director’s note · multiple partnerships with k-12 school districts, community-based...

SOSOSY Quarterly Newsletter 1

SOSOSY Quarterly Newsletter Volume 2, Issue 2

SOSOSY Consortium Incentive Grant

Participating StatesAlabamaColoradoFloridaIdaho

IllinoisKansas

KentuckyMassachusetts

MinnesotaMississippiNebraska

New HampshireNew JerseyNew York

North CarolinaPennsylvania

South CarolinaTennesseeVermont

Wisconsin

Partner StatesAlaska

ArkansasGeorgia

MarylandMissouriMontana

Washington

Director’s Note

Thank You!

Welcome to the Winter SOSOSY Newsletter. We are just coming off of our most successful Dissemination Event yet! My thanks to all who participated and made it so worthwhile. I encourage all of you to take advantage of the wonderful information that was shared during our conference. If you were unable to attend, inside you will find a recap of the various sessions. You may contact your state director to access the materials. Also inside you will find our State Spotlight focused on Colorado. There are many wonderful things happening all across the states and we had a chance at the confer-ence to hear from a few of the Out-of-School Youth who have benefited from your efforts. Remember that we always welcome submissions for the newsletter. Don’t hesitate to send an idea to me at [email protected]. Thank you for all that you do!

Tracie Kalic, Director, SOSOSY

SOSOSY was honored to host the recent Dissemination Event and appreci-ates the support of the many who contributed to its success. • Dr. Lisa R. Ramírez, Director of Migrant Education in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Edu- cation, joined us at the Opening Session. She spoke highly of the important work done by our service providers on a daily basis on behalf of migrant students. • Dozens of presenters hosted well-planned breakout sessions full of important and useful information and resources. • The support staff worked behind the scenes making sure the entire event ran smoothly. • The OSY Panel moderator, Esther Yacono, as well as interpreters Eva Jiménez and Alfonso Zepeda-Capristran, were indispensible. Our OSY participants and chaperones afforded us an invaluable insight into the effects of the Migrant Education Program. • Kelsey Williams presented the ACReS course to a full house at Wednes- day’s pre-conference.


Pulitzer Prize nominee Luis Urrea kicked off the 2014 Dis-

semination Event with a riveting speech addressing the idea

of borders that everyone faces. His personal experience as

the son of an American mother and Mexican father has in-

fluenced his work throughout his career, winning awards

and notoriety throughout the literary community.

Mr. Urrea, who was so impressed with the work of SO-

SOSY that he waived his normal speaking fee and re-

turned the honorarium, shared story after story about his

life living between the two cultures. He connected well,

often speaking in Spanish, with the OSY Panel members

who were in the room.

The author addressed the youth in particular as he told

about realizing that his calling is to write about those

without voices in society so that, in the words of one of

his first subjects, “people will know that I was here.”

Following his address, audience members had the op-

portunity to ask Mr. Urrea questions from the floor.

Topics covered everything from current immigration

politics to inspiring OSY to reach for higher education

to the Hispanic literature that most influenced Urrea

as a young man.

SOSOSY purchased a copy of Mr. Urrea’s The Devil’s High-

way for each attendee and Urrea stayed past his scheduled

time in order to sign copies for every person in line.

“The work you do is so important,” Mr. Urrea concluded,

“that it was truly my honor to be here today as a part of this.”

Luis Urrea on Borders: SOSOSY Key Note Address


OSY Panel a Highlight of Dissemination Event

In many ways SOSOSY saved the best for last with the OSY Panel conducted during the Closing Session. Nine OSY from five states represented the many migrant youth reached by service centers across the nation.

Insights and personal reflection from the panelists were thought provoking and touching. Their participation in the entire event helped put faces and names on the con-cepts and programs that were presented and discussed.

The students themselves benefited from attending the event. Israel Tafolla, from New York, said, “The experi-ence was awesome. Everything went well and it was a great thing to be a part of. All the people were wonderful and everyone was really nice. What I learned most was how caring everyone is and how important it is to help other people. My main goal now is to focus on my educa-tion. I want to share everything I know with other people so they can be better and improve.”

