Monday, October 17, 2011
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Mississippi Room – Coffman Union
The 2011-2012 CEHD Reads selection, Outcasts United, by Warren St. John, expands a story that began as a 2007 New York Times article about the Fugees, a soccer program for boys from families of refugees from war-torn nations who were resettled in Clarkston, Georgia. The book follows the challenges the coach and these young people face (which include confronting prejudice, finding funding and a field on which to practice, and living with memories of tragedy in their home countries) as well as the triumphs they achieve on and off the field.
The Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD) will host an evening forum where educators and alumni are invited to hear the stories, successes and challenges of educational leaders in Minnesota who have been involved in similar changes in their communities by immigration and new cultures.
Panelists:
- Mr. Jay Haugen – Superintendent, Farmington Public Schools
- Mr. John Landgaard – Superintendent, Worthington Public Schools
- Dr. Fatima Lawson – Principal, L’Etoile du Nord French Immersion School, St. Paul
- Dr. Mike McCollor – Principal, Washington Technology Magnet, St. Paul
- Ms. Yeu Vang – Principal, Jackson Preparatory Magnet, St. Paul
Mr. Haugen has served recently both rural and suburban districts in Sleepy Eye, West St. Paul and Farmington Public Schools where the immigrant population has steadily increased and reached 40% or more in the schools.
Mr. Landgaard has seen a rapid transition from a mostly Caucasian southwestern Minnesota school district to a district where the student of color population has reached 58% with 13% English Language Learners.
Dr. Lawson leads a French Immersion school where 25% of the students are English Language Learners and 35% of the students are students of color and few students have had any French language background.
Dr. McCollor leads a secondary school where 66% of the students speak another language than English at home and where the Hmong population of 35% is the largest ethnic group.
Ms. Vang leads an elementary school where 73% of the students speak another language than English at home and where the Hmong population of 55% is the largest ethnic group
