Page 6 - TTWIFall2023
P. 6
Leadership
page 6 Electronic Edition: www.teachingtodaywi.com
MpS Teacher Erin Sivek is Wisconsin global Educator of the Year
and English as a second language, helps the the technology they need at home for their school level had fled Myanmar themselves.
speakers of those languages — young immi- studies, securing Chromebooks for students Now students are predominantly of Central
grants and refugees in grades 5 through 8 and making certain they have mobile hotspots and East African heritage and were born in
— learn English and go about life in America. at home if they are without WiFi or are in tem- refugee camps. Many of Sivek’s students this
For Sivek’s work, the Wisconsin Department porary housing, as many who resettle are. year are ethnic Congolese, arriving from the
of Public Instruction named her Global Educa- New students have other needs that are Democratic republic of Congo, Tanzania, and
tor of the Year for 2022-23. addressed, such as learning how to take the Zambia.
In choosing the winner, DPI considers bus to school, and obtaining clothing, hygiene Some have been waiting their whole lives
how well the nominee cultivates students’ supplies, and furniture through vouchers from to see which country they would settle in,
global awareness and engagement; promotes Goodwill and solicited donations. Sivek observed.
global competencies beyond the classroom and Students’ school experience varies. For Change is constant. That’s why Sivek,
includes colleagues and community members; instance, some of the Afghan students Sivek who is pursuing her master’s degree in edu-
inspires peers and others by modeling best taught last year had attended school before, but cational policy and leadership at Marquette
practices in global education; takes innova- some had not. University, frequently checks the web pages
tive approaches to global education; and aligns It’s rewarding to Sivek when her students of the United Nations and UN High Commis-
teaching with the goals of Wisconsin’s Global can do something well that they never could sioner for refugees and avidly reads The New
Education Achievement Certificate. do before. For first-time students, it might be York Times and National Geographic.
Sivek received the award at the Mil- writing their names; or, if they’d been in school “It keeps me wanting to update myself
waukee Public Schools UNSIL World Fair, a previously, it might be writing sentences in with what’s happening in the world,” Sivek
gathering of students from the district’s United English and eventually entire essays. said, to see who might be coming to Milwau-
Ask Erin Sivek which languages are Nations Schools of International Learning held Sivek, who grew up in Stevens Point, kee next and what kind of services they’ve
spoken by her current students, and the teacher in April at the UWM Panther Arena in down- majored in English and minored in Spanish received.
at MPS’ International Newcomer Center might town Milwaukee. When she learned her award in college, graduating from the University Despite their different backgrounds, those
say, “Let me look at the class and listen.” And would be presented at the fair, Sivek thought, of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2009. She was a in Sivek’s class find ways to relate. A student
then she recites a remarkable list. “This is perfect. My students will be there.” student teacher at South Division High School, from russia, seeing a new student from Malay-
This semester, she hears: The MPS Newcomer Center is housed “an amazing experience,” she said. She began sia in class, went to greet and help her, even
• Russian and Tuvan (also from Russia, in the Milwaukee Academy of Chinese Lan- teaching bilingual and monolingual English though they had no language in common. The
north of Mongolia) guage (MACL), 2430 W. Wisconsin Avenue. full time for MPS in February 2010 at South students automatically help each other, the
• Dari and Pashto from Afghanistan A student who is new to the United States can Division, in the same classroom where she had teacher said; they remember being “the new
• Swahili, Kibembe, French, Lingala, attend the center for two years before making been a student teacher. kid,” and feeling scared and unsure.
And Sivek greeted her new rohingya
Chichewa, Wolof, and Bemba, from the transition to MACL or another school of After Sivek’s first year, refugee students students in their native language. “They feel a
Africa their choice. began arriving at the high school. Her skills little safer, a little more comfortable, like, ‘You
with them were noticed, and she was offered
Sivek works with the MPS School
• Malay, spoken in Malaysia and other Community Partnership for Mental Health, the job at the International Newcomer Center. know about me,’” she said.
countries Sebastian Family Services, and a school social The experience is different from her time
• Burmese, Rohingya, and Karen from worker to address the needs of students, some teaching at South Division. At first it was
Southeast Asia of whom have endured trauma in their journey simply the age difference, Sivek said. Now, the mps.milwaukee.
• Spanish from Nicaragua to settlement. situations of the students have changed. k12.wi.us
Sivek, a teacher of English language arts Sivek also ensures that students have The refugees she knew at the high
Saluting 2023 Wisconsin principals of the Year Continued from page 5
To ensure the school continues its path of Farley received a master’s degree in edu-
excellence, a Principal’s Cabinet made up of cational leadership and a bachelor’s degree in
approximately 60 students regularly reviews the secondary education/history. He also has experi-
core values to develop ideas and action plans to ence as an associate principal and social studies
ensure Brookfield East is meeting the needs of teacher.
all learners. The cabinet played a leading role in
the school adopting a daily resource period to
help students manage their stress and workload. elmbrookschools.org/
Under Farley’s leadership, the school has brookfield-east-high-school
also aligned systems, structures, and priorities
to ensure all students are college, career, and Supported by the Herb Kohl Educational
life ready. This has led to 85 percent of students Foundation, the Principal of the Year award
selecting a two- or four-year technical college or recognizes school leaders who have helped
university pathway after graduation. drive student learning, foster instructional
“On behalf of AWSA, I am honored to collaboration, and create safe and positive
recognize Andrew Farley with the Wiscon- school environments. Recipients are selected
sin Secondary Principal of the Year Award,” based on their dedication to professional
said Jim Lynch, executive director of AWSA. excellence, leadership skills and service to
“During his time at Brookfield East, Mr. Farley their communities.
has fostered an incredible school culture. This Reprinted with permission from AWSA
award is a reflection of his outstanding efforts
to constantly improve teaching and learning
throughout the school.”