Isai Hernandez Maldonado, from North Carolina, relat-ed, “I liked meeting other young people and sharing our different experiences on how the program has helped

with our studies. The chaperones were helpful and en-couraged us to be eager and continue studying. It gave me motivation to continue my studies.”

“Participating in the conference and OSY panel was spe-cial for me,” said Baltazar Alvarado Chic, from North Carolina. “It gave me an opportunity to share my expe-rience working in the fields while studying for my GED with the help of the Migrant Education Program. I hope that my sharing my experience will help youth like my-self see that they can realize their goals.”

Chaperone Hunter Ogletree summed up how everyone felt about the panelists. “Giving out-of-school farm-worker youth the opportunity to speak is a powerful ex-perience not only for the youth themselves but also for MEP service providers. When youth are able to speak about their educational aspirations and dreams they will be more likely to fulfill them. Having youth at the event from a variety of states really underscored the impor-tance of providing creative and flexible educational op-portunities for OSY.”

SOSOSY extends very special appreciation to the 2014 panelists:

Israel Tafolla, NYIsauro Tevalan Maldonado, KS

Isai Hernandez Maldonado, NCGeremias Perez Lopez, NCBaltazar Alvarado Chic, NC

Gabriel Perez Lopez, NCNayeli Gurrola, CO

Yesenia Hernandez Lopez, FLMiguel Soto Diaz, FL


State Spotlight: Colorado

Tomás MejíaDirector, Migrant Education ProgramColorado Department of Education

DEMOGRAPHICS The Colorado Migrant Education Program (MEP) consists of five regional Migrant Programs that are responsible for recruiting and providing supple-mental support and educational services. The popu-lation of migrant children, students, youth and fam-ilies in Colorado are mainly Spanish speaking, with the number of East African, Nepalese, Guatemalan, and People from Burma increasing daily. Our eli-gible numbers seem to be leveling out at approxi-mately 4,000 after a 10-year decline. Out of the to-tal eligible number of migrants in Colorado, a little over 4% are out-of-school youth. Agriculture is one of the largest contributors to the state’s economy, supporting more than 173,000 jobs.

UNIQUENESS One of the unique aspects of the Colorado Mi-grant Program is the state mandatory certification training program. All Migrant Education Program (MEP) funded staff are required to maintain state certification in ID&R and must renew annually. The training material utilized is the National ID&R Cur-riculum implemented by OME in 2010. Another unique part of the MEP in Colorado is the effec-tive collaborative relationships established with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), the Colorado State University Agricultural

Resource and Economics Department (CSU), and the Migrant Seasonal Head-start.

ID&R The Colorado Office of Migrant Education oversees and ensures implementation of all activities encom-passed in ID&R. The approximately 60 MEP staff throughout Colorado are state certified to recruit families. We receive COEs from youth advocates, parent advocates, and even regional directors. This requirement emphasizes the fact that we are ALL re-sponsible for the timely ID&R of all eligible migrant children, students, youth and families. Each recruiter has an individualized recruitment plan that is up-dated annually and is differentiated by target popu-lations (OSY, ECE, almost EOE, etc.); times of year (months or seasons); and resources needed. This is in addition to a regional ID&R plan that is part of the application. In March, we will host 80 participants for a state conference solely focused on the identification and recruitment of eligible migrant families.

STATE SUPPORT Previous fieldwork has concentrated on early child-hood and supporting youth already involved in the K-12 system. We have recently begun to focus more on OSY, developing an OSY bundle for doc-umentation, professional development specifically around OSY, and best practices for recruiters and advocates around OSY. Future plans include identi-fying regional contacts that also support youth with high risk factors and facilitating regional collabora-tions that will benefit OSY. Colorado also supports regional directors, recruiters and advocates in par-ticipating in additional training opportunities that support programs and services for OSY.

