News (Noticias) Tagged ‘teacher’

The American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (www.abcte.org) (ABCTE) today announced it has partnered with the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (fshcc.com) (FSHCC) to recruit and certify more teachers of color for high-need Florida schools.

Currently, only 16% of teachers nationwide are individuals of color, compared with 41% of the student populations. FSHCC and ABCTE will work together on community outreach and obtaining local business involvement. The partnership has the goal of recruiting 300 new teachers for Florida schools over the next year. Free information sessions on the scholarship program will be held throughout the state this October.

ABCTE’s Teach and Inspire Scholarship Program offers a scholarship to earn certification and a $1000 stipend to program participants, and requires a 3-year teaching commitment in a high-need district and school. The scholarship is available for those pursuing Florida state teaching certification in the critical areas of math, science, and special education. Individuals can complete ABCTE’s online certification program without additional college courses, and while working full-time. In order to obtain certification, candidates must demonstrate mastery on subject area and professional teaching knowledge examinations.

ABCTE’s Teach and Inspire Scholarship Program currently works with the following districts in Florida: Broward, DeSoto, Duval, Gadsden, Hardee, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Polk, and Volusia.

Individuals in the scholarship program are given additional support and mentorship throughout their program and once they enter the classroom. Already the scholarship program has recruited more than 150 career changers and recent college graduates to enter the teaching profession.

Founded in February 2000, the FSHCC includes 28 chapters and more than 30,000 members. It is the only statewide economic development organization that addresses the Hispanic business market exclusively. The Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce offers Hispanic-owned and Hispanic-responsive businesses a voice at a local and state level, as well as a reliable venue for business development, marketing, continuing education and networking.

“We look forward to working with the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to find new ways to reach potential teachers in the Hispanic community,” said ABCTE president David W. Saba.

“We are very excited about our partnership with the ABCTE Teach and Inspire Scholarship Program to host information sessions throughout Florida for aspiring teachers,” said Julio Fuentes, president & CEO of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Last year, 72,000 Florida students started the school year without a qualified teacher. America needs millions of new teachers over the next decade, and ABCTE is working hard to encourage more talented professionals to pursue teaching. ABCTE’s Teach and Inspire Scholarship Program targets highly knowledgeable career changers to help fill teacher shortages in high-need schools, districts, and subject areas.

To learn more about the information sessions, visit www.abcte.org/events

About ABCTE

The American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence is a non-profit organization, dedicated to recruiting, preparing, certifying and supporting dedicated professionals to improve student achievement through quality teaching. ABCTE is an innovative teacher preparation and certification program for highly knowledgeable individuals who want to change careers and become teachers. For more information about ABCTE, please visit www.abcte.org

About the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

FSHCC’s mission is to promote the economic advancement of the Florida Hispanic community, with a focus on economic and political empowerment, and public advocacy to improve the quality of life in the state of Florida. For more information, please visit fshcc.com

For more information, please contact:

Mike Holden, Director of Public Relations

Phone (202) 261-2636, Cell: (703) 606-8398 (media only)

E-mail: mholden @ abcte.org

Julio Fuentes, President and CEO

Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Cell: (561) 889-6655

E-mail: Julio @ fshcc.com“

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein today announced that New York City’s four-year high school graduation rate continues to push upward, as it has every year under the Administration. The City’s four-year rate reached a new high of 55.8 percent in 2007, according to data released this morning by the New York State Education Department, with more students earning Regents diplomas and black and Hispanic students narrowing the graduation gap with their white and Asian peers. The State’s rates now include students who met graduation requirements in summer school following their senior year. Excluding these students to allow for comparisons with previous years, the City’s graduation rate has risen 5.7 percentage points since 2005, and 2.4 points since 2006. By comparison, graduation rates Statewide have risen by 2.8 points since 2005 and 1.4 points since 2006. The City’s increases translate into more than 5,000 additional students graduating since 2005. In addition, the City’s dropout rate has declined since 2005 by 3.3 points, to 14.7 percent from 18 percent. The Mayor and Chancellor were joined at Department of Education headquarters in the Tweed Courthouse by Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development Dennis M. Walcott, United Federation of Teachers ( UFT ) President Randi Weingarten, UFT Chief Operating Office Michael Mulgrew, and Council of School Supervisors and Administrators ( CSA ) Executive Vice President Peter McNally.

