Education

Thalia Estrada was five years old when she left her native Peru. Fearful that terrorism in Lima could kill them, her parents arranged for Thalia and her brother to fly to the United States. Thalia started school within a few days. She learned a new language, got used to a new culture. Over time, Minnesota became home.

The $234.86 million omnibus jobs and economic development bill unveiled Tuesday has a focus on training workers for better futures.

As an African American male, I understand I’m a minority in education. Less than two percent of our nation’s teachers are black men, while fifteen percent of the country’s public school students are. While our most effective educators come from all backgrounds, those who share our students’ backgrounds can have a profound additional impact as mentors and role models. In our low-income communities where a majority of students are African-American and Latino, our students need to see their faces and experiences reflected in more of their teachers and leaders. I was glad to see this topic being discussed in the March 22nd piece: Race Matters for Teachers and Students.

The Minneapolis Public School District is looking to its alumni for support. The goal is to encourage a direct and personal kind of involvement with today's students and the district as a whole. Towards that end, the schools have established the Minneapolis Alumni Connection.