STRENGTHS Colorado hires advocates that work directly with out-of-school youth. Advocates support the OSY in setting short- and long-term goals. Involving the youth in establishing goals engages them in their own decision-making and allows them to provide feedback on the delivery of services. Partnering with OSY plays a valuable role in addressing their


needs and allows for positive outcomes by estab-lishing fruitful relationships. Setting achievable and realistic targets together is essential. Despite their circumstances OSY demonstrate a remarkable opti-mism and resilience and, when given the chance to realize their potential, play a vital role in transform-ing themselves and communities.

IMPROVEMENTSWorking with out-of-school youth can be time consuming. The OSY advocates devote the major-ity of their time contacting and following up with OSY and find it difficult to adequately address their needs. OSY often comment they do not need any services and are simply here to work. The here-to-work youth faces challenges in finding time to de-vote to educational opportunities. Lack of transpor-tation is also a hindrance. Consequently, OSY are often isolated and have the greatest needs; however, they are less likely to request support from outside resources. Colorado continues to research strategies for reinforcing the importance of education, foster-ing relationships, creating opportunities for learn-ing, and overcoming obstacles facing OSY.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Colorado has had ongoing training and profession-al development through the annual Migrant Edu-cation Conference for all Migrant Education staff members. Recently, there has been an emphasis on providing more professional development and support that specifically targets recruiters and ad-vocates working with OSY. Trainings include using Google Maps to find OSY, partnerships between recruiters and advocates, and developing trust with OSY. We work directly with our regional directors to continue to identify the needs of recruiters and advocates around OSY and develop training mod-ules to meet those needs.

COLLABORATION During the summer of 2014, there was a renewed commitment between the statewide offices of Mi-grant Education and Dropout Prevention & Student Reengagement to partner and collaborate around

out-of-school youth. This collaboration has already resulted in shared trainings between migrant re-cruiters and advocates, child welfare education li-aisons, and homeless student education liaisons. Future plans include increasing shared professional development opportunities, specifically around so-cial-emotional and educational supports for youth with high risk factors. Additionally, regional mi-grant recruiters and advocates create and maintain multiple partnerships with K-12 school districts, community-based organizations, non-profits and institutions of higher education.

SUCCESS STORY Karla Galvan found out that she was pregnant with twins during her junior year in Weld Central High School, Hudson, Colorado. Karla had to leave school when she and her boyfriend moved to Fort Morgan, where he found work in a dairy. Karla accepted a vis-it from Maria Castillo (Secondary Initiatives Coor-dinator) and Francisca Gomez (Recruiter) to discuss her options to complete high school. It was difficult for her at that time as she had lost one of her babies at birth and the second baby was constantly sick. Karla knew that she wanted to complete her high school education though she lived far from town and they had only one car. Karla connected with Dolores Del Campo, Migrant Education Graduation Advocate, and she took her GED pre-test at READY (Resourc-es for the Development and Education for Youth). Karla knew that being a teen parent was a huge re-sponsibility and it was a motivator for her to improve herself and continue her education. She was able to complete her GED quickly and gain employment at a bank as a cashier. Her persistence and dedication is paying off as she was recently promoted to become a personal banker.

State Spotlight: Colorado (Continued)


SOSOSY Session Recaps

Enhance Your Recruitment with Mapping Technologies was presented by Jennifer Almeda, South Carolina State Migrant Education Program Director & Christine Deines, Principal Consultant, Colorado Department of Education. Partic-ipants learned how to map agriculture using Google Maps and other technology, aiding their efforts with each state’s migrant population. There were examples of successful strat-egies from Colorado and South Carolina as well as a detailed mapping tool how-to video.

Assess Recruiter Knowledge and Readiness was presented by Erin Shea, State Coordinator of ID&R, Vermont & Heather Rhorer, Migrant Consultant, Kentucky Department of Edu-cation. Attendees participated in a hands-on session high-lighting the best ways to assess recruiter field readiness. Tak-ing best practices from several states, SOSOSY created the Recruiter Competency Assessment, a useful and productive tool to assess recruiters at all levels.

