Latest news with #Spanish-to-English
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Commentary: Aspiring teachers in Pa. need training that provides classroom realities
Students in Christine Persun's classroom in Mechanicsburg Middle School. (Submitted by Christine Persun) Lily stared at me with wide, worried eyes, trying to process every word I said as I explained the problem in her workbook. I slowed down and repeated myself. She hung on every word, desperate to keep up. Lily had immigrated from China just two years earlier and had spent time traveling back and forth. She was an incredibly hard worker, still learning English, and, as a first-year teacher, I had no idea how to help her. Five years later, Eugenio arrived in my classroom from El Salvador. In many ways, he reminded me of Lily—motivated, hardworking, and eager to please. But unlike Lily, he had just arrived in the country and didn't speak a word of English. This time, though, I was prepared. I gave him directions in my very limited Spanish. I used AI to generate translated notes and assignments. I created a Spanish-to-English math dictionary and kept it handy for him. I modified assignments that would help him learn the concepts and experience success. I was ready to do whatever it took to help him learn. The difference? Experience. By the time I had Eugenio in my class, I knew my curriculum and I knew how to meet individual student needs. I knew where to look to find resources. I knew which colleagues to go to for guidance and support. When I had Lily as a student, I was a brand-new teacher, fresh out of student teaching. I had completed my university's teacher preparation program and learned from a supportive mentor, but I was unprepared for the realities of the classroom. I needed a preparation program that equipped me to help students like Lily and Eugenio from day one—not five years later. Teacher preparation programs at the university level often train pre-service teachers through a theoretical lens rather than a practical one, leaving many feeling underprepared for the realities of the classroom. In Pennsylvania, these programs vary greatly in coursework requirements, meaning a teacher's readiness depends as much on their training program as on their own abilities. A publication from the William Penn Foundation found that in order for teachers to succeed, they require much more time and practice in the classroom than current pathways to teaching offer. What future educators need are training experiences that truly mirror the realities of the classroom. This means rethinking how we prepare teachers. Education majors should begin their work in schools in the early years of university rather than postponing until their student teaching experience during their senior year, when they may realize that teaching is not for them. From early on in their bachelor's programs, pre-service teachers should be learning hands-on in the classroom. Integrating early and consistent field experiences into teacher preparation programs is essential. As noted by Carolyn Parker, director of graduate teacher education at American University's School of Education, 'Get them into the schools as early as you can and as often as you can.' This approach gives pre-service teachers the time they need to build meaningful relationships with students and communities, ensuring they are well-prepared for the realities of the classroom. They should be completing experiences by observing classrooms and meeting with students. Coursework should center on realistic case studies with real students instead of abstract theories. While standardized tests like the Praxis have been shown to correlate with effective teaching in specific subjects—particularly those requiring deep content knowledge, such as elementary math and reading—clinical experiences and capstone portfolios offer a more comprehensive way for teacher candidates to demonstrate their effectiveness. More realistic forms of assessment allow candidates to showcase their teaching abilities in real classroom settings, which provides a clearer picture of their preparedness for the challenges of teaching. Structural changes in teacher preparation policies are also necessary. New teachers consistently cite student teaching as the most valuable part of their training, as it allows them to apply theory in real classrooms under the guidance of experienced mentors. To maximize its impact, student teaching should last an entire year, not just one semester to ensure that teacher candidates will be able to manage classrooms effectively. Universities must move away from the traditional model which delays classroom experience until later in academic programs. Instead, education majors should begin experiencing classrooms immediately. Further, licensure requirements should be revised to prioritize demonstrated teaching skills over standardized test scores, allowing for a more accurate assessment of a candidate's ability to succeed in the classroom. A stronger, more practical approach to teacher preparation would mean fewer new teachers struggling to support students like Lily – and more teachers entering the classroom equipped to provide students like Eugenio the help they need from day one. If we want new teachers to succeed, we need to demand change in how they're prepared. It's time to prioritize hands-on experience over outdated theory—because when teachers are prepared, students thrive, and when students succeed, we all succeed. Christine Persun is mathematics teacher at Mechanicsburg Middle School in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, and a 2024-2025 Teach Plus Pennsylvania Policy Fellow.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Venezuelan man sentenced to year in jail for Kaukauna ATM robbery, faces deportation