“The graduation rate is a crucial indicator of whether our school system is fulfilling its core mission - giving our children the skills they need to become successful adults,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “After a decade of near-stagnation, New York City’s graduation rate has climbed significantly since 2002. We clearly need to help larger numbers of students to graduate, but the progress we’ve made so far means that thousands more students are graduating today than would have six years ago.”

“Today’s numbers confirm once again that steady progress is now the rule, not the exception, in New York City’s public schools,” said Chancellor Klein. “Although I’m pleased that the overall graduation rate is continuing to rise, it’s especially encouraging to see that the biggest increases are among our black and Hispanic students. This is further evidence that we’re beginning to close the shameful racial achievement gap in this City.”

Because this is the first year that the State included in its calculation students who graduated in August after their final semester, comparisons to previous years must exclude August graduates. Excluding those students, the City’s four-year graduation rate rose to 52.2 percent in 2007 from 49.8 percent in 2006 and 46.5 percent in 2005. At the same time, the dropout rate fell to 14.7 percent in 2007, down from 15 percent in 2006 and 18 percent in 2005. The five-year graduation rate rose to 59.5 percent in 2007 from 55.7 percent in 2006.

“Today is a day to congratulate teachers, principals, students and parents for all their hard work in keeping the graduation rate going in the right direction,” said UFT President Randi Weingarten. “Tomorrow we must ask ourselves what more can we do to get our kids ready for college, to enter the workforce, to improve their life skills? That’s going to require continued collaboration by everyone with a stake in our kids’ education, and in so doing we will dramatically increase the graduation rates.”

“We are seeing gradual, steady increases in student graduation rates because school leaders, teachers and parents are truly working together to improve student learning and ensure every child receives a quality education,” said CSA Executive Vice President Peter McNally. “Student achievement has always been a priority for school leaders, and while there is still more work to be done, with the proper resources we will continue to make progress.”

The percentage of graduates earning Regents diplomas has increased along with the overall graduation rate. A new high of 69.8 percent of graduates in 2007 earned a Regents diploma, compared to 68.4 percent in 2006 and 64.3 percent in 2005 - a 5.5 percentage point increase over two years. Students must meet more rigorous graduation requirements, including higher scores on their Regents exams, to earn a Regents diploma.

The four-year graduation rate among black and Hispanic students is increasing faster than that of their white and Asian peers. Overall, 47.2 percent of black students in 2007 graduated in four years, compared to 43.5 percent in 2006 and 40.2 percent in 2005. This 7.0 point increase over two years compares to a 4.7 increase among white students and a 4.5 increase among Asian students during the same period. Overall, 43 percent of Hispanic students in 2007 graduated in four years, compared to 41 percent in 2006 and 37.4 percent in 2005, an increase of 5.6 points. Between 2005 and 2007, the gap in the graduation rate between white and black students was reduced by 2.3 percentage points, and the gap between white and Hispanic students was reduced by 0.9 points.

The graduation rate among English Language Learners rose 3.1 points to 23.5 in 2007, after falling from 26.5 percent in 2005 to 20.4 percent in 2006. The graduation rate among special education students rose to 19.8 percent in 2007 from 19.4 percent in 2006 and 17.2 percent in 2005, a two-year increase of 2.6 percentage points.

Beginning this year, the City and the State are using a shared methodology to calculate graduation rates. Previously, the City used its own methodology to calculate the rate. Because this formula remained unchanged since 1986; it is still useful for comparisons over time. Using the City’s formula, the graduation rate rose from 58 percent to 62 percent between 2005 and 2007, an increase that tracks closely to the State’s calculation. Since the Mayor won control of the school system in 2002, the graduation rate has increased 11.2 points, using the City’s methodology, from 50.8 percent to 62 percent. Conversely, the graduation rate had been essentially stagnant over the decade prior to 2002.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Stu Loeser / Dawn Walker  ( 212 ) 788-2958

David Cantor  ( Department of Education )
( 212 ) 374-5141″

But a teacher at Johnson High School soon took note of Alonso’s quick mind and eagerness to learn English, and helped him to better his academic standing. And that summer, Alonso took part in Gainesville State College’s Steps-to-College program after learning about it at school.

