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Anoka-Hennepin ’ s Kari Xiong honored as ‘ Rising Star ’ in public service
LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC EDUCATION
Kari Xiong is passionate about social justice and equity issues , and she brings that passion to work daily in her role as an English Learners ( EL ) cultural liaison with the Anoka-Hennepin School District .
Her dedication to the families she serves and the community as a whole has earned her a Women in Public Service Rising Star Award from Hamline University — an award that aims to recognize women in public service with 10 or fewer years of service who are already making their mark working toward the public good .
Xiong is based at the district ’ s Family Welcome Center in Coon Rapids , which serves families who come to Anoka-Hennepin from other countries and may not speak English as their primary language . Students are assessed through reading and writing to see if they qualify for additional English language services , and Xiong meets with parents to provide resources and support for everything from food and clothing to immigration attorneys and health care .
“ Families coming to the United States , immigrating here , are unfamiliar with U . S . school expectations , the trimester schedule , the busing system . We help them with these cultural norms and expectations ,” she said . “ I also do a lot of research of what resources and services are available in Minnesota that can support families from all over the world . For instance , if we ’ re looking for a Spanish-speaking mental health specialist , is that available ?”
Xiong also helps schools and the district navigate cultural differences and regularly receives phone calls and emails from school staff , principals and administrators asking for guidance or clarification on culturally specific issues .
“ There are so many different layers to my job day to day ,” she said .
Before working at the Family Welcome Center , Xiong was a student learning advocate at Anoka High School , serving underrepresented students and students of color . While there she ran a group called SAME — Students of Anoka for Multicultural Education — and initiated the school ’ s first multicultural show , which is still held today .
Xiong ’ s current role , which she has held since 2011 , allows her to combine her background in elementary education with her passion for social justice and empowering youth . As the daughter of refugees — her parents came here from Laos in 1978 — Xiong is uniquely qualified to understand the difficulties faced by families who move here from other countries .
“ I think I just have this connection with individuals or families for whom it ’ s not always so easy ,” she said . “ And as much as I can eliminate those barriers or struggles , I think that ’ s where that passion and purpose comes from .”
It ’ s a privilege to be able to work with parents outside of the curriculum , she said , because the trust she builds with these families allows them to really open up to her .
“ Teachers do a great job of teaching core curriculum , and they have to focus on talking about that when meeting with parents . But I get this wonderful privilege of talking to parents about what ’ s going on in their life ,” she said . “ Because of my role , I get to hear the stories of how people are impacted and changing and motivated . And they ’ re working so hard . I have not met a family yet who has not said education is important . They really want more for their kids than their kids could imagine .”
In addition to her role with the district , Xiong is actively involved in the community through volunteering , including as a board member , executive committee member , and volunteer with the Youth Performance Company ( YPC ), a theatre company that develops and empowers young actors , singers and dancers to reach their artistic potential and become community leaders .
Xiong ’ s fellow board member , Lisa Dejoras , nominated her for the Rising Star award .
Kari Xiong , an English Learners ( EL ) cultural liaison , based in Anoka- Hennepin ' s Family Welcome Center in Coon Rapids , has earned the Women in Public Service Rising Star Award from Hamline University .
Dejoras said Xiong ’ s enthusiasm and tireless work with the district and YPC made her a perfect candidate for recognition . But she was even more impressed when she learned Xiong has also served on the Anoka County Immigrant / Refugee Asset Fund Committee and has worked with various state and community agencies including the Minnesota Department of Health , Metro Refugee Health Task Force , and the Minnesota Education Equity Partnership . She is also a nationally trained Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity ( SEED ) facilitator , White Privilege Conference participant , and National Association of Multicultural Education Conference presenter .
“ I had to twist Kari ’ s arm a bit to convince her to allow me to nominate her ,” Dejoras said . “ She is truly a rising star , serving her diverse students with deep caring , and her community with deep passion for equity and social justice . But Kari ’ s personal warmth and committed work is equally matched by her humility and focus on giving back .”
Xiong said that while she is honored to be nominated for the Rising Star award , she sees herself as just doing her job . She said was far more impressed with the other award winners she sat next to at the awards banquet .
“ There are some amazing , incredible women out there that are doing such great things right now that they absolutely deserve an award ,” she said .
For her , the real reward of her role is when student and families she helped support come back after graduation to say thank you .
“ I don ’ t even know how to put value to that ,” she said . “ It is absolutely priceless .” ■
Phyllis Haensel named Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year
Phyllis Haensel , a third-grade teacher at McKinley Elementary School in Ham Lake , is passionate about social studies and the impact it can have on young students .
“ I just think it makes education relevant for kids ,” she said . “ When kids are little , they don ’ t know much about the world , and they don ’ t even really know who they are . And I think social studies is the vehicle that helps them figure out what their place is in the world and who they are .”
That passion has led her to take on a leadership role in social studies curriculum development that has impacted thousands of students across the state . Her dedication to her students , excellence in teaching , and impact on colleagues has earned Haensel the admiration of the Minnesota Council for the Social Studies Board , which has named her its 2016 Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year .
Haensel was honored at the 2016 MCSS Awards Dinner on March 6 .
McKinley Elementary School Principal Mike Koenig said this is a great recognition for Haensel , who will retire at the end of the school year after nearly 30 years of teaching .
“ I ’ m just really excited for her . What a nice way to go out ,” he said . “ She ’ s so passionate about social studies curriculum and so engaged with it as a curriculum writer . This really speaks to the work she ’ s done with it .”
And even this close to retirement , she ’ s still not slowing down , Koenig said . “ She ’ s still looking to write curriculum into June and July ,” he said .
Haensel said she has always loved Social Studies . “ I just think it ’ s fascinating ,” she said .
To date , she has written three iterations of Social Studies curriculum for the Anoka- Hennepin School District . According to MCSS , she has also written curriculum for the Minnesota Partnership for Collaborative Curriculum and led professional development for teachers through her school , the district , and the Minnesota Center for Social Studies Education .
In addition , she served on the Minnesota State Social Studies Standards Committee when it was tasked with bringing a more diverse , global view to the curriculum statewide .
Students in her class now spend half the year learning about and comparing three different ancient civilizations .
“ I ’ m teaching ancient Egypt right now and my kids are absolutely crazy about it ,” she said . “ They ’ re saying things to each other like , ‘ social studies was so fun today !’”
By learning about these ancient civilizations and how they behaved in their daily lives , Haensel said her students are also learning about geography and map skills , economics and government .
Phyllis Haensel , a third grade teacher at McKinley Elementary School in Ham Lake , has been named the 2016 Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year by the Minnesota Council for Social Studies Board .
“ Social studies creates that concrete piece for them , that connection to the real world , where they can apply what they have learned ,” she said . “ I have kids who don ’ t read that well , but they will take this magazine about ancient Egypt and they will pore through it and they will figure out the hard words , because they are fascinated by it . So I see it not only as making education relevant , but I also see it as a huge motivator .”
Haensel said she is happy to have the opportunity through this award to express why she thinks social studies is so important to kids .
“ It ’ s such an important thing . It is what makes education meaningful , in my mind ,” she said . “ The kids in my class do the math , they do the reading . But when they come alive is when we do the social studies .” ■