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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Teachers and other Omaha elementary school staffers have visited several community organizations that many students' families turn to for housing, transportation and after-school care.
Kellom Elementary employees boarded a bus on Wednesday to visit the local agencies, and learned more about how to connect families with the help they need, the Omaha World-Herald (http://bit.ly/1M78huk ) reported. The school's principal, Carri Hutcherson, said it's an effort to build stronger connections with the groups that regularly work with their students and their families.
"This work we're doing, there are others doing the same work," Hutcherson said. "We're not alone in this. It's about who we can call and collaborate and work together with to help students and families."
Several employees, including early childhood resource teacher Lindsey Tisthammer, said they appreciated the tour. Tisthammer said it was a great way to explore and learn more about the neighborhoods where students and their families live. Early childhood coach Roxanne Harris said, "A lot of times we come to work and we don't know what's around us."
One of the organizations that Kellom educators met with was the Southern Sudan Community Association. Education and outreach coordinator Scott Larsen said Omaha has become a big resettlement hub for refugees from countries, such as Myanmar, Nepal and Somalia, and noted that refugee families often face an overwhelming process of adjusting to life in the United States.
"It's really good to be aware of these populations, because a lot of the time they're invisible," Larsen told the teachers.
More than 12 percent of Kellom students last year were refugees.
This is Kassie Johnson's first year working at Kellom as a speech-language pathologist. She said she appreciated the chance to learn more about the people, organization and neighborhoods that surround the school.
"I thought it was a really beautiful opportunity to collaborate and see where our kids are coming from and the resources that they need," she said.
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Information from: Omaha World-Herald, http://www.omaha.com
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