Since 1999, GSC has hosted the Steps-to-College program for English language learners.”*

Lily Eskelsen, an elementary school teacher from Utah, has been elected vice president of the National Education Association by the nearly 10,000 delegates at its 146th Annual Meeting here, the NEA announced.
…
Eskelsen has served two three-year terms as secretary-treasurer of the NEA, the nation’s largest professional organization, representing 3.2 million educators. The association said she is one of the highest-ranking labor leaders in the country and one of its most powerful Hispanic educators.“*

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), a national non-profit organization that identifies, inspires, promotes and prepares Latino leaders in the community, classroom and workforce, today announced the renewal of a $100,000 grant from Staples Foundation for Learning (SFFL), a private foundation created by Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS). This year, SFFL’s support will fund the second annual Hispanic Heritage Teacher Award, an award that acknowledges influential teachers across the country for making a positive impact on the lives of Latino youth and inspiring students to reach their full potential even in the face of great challenges. Since 2006, SFFL has provided HHF with $200,000 in support of their Latino education programs.

Throughout the spring, teachers from 12 regions (San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Jose, Phoenix, Chicago, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC) were honored with a plaque and a $500 Staples gift card to help purchase much-needed supplies for their classrooms. Today, SFFL and HHF will present Sylvia Garza from the Houston region the 2008 National Hispanic Heritage Teacher Award recipient. Mrs. Garza will receive the award during a special ceremony at the Sprint Corporate Headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas along with the National Hispanic Heritage Youth Awardees and CSI Miami Star Adam Rodriguez.

All teachers were nominated by Regional Hispanic Heritage Youth Award recipients. Each recipient submitted an essay about a teacher who has made a lasting impact on his or her life. The teacher finalists were selected for their outstanding contributions to student achievement in the classroom and their exceptional ability to encourage students to believe in themselves and give back to their communities.

Sylvia Garza, a Spanish teacher at Texas City High School, was nominated by Jeremy Guardiola, an Academic Excellence Houston Regional Hispanic Heritage Youth Award recipient. Mrs. Garza inspires her students by creating a comfortable classroom atmosphere where they can express themselves and learn. She is also the advisor of the school’s Spanish National Honor Society and encourages students to volunteer with special education students and the Ronald McDonald House in Galveston, TX.

“With continued support from Staples Foundation for Learning, the Hispanic Heritage Teacher Award program continues to grow and create role models for all educators,” said Jose Antonio Tijerino, president and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. “Through this important partnership, we can shine an even brighter spotlight on the vital role teacher’s play in moving our community forward through education and community service.”

“Staples Foundation for Learning is committed to empowering Latino youth with educational experiences needed for positive academic and social development,” said Ron Sargent, president of Staples Foundation for Learning and chairman and chief executive officer of Staples, Inc. “The Hispanic Heritage Teacher Award enables us to honor these unsung heroes who act as positive role models by educating and inspiring Latino youth across the country.”

SFFL began its partnership with Hispanic Heritage Foundation in 2006 to help fund educational and cultural programs that identify, promote and prepare Latino leaders. The 2007 creation and continued success of the Hispanic Heritage Teacher Awards marks SFFL’s dedication to HHF and their efforts to prepare Latino youth to make an impact in society.

The 2008 Hispanic Heritage Regional Teacher Awardees were:

Dallas – Michael Juhas, Jesuit College Preparatory, Dallas, TX

Philadelphia – Michael Mast, Danville Senior High School, Danville, PA

New York – Dr. Joanne Figueiredo, Smithtown High School West, Smithtown, NY

Washington, DC – Joshua Dorsey, Southern High School, Harwood, MD

Chicago – Tanya Cabrera, Benito Juarez Community Academy, Chicago, IL

No. California – Jesse Kurtz-Nicholl, Richmond High School, Richmond, CA

Miami – Bernardo Osorio, Coral Reef High School, Miami, FL

San Antonio – Darlene Karthauser, Tivy High School, Kerrville, TX

Houston – Sylvia Garza, Texas City High School, Texas City, TX

Phoenix – Juan Aldo Nunez, Trevor G. Browne High School of Phoenix, AZ

San Diego – Hillary Park, Grossmont High School, El Cacjon, CA

Los Angeles – William Brown, Mira Costa High School, Manhattan Beach, CA

About Hispanic Heritage Foundation

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation, a 501c3 not-for-profit organization, identifies, prepares, and positions Latino leaders in the community, classroom and workforce through national cultural, educational, and career development programs. For more information about the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, please visit www.HispanicHeritage.org. “*

No classroom building or dormitory at UCLA is named after Reginaldo Francisco del Valle. Nor does any plaza, fountain, auditorium or library wing bear the name of the state legislator and Los Angeles civic activist who died in 1938 at age 84.

The name does not register with most UCLA professors, and the school’s official history mentions Del Valle just once, only in passing.