Using Agricultural Data for a Targeted Approach to Identifi-cation and Recruitment was presented by Jessica Castañeda, State Coordinator, Tennessee Migrant Education Program. Participants were introduced to a variety of agricultural data resources and how the use of such can better define each state’s migrant population. Using their own devices and the handouts of multiple online tools, attendees worked together to build networking and leads.

Advancing Language Development for Out-of-School Youth through Technology was also presented by Jessica Castañe-da. Participants discussed how the many resources available with modern technology can benefit students learning a new language. Attendees walked away with an extensive list of on-line educational resources and ideas about how to capitalize on OSY’s access to technology.

Standardized Assessment Options for Out-of-School Youth was presented by Brenda Pessin, Director Migrant Education Program, Illinois Migrant Council & Susan Durón, META Associates. Participants discussed using practical tools to as-sess OSY when challenges, including language and availabili-ty, are present. Approximately a dozen different options were presented with discussion about best practices in individual states. Attendees also learned about ways to track and docu-ment student progress.

Assessment, Instruction and Databased Decision Making for Out-of-School Youth, a two-part session, was presented by Emily Hoffman, Migrant Education State Program Direc-tor, EDCO Collaborative. Participants looked at real stories from OSY to discuss how best to build a strong system of

support for the most at-risk students. Together they looked at best practices, SOSOSY resources, and personal experi-ences to focus on improving programs in each state.

Exploring Mini-Lessons was presented by Bridget Phillips, Illinois Migrant Council’s Technology Learning Center Co-ordinator. Participants learned about SOSOSY’s Mini-Les-sons and how to use them with OSY. Hands-on tools in-cluded workbooks and MP3 players loaded with authentic conversations to aid students as they increase their language capacity while hearing lessons on vital health and life skills. Attendees went through an example lesson together to prac-tice using this important resource.

ACReS Online: A New Opportunity for Out-of-School Youth was presented by Kelsey Williams, Consultant with Idaho Migrant Education Program. This presentation was a com-plete overview of the Academic Career Readiness Skills re-source recently available to SOSOSY states. Participants saw the paper and online versions and learned how to access both according to need. The presenter discussed the challenges that face both educator and student when using an online class model and how best to meet those needs to ensure suc-cess.

Using Technology to Reach and Teach Out-of-School Youth was presented by Kelsey Williams, Consultant with Idaho Migrant Education Program. Participants touched on sever-al of the educational resources available online that would be beneficial to OSY. The presenter was able to answer ques-tions and offer details about different tools that are available literally at the fingertips of both instructor and student via smartphone.

SOSOSY Reading & Math Resources in a Common Core Environment and ACReS and Common Core: The Dynamic Duo? were presented by Andrea Vazquez, Consultant, META Associates. In both sessions, participants discussed Common Core and its place in education overall, and OSY education in particular. The presenter gave specific information con-cerning how closely SOSOSY resources align with the Com-mon Core and how that knowledge can benefit instructors.

How We Learn to Speak English: Understanding Language Acquisition was presented by Sonja Williams, North Caroli-na Migrant Education Program Administrator, Department of Public Instruction & Michael Maye, New York State Out-of-School Youth Coordinator. Presenters discussed both formal and informal assessment of adult language learners. Participants were able to share practical approaches and solutions to challenges from their own experiences.


Helping Out-of-School Youth Discover Their Dreams – this two-part session was presented by Sonja Williams, North Carolina Migrant Education Program Administrator, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. In both sessions, participants discussed the many barriers OSY face in terms of education and advancement. The presenter encouraged at-tendees to take time with individual students to identify spe-cific goals and outline plans to meet them. The importance of positive experiences and motivation, as well as advocacy in ad-dressing barriers, were all topics of discussion.

Out-of-School Youth Bundle & Data Management was pre-sented by Brenda Meyer, Migrant Data Consultant, Colorado Department of Education. Participants learned how SOSOSY’s profile, tracking form, and Student Services Plan all assist in creating goals and tracking progress in OSY. The presenter spent time explaining how to best collect data and interpret it to document trends and disparities. Attendees also discussed time management and caseload.