APPLETON — One of six people from Venezuela charged in connection with robbing an ATM at a Kaukauna bank last summer was convicted Wednesday and sentenced to a year in jail. Manuel Piña Gonzalez, 40, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of theft of moveable property valued between $10,000 and $100,000, as party to a crime. He is not a U.S. citizen and likely faces deportation from the country following his jail sentence, both prosecution and defense attorneys said at his plea and sentencing hearing. Outagamie County Circuit Court Judge Yadira Rein accepted the 12-month jail time recommendation agreed upon by both the prosecution and defense. "To some, perhaps the joint recommendation that I am being asked to accept may not seem like enough of a punishment," Rein told Piña Gonzalez. "But the collateral consequences of your poor decision-making is going to follow you and your family for the rest of your life." Piña Gonzalez already has around eight months of jail credit, Rein ruled. According to a criminal complaint, six people, including Piña Gonzalez, were involved in the robbery of an ATM at Unison Credit Union, 1000 W. Hyland Ave. in Kaukauna, in the early morning hours of July 5, 2024. When officers arrested them, they found five of the six individuals had Venezuelan IDs. Outagamie County Assistant District Attorney Joshua Dryak said the six people were involved in a "theft scheme" to get money from older ATMs that had security flaws. They downloaded malware onto the ATM, which allowed them to retrieve funds, and took $38,000 out of the machine, he said. In court, Piña Gonzalez said he was ashamed of his actions. He said he came to the United States for safety and to help his children have educational opportunities. While his family settled in Kansas City, Piña Gonzalez moved to Minnesota to find work to help provide money to his mother, who was sick with cancer, and his father, who had been detained at the U.S. border and needed an attorney. While in Minnesota, Piña Gonzalez said, he borrowed money from someone, and in exchange was roped into committing the theft. "Sometimes we make decisions because we don't have the same opportunities as others," Piña Gonzalez said, through a court-sworn Spanish-to-English translator. Rein said she believes Piña Gonzalez is genuinely sorry for participating in the theft. "I know that you are very ashamed, because you can barely look up at me," the judge told him. "I don't know what life has in store for you, sir, but you need to hold your head high with the fact that you are here and you took responsibility for your actions, and you truly are remorseful." Rein also told Piña Gonzalez the crime made life a little harder for people who had money in the bank and made some in the community feel unsafe. She expressed empathy for his situation. "This sentence doesn't stop making you a dad and a son, and that's something that you will be no matter where you are," Rein said. "I encourage you — knowing that it's easy for me to say up here — but I encourage you to have hope." Piña Gonzalez's attorney, Paul Zilles, pointed out the "current political climate" between the United States and Venezuela does not ensure that Piña Gonzalez will be able to return to Venezuela if he is deported, but may instead be sent to a "facility" with other people from South America and Central America. Four people — Jesse Duque Escobar, 52; Johamnel Ortiz Sanchez, 39; Andres Escobar Rodriguez, 31; and Adonay Dalis Ramirez, 32 — have ongoing cases related to the robbery. Yenaiker Avila Acevedo, 24, was convicted in October of theft of movable property and two counts of disorderly conduct, and given a deferred sentence. Convicted defendants will also have to pay restitution together, Rein said. RELATED: Rep. Murphy draws criticism for concerns that Kaukauna ATM robbery was linked to Venezuelan gang The ATM theft became a political talking point in September, when David Murphy, representative for Wisconsin's 56th Assembly District, issued a news release stating he was concerned that five people arrested in July and charged with stealing money from a Kaukauna ATM are members of a Venezuelan gang. His opponent in the November 2024 election, Emily Tseffos, slammed Murphy's statements as "irresponsible assumptions." No discussion was given at the hearing of any known ties between the theft and gang activities. Contact Kelli Arseneau at 920-213-3721 or karseneau@ Follow her on Twitter at @ArseneauKelli. This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Venezuelan man convicted of Kaukauna ATM robbery, 5 others charged
