2000 Minnesota Paraprofessional of the Year:
Lia Yang
More Than a Glass Full
By Angela Swanson
Is the glass half-empty or half-full? Depending upon a person's perspective, answers may vary. In Lia Yang's case, the question is moot. When faced with the glass in question, Lia is more likely to ask: "How much water can be poured?" His answer: "An infinite amount." When approaching his job, Paraprofessional of the Year Lia Yang does more than observe and analyze. He recognizes the needs of the students and pours his talents, time, and resources into the school until his influence spills out into the families and surrounding community. At Ramsey Junior High School, Lia Yang's services are a constant, generous, overwhelming flood.
Filling the Glass - Serving the Students; Helping the School
When asked what he does, Lia Yang offered simply, "I help the people who are struggling." While the answer is short, Lia's means are extensive. Lia makes himself available to the students before, during, and after the school day. In fact, for the last 16 weeks of the school year, Lia was at school from 7:00 a.m. until at least 9:00 p.m. After school, he could be found working with small groups of students, helping them with their work and listening to their needs. As a result of the time he spent with them, two groups of Asian students made it to the state competition for History Day.
In addition to offering academic help, Lia often acts as a confidant for the students, helping them with problems related to family, friends, and personal issues. He completely immerses himself in the students' daily lives, playing volleyball and soccer with the students and being with them in the lunchroom. Natasha Fleischman, an English as a Second Language teacher who works with Lia, states, "There are no limits to what he will do. No matter what the students need, he gives it. "If students are suspended, Lia collects their work and visits their families at the end of the day. "I'm very close to the students," says Lia.
In addition to helping the students, Lia serves the entire school. On a regular basis, he acts as an interpreter for members of the administration, faculty, and staff. His proficiency in Hmong and English and ability to speak Laotian, Thai, and Chinese make him an invaluable resource to the diverse population of students and parents. In addition, he encourages students to be respectful to and recognize authority. Another ESL instructor, Judith Durfey, writes, "By his calm and direct manner, he has helped to make our school a more peaceful place."
When Lia Yang looks at the "glass" of student and school needs, he pours forth care, concern, time, and interest. "I want the students to know I'm there for them. Whenever they need any help, I'm there."
Spilling Onto the Table - Involving the Family and Shaping the Community
Lia Yang's dedication and enthusiasm cannot be contained within the confines of the school, but flow out into the families of the students and the surrounding community. Due to his language abilities and warm personality, Lia connects with the parents in a meaningful way that makes them feel comfortable in attending conferences and special events.
To further connect with the parents and community, Lia was instrumental in the organization of a Hmong Parents' Group. Due to his organizational skills and follow-through, the meetings enjoyed a high turnout. Lia communicates information about the meetings to the parents, recruits students to host and babysit, calls speakers from the Hmong community to present on relevant topics, and acts as a facilitator and interpreter.
In addition to the Parents' Group, Lia played a key role in the organization of the Ramsey Asian Students' Club. During these meetings, students talk, share problems, help each other with homework, and play. Lia believes the club is invaluable because it provides students with a less restricted, positive alternative for after-school activities: "If there was no club, students could get into trouble." Lia recognizes that helping the students exceeds the limits of the school day. In appreciation of his efforts, one of Lia's students wrote: "Thanks for . . . making the Asian Club to be a place for kids to have fun and be a success at what they are doing."
The Glass of Financial Need - Finding the Flow
In all of his endeavors, Lia contributes more than time and effort. He also recognizes the need for financial support. When confronted with the "glass" of financial need, Lia responds by pouring his own personal resources into the school and clubs and locating sources of funding. Last year, the funds raised for the Parents' Group enabled them to recognize three of the most outstanding students in the areas of challenge, humanities, and ESL. Lia described these awards as "one of my greatest accomplishments this year."
Overflowing Appreciation
One of the best ways to summarize what Lia Yang does is to ask those who work with him. Teachers, students, and parents alike simply overflow with gratefulness, respect, and affection. To recognize his contributions, the students and teachers at Ramsey Junior High School were not content with a simple thank you, but spilled over with a deluge of appreciation.
In addition to nominating him for the honor of Paraprofessional of the Year, they also declared May 24th of this year "Lia Yang Day." Students created a video of themselves interviewing Lia that was shown in every class, an award ceremony was held, and cards and plaques were presented. To emphasize their appreciation, the students gave Lia 1,000 pieces of candy to emulate the 1,000 cranes given to Sadako, a Japanese girl who made peace for the Japanese during World War II. For these students, Lia's contributions are truly heroic. One of his students wrote: "You have been a great role model for us." Lawrence J. Gallatin, Principal, put it best when he said, "When describing Lia Yang, he almost seems too good to be true."
Is the glass half-empty or half-full? In Lia Yang's case, it's flooded.
|
Return
to: Para Consortium Home