Florida UNO Project: An Integrated Process for Serving Out-of-School Youth was presented by Margarita Di Salvo, Program Assistant, ESCORT – Research Foundation & Kim Fioraman-ti, Interstate Services Coordinator, Florida Migrant Interstate Program. Participants learned about the integrated process the Florida OSY Task Force has created that utilizes profile information to tailor services to individual needs and inspire innovative service delivery strategies. Presenters discussed the UNO (Understanding the Needs of OSY) pilot project and encouraged attendees to consider ways in which other states could develop a similar program.

Screening Out-of-School Youth for ESL Instruction was pre-sented by Susan Durón, Consultant, META Associates & Eva Jiménez, Illinois Migrant Council & Cari Semivan, Consul-tant, META Associates. Participants discussed the merits of SOSOSY’s OSY Language Screener and how to adapt the tool for individual students. After viewing a training video, at-tendees were able to practice administration of the screener with each other.

Human Trafficking in the Migrant Farmworker Community was presented by Miguel Kebelein, Director of Immigrants and Worker’s Rights Practice Group of LAF & Scott Wilhelm, State ID&R Coordinator, Illinois Migrant Education Program. This session defined human trafficking, to include sex and labor trafficking, and why the migrant population is particularly at risk. Participants learned what signs to look for and what to expect from identified victims. Attendees were also provided with a list of resources and contact information.

Rules of the Game: Legal Rights for Migrant Workers present-ed by Miguel Kebelein, Director of Immigrants and Worker’s Rights Practice Group of LAF & Scott Wilhelm, State ID&R Coordinator, Illinois Migrant Education Program. This pre-sentation clearly outlined basic farmworker rights. Participants were given tools and methods to educate the migrant popula-tion on what their rights are, how to keep track of important information, and where to go when their rights are violated.

Highlights of the US and Mexico School Systems was presented by Frank S Dávila, Coordinator, Innovative Educational Tech-nology (InET) Consortium & Ignacio Robles, Cadre Coach for InET Consortium. Participants compared and contrasted the school systems in Mexico and the US and learned useful infor-mation concerning necessary paperwork and resources avail-able for OSY regularly traveling between the two countries. The presenter highlighted unique challenges of binational students, to include mobility, grade placement, and credit accrual.

On the Move…pre-GED Materials for Out-of-School Youth was presented by Bob Lynch, OSY Consortium Collaborator. Participants learned helpful details about SOSOSY’s Reading on the Move, Math on the Move, and Write On! The presenter discussed using the tools not only to help prepare pre-GED stu-dents but also any students eager to improve these basic skills.

High School Equivalency Program: Facing New Challenges was presented by Maria Diaz-Vega, Lead Instructor, University of South Florida’s High School Equivalency Program & Ros-ie Mendez, Outreach Specialist, University of South Florida’s High School Equivalency Program. Participants discussed el-igibility and means to determine readiness for HEP. The pre-senters offered a detailed picture of a HEP program—from as-sessment to instruction to pre-test to test completion.

Finding the Best Way to Teach Out-of-School Youth was pre-sented by Emily Hoffman, Migrant Education State Program Director, EDCO Collaborative & Colleen Dolan, Executive Director, EDCO Collaborative, Massachusetts. Participants discussed specific strategies for both language and life skill in-struction. Common barriers for less experienced instructors were addressed with the goal of increasing confidence in all migrant student interactions.

Networking sessions included SOSOSY Trainers, Identifica-tion & Recruitment and CAN/SDP. Led by various experts, these networking sessions provided participants time to share their own successes and challenges and to hear from other states about best practices and innovations.

SOSOSY Session Recaps (Continued)


Tracie KalicDirector, SOSOSYFort Scott Community College2108 S. Horton StreetFort Scott, KS 66701

director’s note · multiple partnerships with k-12 school districts, community-based...

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