Such an omission is historically and morally wrong, contends UCLA medical school professor David Hayes-Bautista. For the past several years, Hayes-Bautista has been crusading to gain recognition for what he describes as Del Valle’s crucial role in founding the state teachers college that later became the University of California’s first campus in Los Angeles.”*

The election may be 10 weeks away, but Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez is almost certain to win a second four-year term in the county’s most powerful post because no big-name opponents are expected to launch campaigns before Tuesday’s noon deadline.

Alvarez’s sole challenger is Helen Williams, a former teacher who reported raising $50 by the end of March, compared to his $720,000.”*

Marchers Say Education Officials Are Changing LGE “Behind Teachers and Students’ Backs”

A sea of umbrellas flooded Santiago’s central Plaza de Armas around midday last Wednesday as teachers, high schoolers, university students, and parents took over the rainy Santiago streets in a national protests called by the Teacher’s Association. The protest was against the General Education Law (LGE), an education reform package being put forward to replace the existing Organic Constitutional Education Law (LOCE).”*

Americas Society held its 28th Annual Spring Party last night at Cipriani Wall Street, located in New York City’s Financial District. At the party, which was attended by some 600 prominent members of the international culture, business, and diplomatic worlds, Americas Society awarded gold medals to Patricia Phelps de Cisneros, Carlos Fuentes, and Peter Munk in honor of their creative and philanthropic contributions to the arts, education, and social initiatives within the Americas.

The program included a welcome from Americas Society Chairman William R. Rhodes; introductions of the honorees by David Rockefeller, Americas Society founder and distinguished philanthropist, and The Right Honourable M. Brian Mulroney, former Prime Minister of Canada; and remarks by the honorees. The ceremony concluded with a brief, inspiring talk by Mr. Fuentes, who offered reflections on the history of dialogue between Latin America and the United States and the importance of Americas Society in that endeavor.

Honorees
Patricia Phelps de Cisneros is founding chairman of the Fundacion Cisneros, which is committed to enriching educational opportunities in Latin America and increasing global awareness of the breadth of Latin America’s contributions to world culture. Mrs. Cisneros and her husband, Gustavo A. Cisneros, established the foundation in the belief that education is key to overcoming poverty and, along with freedom of expression, is vital to democracy. Among the programs Mrs. Cisneros has founded are AME (Actualizacion de Maestros en Educacion), a comprehensive professional-development program for teachers, and Piensa en Arte, an art-in-education program based on the acclaimed Coleccion Patricia Phelps de Cisneros.

Carlos Fuentes, celebrated as one of the greatest writers in the
Spanish-speaking world, regularly comments from an international perspective on social issues impacting the Western Hemisphere. He has received many prizes, including the Cervantes Award, and has been featured in the Americas Society publication Review. As a social historian and diplomat, Mr. Fuentes founded the Iberoamerican Forum, which brings together political, literary, and business personalities of the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking worlds. He has been a teacher and fellow at several universities, including Brown University, where he is currently professor at large. His books include The Death of Artemio Cruz, The Old Gringo, and The Buried Mirror.

Peter Munk, Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist, is founder and chairman of the board of Barrick Gold Corporation, the largest gold producer in the world, currently celebrating its twenty-fifth successful year in operation. Mr. Munk’s charitable foundation supports a range of philanthropic causes in the fields of medicine, education, and research. Additionally, Barrick Gold has renewed its commitment to educational initiatives in Latin America. His significant donations established the leading Centre for International Studies at the University of Toronto, and the Centre for Research, Innovation and Technology at the Technion Institute in Israel. He also established the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, a world-class health-care facility in Toronto.

Americas Society
Americas Society is the premier not-for-profit organization dedicated to education, debate, and dialogue in the Americas. Established by David Rockefeller in 1965, the Society’s mission is to foster an understanding of the political, social, and economic issues confronting Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada. Its mission is also to increase public awareness and appreciation of the diverse cultural heritage of the Americas and the importance of the inter-American relationship. Together with its affiliate, the Council of the Americas, a business group committed to encourage free trade, open markets, democracy, and the rule of law throughout the Americas, the Society has become the leading national organization in creating international awareness issues impacting the Western Hemisphere.”*

As federal authorities expand immigration enforcement in California and throughout the nation, teachers, mental health professionals and immigrant rights advocates are raising concerns about the effect on children like Yesenia who are U.S. citizens.

Last month, a California congresswoman held a hearing on the raids’ consequences for children.

