigrant versus refugee families (permission to work and certain benefits for a limited number of months/supported by caseworkers). She noted the following information for Region 2 in DeKalb County (all approximate)

International Students 3866

Refugee Students 708

Immigrant Students 1056

Top 10 Non English Languages

Spanish 1812

Amharic 197

Nepali 165

Arabic 139

Burmese 139

Chinese 98

Somalian 90

Vietnamese 87

Hindi 81

French 80

She noted that within Region 2, 130 nations are represented. Within her department the focus has been on training teachers and administrators. Within the department are English language coaches, ESOL teachers, interpreters, and translation devices. She noted Title III of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 that provides Federal financial support to state and local educational agencies to supplement English language instruction in order to ensure that all English Language Learners, including immigrant children and youth, attain English proficiency, develop high levels of academic language proficiency in English, and meet the same challenging state academic achievement standards. She reached out to UGS Education Coordinator, to offer services for school interpreters. She highlighted the great parent outreach program at McLendon Elementary School and thanked Principal McFarlane for housing program M/W at 6pm.

Ms. Linda Lanier, Co PTA President at Sagamore Hills Elementary continued the presentation by noting former Principal Reed as a large proponent of addressing multiculturalism.

Ms. Wade, Chair, Spanish Speaking Parents Committee, shared her personal experience 25 years ago as a student attending the International School in DeKalb County. She is committed to assisting those Spanish speaking parents who are uncomfortable with school connections. They have assembled bilingual parents on a Parent Outreach Committee that is available to address parent concerns.

Question, Answer & Comment Session:

Q: How did you get involved parents to form Parent Outreach Committee?

A: Administrators asked teachers to nominate parents.

C: Multicultural framework is beneficial in addressing diversity.

A: Mrs. Nunez noted the need to address linguistic diversity to promote comfort and inclusion as well as making the American expectation of parental involvement understood explicitly. She reiterated the importance of understanding that parental involvement is expected and dispelling the attitude that parents are called only when there is a problem.

C: Parent Mentors provide outreach to English Language Learning community to ensure that special education needs are identified. There is a Parent Mentor brochure now in Spanish http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/files/1DCFAD34276E4E539C...

C: Former PTA President, Ellen Schwartz, noted that resources are available to understand different cultures and to promote diverse involvement in PTA leadership on the website http://www.georgiapta.org/leadership-diversity.html.

C: What I see as a mother, worries me, there is a lot of talk about the language issue, what they do here at Pleasantdale is wonderful. I understand English though I don’t speak it well. I can read notes both languages. What many parents say is that they don’t get involved because of the language barrier. Many times I volunteer as an interpreter with other parents. Language is one of largest problems as a number of parents of don’t understand what is happening. I have been in the country 7 years and it was very hard as I d did not understand a word that was said. As a mother, we need to find a solution to the language problem and to address communication between parents and children at the elementary school level.

C: Ms. Wade re-iterated the importance of Spanish Night to help parent understand expectations and feel welcome.

Q: Concerned parent and DCSS teacher asked whether there was a way to use world language students to provide translation/education services?

C: International Night is phenomenal to reach out.

C: Nancy Moore, ELPC Vice President thanked the audience and panel for sharing resources.

Q: Access to diversity statistics?

A: Ms. Nunez stated she would be happy to provide additional information and can be reached through her office website/email listed above.

C: Principal Reed noted that missteps occur regardless of approach and to approach all communication efforts with an air of understanding. He noted success with a two column approach with English/Spanish side by side. He stated that phone trees have worked well and encouraged a multi-method approach so that outreach efforts are not person dependent.

ELPC Co-President Sally Harrell thanked all for attendance and participation while re-iterating thanks to Principal Boswell and Pleasantdale Elementary for hosting. They invited all to the upcoming ELPC meetings:

3/17/2010 Charter Schools: Fernbank Elementary

157 Heaton Park Drive

Atlanta GA 30307

678.874.9302

Moderator: Phil Andrews

4/21/10 Update:SOS Coralwood Elementary

2477 Coralwood Drive
Decatur, Georgia 30033-1323
678-874-6002

All meetings begin with refreshments at 8:45 and run from 9:15 to 10:30.

To receive information from council, please send an e-mail to EmoryLavistaParentCouncil@gmail.com

Respectfully Submitted, Susan M. Furman, Recording Secretary, smfurman4@comcast.net