Faribault Public Schools host summit on Somali student success
The Minnesota Department of Education is focused on closing an education gap that is much too wide in the state of Minnesota.
One place to start in that attempt? With parents. Parents of English language learners, specifically.
The MDE paired with Faribault Public Schools to host a summit, Engaging Somali Families for Student Success, on Wednesday night at Faribault High School.
Along with MDE and FPS, the event was sponsored by the Pacer Center, the University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration, the Somali American Parent Association (SAPA) and the Autism Society of Minnesota.
Representatives gathered from each organization to educate local Somali parents in an attempt to help them not only understand the education system in the United States and in Faribault, but also to help
In turn, the representatives heard from Somali parents and addressed their concerns.
According to Elia Bruggeman, assistant commissioner of the MDE, this summit is one of many that will take place throughout the state. Faribault, with its large Somali population, was the first stop on that list.
“This is a community-based project to ensure we are closing the gap in Minnesota and to ensure that every child has the tools they need to succeed in school,” she said.
Bruggeman stressed to the parents in attendance that they are vital to that success. “The parents are an asset, without them we cannot close this gap,” she said.
Much of the presentation was conducted in Somali, with interpreters on hand to translate to English and vice-versa.
“This is a great opportunity for you to ask questions and for our education system to help you out,” Faribault Public Schools Superintendent Todd Sesker told the crowd.
Hassan Samantar of the PACER Center spoke about what parents should know regarding education, and Anab Gulaid from the U of M spoke on autism spectrum disorders and early childhood education’s importance.
“It is possible for our children to be successful and navigate through this system,” Gulaid said.
An example of that success came in the form of FHS class of 2014 graduate Abdi Abdullahi. The recent grad spoke to the audience about his success and spoke highly of the CAST (College Ambitions Start Today) group at FHS and how it helped to keep him and many others motivated.
He also had some advice for the parents.
“Parents need to have an eagle eye on their children and need to get them involved,” he said.
After a short dinner, a panel formed to field questions from the community. Panel members included Bruggeman, Gulaid, Samantar and Sesker, along with Mohammed Mohamud of SAPA, Faribault’s Community Education Director Anne Marie Leland, and Sam Ouk, Faribault English language coordinator.
Ouk, who officially starts his position in July, was first to answer a question regarding best practices for the district to work with Somali parents. He said he will help parents to learn how to use computers to check their students’ attendance, learn what books are being read and more.
“If we work only with kids and not the parents, it’s not going to work,” he said. Ouk also voiced his support for Abdullahi’s point about keeping an “eagle eye” over students.
Another question posed to the panel: “How are the challenges being addressed when it comes to engaging the Somali parents?”
Leland chose to answer, explaining that community education’s Families and Schools Together program is working to bring parents in and make sure their students are achieving.
“It’s been successful, but it takes a lot of time and word of mouth,” she said.
Leland also mentioned courses offered at Adult Basic Education and stressed the work Adult Education Coordinator Yesica Louis has done.
“Yesica is increasing classes (despite) less funding, for you … we want you to learn English and we want to learn from you too,” Leland said.
All in all, it seemed evident on Wednesday that to close this gap and grow communications in Faribault, it’s going to take collaboration.
“I really want us to work together and help each other out,” Ouk said.