As a result of technical difficulties, the opening of the presentation was not recorded but it has been transcribed below. Also, as a result of a low battery, the second part of the presentation was also not recorded.
ADAM CLEMENTS: “Welcome to tonight’s panel, and thank you for coming. It shows you have a deep understanding for what being an 'exceptional educator' means by taking time to learn about a topic of such importance, but one that is rarely ever thought or talked about.
It is my hope that you will walk away from tonight with a better understanding of the word 'refugee' in its many forms and contexts, as well as that as future educators you will feel more prepared to help educate refugee students in your classroom.
By coming tonight you recognize that today’s classroom is not the same as yesterdays. Our world is much more diverse and globally interconnected. By coming tonight, you recognize that your initial want to be a great and exceptional educator, has become a realization as a need to be a great and exceptional educator because our students are in need of excellence.
Before we begin, I would like to take the time to let our panel of amazing individuals here with us tonight introduce themselves. Without their help and participate tonight would not have been possible."
It is my hope that you will walk away from tonight with a better understanding of the word 'refugee' in its many forms and contexts, as well as that as future educators you will feel more prepared to help educate refugee students in your classroom.
By coming tonight you recognize that today’s classroom is not the same as yesterdays. Our world is much more diverse and globally interconnected. By coming tonight, you recognize that your initial want to be a great and exceptional educator, has become a realization as a need to be a great and exceptional educator because our students are in need of excellence.
Before we begin, I would like to take the time to let our panel of amazing individuals here with us tonight introduce themselves. Without their help and participate tonight would not have been possible."
(Introductions are from left to right)
KANIKA SURI (RDC Coordinator), JUDI HARRIS (St. Vincent Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Director), ANNELI LUKAS (RDC Coordinator), ERIN CONLEY (RDC Coordinator), SERGIO KECK (Director of Bicultural and Bilingual Programming of Lansing School District), CARMEN VANALSTINE (Chippewa Middle School ESL Teacher), DARUS WARD (Refugee Student from Liberia, May 2003), ROY MAWEIA (Refugee Student from DRC, 2007)
ADAM CLEMENTS: “Thank you again for being here tonight. To begin, I would like to explain how you ended up here tonight. I am a member of the Urban Educators Cohort Program which during your sophomore year requires an additional TE class each semester (TE 291A). During the class we were to work one on one with a student at the RDC, so that our final paper could be a case study/reflection of our experiences. So what started out as a 5-7 page paper assignment, turned into a Honors Option by reading Holler If You Hear Me: The Education of a Teacher and His Students by Gregory Michie, which is an exceptional read that I would recommended if you haven’t. Now what was an extended 7-10 page paper, tuned into 20, which kept going turning in to 30 pages, which kept going and turned into the question 'Can I have chapters in my paper?' ultimately ending in an over 40 page case study that took an in-depth look at the transition of a 15 year old refugee female from Ivory Cost Liberia to Lansing Michigan entitled From Juié á Yeaínah to Teresa Kippler. After completion, I realized that what I had learned from my interviews and from writing the paper was something very important. So much so that I wanted to share it with others so they too might learn these important lessons. So, the development of this panel followed and here we are tonight.
To begin, I will be reading a few select passages of my study to give voice to Teresa Kipper. So often the voice of the refugee is lost in our schools and community. Arriving in a new country with new customs, new languages, new rules, and a new way of life altogether can make it difficult to be able to have a strong voice against discrimination or injustice. It is my hope, that along with tonight’s panel, Teresa’s story will help us all hear the voice of the refugee more clearly.
Chapter 1: "You Kinda Crazy" - The First Day I Met Teresa
While I believe that everyone has a story, the one that Teresa Kippler told me about her first thirteen year of life..."
KANIKA SURI (RDC Coordinator), JUDI HARRIS (St. Vincent Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Director), ANNELI LUKAS (RDC Coordinator), ERIN CONLEY (RDC Coordinator), SERGIO KECK (Director of Bicultural and Bilingual Programming of Lansing School District), CARMEN VANALSTINE (Chippewa Middle School ESL Teacher), DARUS WARD (Refugee Student from Liberia, May 2003), ROY MAWEIA (Refugee Student from DRC, 2007)
ADAM CLEMENTS: “Thank you again for being here tonight. To begin, I would like to explain how you ended up here tonight. I am a member of the Urban Educators Cohort Program which during your sophomore year requires an additional TE class each semester (TE 291A). During the class we were to work one on one with a student at the RDC, so that our final paper could be a case study/reflection of our experiences. So what started out as a 5-7 page paper assignment, turned into a Honors Option by reading Holler If You Hear Me: The Education of a Teacher and His Students by Gregory Michie, which is an exceptional read that I would recommended if you haven’t. Now what was an extended 7-10 page paper, tuned into 20, which kept going turning in to 30 pages, which kept going and turned into the question 'Can I have chapters in my paper?' ultimately ending in an over 40 page case study that took an in-depth look at the transition of a 15 year old refugee female from Ivory Cost Liberia to Lansing Michigan entitled From Juié á Yeaínah to Teresa Kippler. After completion, I realized that what I had learned from my interviews and from writing the paper was something very important. So much so that I wanted to share it with others so they too might learn these important lessons. So, the development of this panel followed and here we are tonight.
To begin, I will be reading a few select passages of my study to give voice to Teresa Kipper. So often the voice of the refugee is lost in our schools and community. Arriving in a new country with new customs, new languages, new rules, and a new way of life altogether can make it difficult to be able to have a strong voice against discrimination or injustice. It is my hope, that along with tonight’s panel, Teresa’s story will help us all hear the voice of the refugee more clearly.
Chapter 1: "You Kinda Crazy" - The First Day I Met Teresa
While I believe that everyone has a story, the one that Teresa Kippler told me about her first thirteen year of life..."