“The administration must take the necessary steps to ensure that these raids are conducted in a humane fashion and they are protective to kids, not harmful,” said Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma).”*

Just down the dirt road from several small adobe houses, past a cat keeping silent watch under a street lamp, past two lounging dogs, 16 students line up outside their one-room concrete school.

The tiniest kid holds the Mexican flag. It’s early March, and during a weekly patriotic ceremony the teacher tells her students about Mexico’s beloved former president, Benito Juarez, whose birthday is later in the month.

“He was an Indian from Oaxaca and a sheepherder just like you,” Maria Gloria Martínez says. “Imagine that, one of you could be president.”"*

A big challenge facing North Texas’ public schools is immigration — particularly teens from rural Mexico. Most speak scant English, some had interrupted schooling back home and some want to work. Often, they are here illegally. Still, the courts say schools must educate them. Since DFW has become one of America’s new arrival capitals, the entire region shares an interest in their success. The News followed about 60 new immigrants and their teachers at DISD’s Adamson High last school year, and met with many families, to learn about their challenges at school and home.”*

The news of a former student making good is always music to a teacher’s ears. In this case, the ears were those of the Houston area Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament (CVI), who were teachers of Bishop Oscar Cantú during his school days in Houston.

Word that he was to be ordained a bishop — the youngest serving in the United States — brought feelings of jubilation and pride, as well as sadness at parting with a beloved diocesan priest.

Several of the bishop’s former teachers have been kind enough to share a few thoughts and memories of his earlier years.”*

The Excellence and Justice in Education Elementary Academy honored an educator who helped start the three-year-old dual language immersion charter school in El Cajon.

Juan Necochea, a former professor at Cal State San Marcos, was recognized Friday for his contributions as an adviser at the school’s second annual Technology Day Breakfast. Necochea, a multicultural and bilingual education expert, is now provost at National Hispanic University in San Jose.”*

Unfortunately, corruption is a way of life in Mexico. And labor unions, as much as any institution, demonstrate that fact. The National Union of Education Workers or SNTE (Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educacion), is a case in point: for decades, the 1.4 million-member labor organization has represented a huge obstacle to school reform in Mexico — and less directly, to immigration reform in the U.S.

Running this behemoth with an iron fist and a greased palm is one Elba Esther Gordillo Morales, a woman whose ability to strike fear into opponents has even current Mexican President Felipe Calderon walking softly. A new report published by the Washington, D.C.–based Center for Immigration Studies — called “‘Jimmy Hoffa in a Dress’: Union Boss’s Stranglehold on Mexican Education Creates Immigration Fallout” — reveals just how tight her union’s grip has been on that nation’s public schools. Actually, the main title seems somewhat unfair — to Jimmy Hoffa. Not even at his most ruthless did the late Teamster leader steal funds or wield political influence on the scale enjoyed by Ms. Gordillo and her cronies.”*

The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Conference will land in Phoenix this fall, providing engineering talent the chance to hone their professional, technical and engineering skills, network with Fortune 500 companies, and win scholarships through academic and hands-on competitions. The SHPE conference is the largest conference of Hispanics in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) related fields.

Approximately 5,000 Hispanic students, professionals, corporate representatives, educators and community leaders from Phoenix and throughout the United States are expected to attend the SHPE Conference taking place Nov. 12-16 at the Phoenix Convention Center. Now in its 32nd year, the nation’s largest technical conference for Hispanics offers a lineup of educational, technical, networking and career programs encouraging pre-college students to pursue science, technology, engineering and math careers and supporting college students and professionals already on that course. A new component in 2008 targets educators in STEM fields.

The AHETEMS Pre-College Symposia, named after the Advancing Hispanic Excellence in Technology, Engineering, Math and Science (AHETEMS) educational foundation of SHPE, will be co-hosted by SHPE and The University of Arizona in Tucson. More than 200 local middle school students and 800 high school students from the area and across the nation will take part in the symposia, which will include hands-on activities, motivational speakers, a university fair, and college scholarship and financial aid information. Most activities will take place in Phoenix, but high school students will have the opportunity to visit The University of Arizona college campus in Tucson.

The symposia are an addition to the collaborations between SHPE/AHETEMS and The University of Arizona, as the groups also partner on a SciTech summer camp for high school students. SHPE/AHETEMS plan to continue strengthening their presence in the Phoenix and Tucson areas with more student competitions, increased membership in local student and professional chapters, and additional SHPE Jr. Chapters for high school students.

The University of Arizona is 19th in the nation in the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanics. In 2006, approximately 12.3 percent of Hispanics in the United States had college degrees, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.

