English-Language Learners Video

Helping Immigrant Students Adjust to New Schools, New Lives

March 16, 2016 3:11

A growing community of Somali immigrant families in St. Cloud, Minn., has presented multiple challenges for local educators who have been grappling with not only how to meet the students’ linguistic and educational needs, but also how to create a learning environment where they feel safe and welcome. Confronting anti-Muslim sentiment both inside the district and outside in the broader community has been especially vexing. Most of the Somali community in St. Cloud is Muslim. To help build linguistic and cultural bridges between educators and the Somali community, school district leaders hired Ahmed Hassan and Bishar Hassan. The two Somali brothers, who are bilingual communication support specialists, have duties that range from providing verbal and written translations into Somali and English, advising students, and helping both Somali residents and school district staff members navigate unfamiliar cultural terrain. The brothers are also leaders in St. Cloud’s Somali community. Education Week Video

Coverage of social and emotional learning is supported in part by a grant from the NoVo Foundation. Education Week retains sole editorial control over the content of this coverage.

Video

Special Education Video A Student Wrote a Book About Her Learning Disability. Now, She Has Advice for Teachers
Zoe Kozina, 17, is the author of Your Beautiful Mind, a children’s book published this year.
Mathematics Video Teaching Economics (Taylor's Version)
Taylor Swift's massive impact on the economy inspired a high school teacher to create lessons in "Swiftonomics."
Lauren Santucci
2:31
Student Well-Being Video How This Public School Serves Students Recovering From Addiction
Here’s how this public high school provides support for students recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.
Kaylee Domzalski & Lauren Santucci
3:44
School & District Management Video Video: Emotional Intelligence, Explained
A look at what emotional intelligence is and why it matters for educational leaders.
4:56
Collage illustration of a leader thinking about something surrounded by images and iconography representing emotional intelligence
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + Getty Images