Spanish-Language Parent Institute Makes Deeper Connections

By Lonnie Harp

For three years, Ana Reid, who grew up in Honduras, had tried to catch on to routines at the schools her children attend in Kenton County. Fluent only in Spanish, she strived to understand school procedures, events and expectations. Despite consistent effort, she said, she always felt far behind.This year provided a turning point. Focused training about the structure of Kentucky’s education system and the basics of her local school system created a firm handle on how she can be involved with her children’s education — and elevated possibilities she sees in her own life. Education for families in northern Kentucky began when Learning Grove implemented the National Center for Families Learning’s Family Literacy Model. Families received instruction in engaging in their child’s learning and a parent education component focused on English language classes. The need for understanding how the local and state education system works came from conversations during this parent education time.“The relationship before was very disconnected about how to do things. I had no idea who could help,” Reid said, describing her link to her children’s education.Over the past year, Reid joined a pilot group of Spanish-speaking parents in a first-ever bilingual adaptation of the Prichard Committee’s Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership. Over more than two decades, the program has provided comprehensive free training for parents across the state to build understanding of fundamentals of Kentucky’s education system — from state testing and academic standards to improvement planning and school decision making.The 2021 institute selected a group of parents whose children are identified as English Language Learners. Reid said that the immersive experience, held in the winter and spring, delivered a huge step forward.“Things that I felt were impossible for me, now they are part of my life and my lifestyle,” Reid said in an interview. “Knowledge is power. Your learning experience gives you the power to take action, and it defines your opportunities as a mom and a part of your immediate community.”PARENTS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY work together during a session of the Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership. In 2021, the institute was tailored for Spanish-language speakers for the first time.Reid was among 12 parents to complete the pilot class and officially become CIPL Fellows. This fall, she stayed involved, helping with a Parent Camp for other family members eager to learn more about schools. She is assisting a new cohort at 2022 Commonwealth Institute sessions aimed at Spanish-speaking parents.Organizers said the Spanish-language CIPL made a strong impact on the participants and provided a unique opportunity to see the power of the program’s approach.“It opened my eyes to all of the challenges that parents face,” said Laura Beard, senior coordinator for family engagement at the Prichard who helps lead CIPL. “A language barrier adds big challenges understanding schools’ routines and how learning issues are addressed, from drop-off procedures to requirements attached to specialized programs.”Families from the 2021 ELL CIPL class focused their group project on clarifying background check policies at the state and local levels. Families met with Kentucky Education Commissioner Jason Glass to discuss the barriers associated with obtaining a background check. KDE released a guidance document in response to families’ questions.Adriana Ortiz, who attended school in Mexico, said that her four children, ages 11 to 18, are doing well in school in Boone County.“They are learning more of the language every day and adapting to their environment,” she said through an interpreter. Still, CIPL gave her information and confidence to understand how she can help more and work more closely with teachers and school leaders.“I’d like to support my children more,” Ortiz added. “I needed to get closer to the schools and learn more about how the system is. … I want to be involved in anything they allow me to that has to do with schools.”CIPL FELLOWS HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN PARENT CIRCLES. Ana Reid of Kenton County, far left above, and Adriana Ortiz of Boone County, far right, were speakers at the Ignite Institute at the Hispanic Parent Leadership Conference of Northern Kentucky in September. Photo courtesy of Learning GroveKathy Burkhardt, a former Northern Kentucky superintendent who observed this year’s CIPL session for parents of ELL students, said that while every district tries to work with families where language barriers exist, the comprehensive approach of the Commonwealth Institute went beyond a typical orientation session. She said that working with ELL families often reveals strong parent interest in schools. Building deep partnerships, however, can be a challenge.“The best way for us to figure out what’s needed is to listen to our parents and our families, and we have lots of families who really want to help in positive ways in their children’s education,” said Burkhardt, who now works with Learning Grove, a Covington-based group involved in family engagement work and one partner in the CIPL ELL program.Making families aware of who they can contact to ask questions is important. Burkhardt said that many parents from other cultures or who don’t speak English can be reluctant to seek help. “Sometimes they don’t ask questions out of fear of being disrespectful in some way,” she noted.Reid of Kenton County, whose four children range from ages 2 to 9, said that all of the information that the Institute provided made a big difference for the parents involved.“It is an inevitable growth,” Reid said. “It made me want to learn the language more and get more involved in English classes and get a degree for my growth and to help my children.”She said that extra outreach from schools and education organizations, combined with interested parents, can help more students succeed in school and beyond.“Both parties need to do their part for it to be successful,” she said. “First, the parents need to recognize the needs of their children, get involved, and leave excuses behind. Second, we need to take advantage of all the tools that are given to us through programs” that help families navigate schools and education systems.The 2022 CIPL program for ELL parents in Boone County was launched on Nov. 17. In addition, a separate English-language CIPL cohort recently began with participants from Rowan, Jefferson, Madison, Oldham, Laurel, Gallatin, Fayette, Franklin, and Floyd counties. Both sessions will continue through spring 2022.CIPL is sponsored by St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Toyota, the LG&E and KU Foundation, the R.C. Durr Foundation, Inc., and the Charles and Ruth Seligman Family Foundation.TOP PHOTO: Jason Glass, the Kentucky education commissioner, spoke with members of a Spanish-language Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership held earlier this year.