“SHPE and its educational foundation, AHETEMS, are dedicated to providing educational advances to the students we serve, much like The University of Arizona,” said Rafaela Schwan, director of programs for AHETEMS. “Our individual missions and goals for increasing the number of students interested in pursuing engineering and science-related careers are synergistic. We are proud to have the university as our academic host for a conference that will serve so many local students as well as students who might return to the area to pursue higher education in the near future.”

Additional highlights of the SHPE Conference in Phoenix include:

– AHETEMS STEM Teaching Enrichment Program offers training in hands-on
enrichment classroom activities tied to state standards for Arizona
teachers
– A myriad of awards honoring professionals, educators, graduate and
undergraduate students, and high school students
– Academic, professional, career and leadership workshops
– Competitions including the National Academic Olympiad Show, Extreme
Engineering, Design Competition, and Technical Competitions
– Specialized graduate student institute and a graduate school
preparation program
– Salute to Corporate America Luncheon, honoring SHPE’s corporate
partners
– Gala Banquet honoring SHPE’s “Company of the Year” and role models
winning the 2008 STAR (or SHPE Technical Achievement Recognition)
Awards
– A career Fair attended by more than 300 of the nation’s top companies
and organizations offering full-time and internship opportunities
– Professional development series as well as certification tracks and
new green engineering program
– Corporate tours

The Hispanic population is the youngest and fastest growing segment of the US population but this growth is not reflected in scientific and technical professions. Hispanics comprised only 5.5 percent of the science and engineering workforce in 2006, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.

Though targeted to Hispanics, the SHPE Conference addresses the United States’ growing need for engineering talent as a whole. According to the National Science Foundation, if nothing is done, a rapid decline in the science and engineering labor force’s growth rate is expected over the next decade, resulting in a fundamental change for the U.S. economy.

SHPE is the source for quality Hispanic engineers and technical talent, committed to enhancing America’s position in science, technology, engineering, and math, with a strong and talented Hispanic workforce. For registration and other information, visit www.shpe.org.

The AHETEMS Foundation directs and develops informal science education, educational enrichment, college awareness initiatives and college prep programs for Hispanic pre-college, undergraduate and graduate students. For more information, please visit

Teresa Ortiz is a poet, spoken word artist, community organizer, ESL teacher—and a mentor for writers through the Espejos program for the past two years. Espejos, a mentoring program for emerging Latino artists, will present this year’s artistic work June 5 at 7 p.m.

Espejos 2008
Gallery viewing starts: May 22
Opening Night Reception and Performance: 6-9 PM
Thursday, June 5, 2008.
Doors open at 6:00 PM, Performance from 7-9 PM
Intermedia Arts
2822 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis 55408
Free admission”*

Editor’s Note: Irantzu Pujadas, a reporter with EGP News in Los Angeles, talked to students about the challenges of going to school without knowing English. This story was supported through a New America Media education fellowship program.

“Not to be fluent in English is a disadvantage,” says Nalliber Ruiz, a 17-year-old Bell Gardens High School student from Colombia. “But at the same time, it is a challenge for me [to learn].”

Ruiz came to the U.S as a teenager. She says she was surprised to find most of her teachers spoke Spanish, which made it easier for her to adapt to the local school system. But, she adds, the results have been a little disappointing.”*

This year, four United States based advertising companies specializing in the Latino market are participating in a student internship program offered by the Miami Ad School. Although 240 of the school’s students participate in the internship programs every year, only a handful of agencies offer Hispanic market and Spanish language oriented opportunities. Miami Ad School student interns receive a scholarship and academic credit. The agencies sponsor the student’s tuition and housing costs for the quarter.

“In Miami, we teach our classes in English but about half of our students and teachers speak Spanish and/or Portuguese as well as other languages,” said a Miami Ad School representative. “We have students from all over the world. It is a very multi-cultural environment. Our Quarter Away and internship programs offer our students the opportunity to enter the work force with a global perspective on advertising.””*

On May 23, some anonymous actors left acid on a window of the SEIU union office on Mission St in Santa Cruz, and spraypainted the walls red and black with anarchy signs and revolutionary slogans:

“Solidarid@d Puerto Rico” SEIU is currently engaged in trying to break and control a nation-wide teachers’ strike against the puppet government of Puerto Rico, a US colony. This is a perfect example of the role unions inevitably play in co-opting, selling out, and even crushing real strikes and revolutionary upsurges. For more documentation of this treachery, visit pr.indymedia.org en espanol, or simply search the internet for “puerto rico teachers.”
“*