Immigrant Connections
Learning Opportunities
Sponsored by Mid-West RBERN
Mid-West RBERN is thrilled to offer a workshop facilitated by Immigrant Connections. Spaces are limited!
Understanding the Backgrounds of Refugee Students & Families
Virtual, Synchronous Workshop
Thursday, March 14: 3:00-5:00
While refugees are typically a small percentage of English Learners in U.S. schools, those that we do have often have complex backgrounds and needs. This course provides valuable information on how you can support your refugee students and families as they integrate and adjust to the U.S. overall, and specifically with education. While refugees are typically a small percentage of English Learners in U.S. schools, those that we do have often have complex backgrounds and needs.
Please Note
This synchronous workshop will be facilitated online via zoom.
Participants will receive the zoom link the morning of March 14th.
Meet Laura Gardner, Founder & CEO of Immigrant Connections
Laura has years of experience working in education, refugee resettlement, and social work. While in education, she worked as a district level manager for immigrant family and community engagement as well as a school social worker. Laura also worked for Bridging Refugee Youth and Children’s Services (BRYCS) managing their national technical assistance initiative to federal Refugee School Impact Grantees. Laura has facilitated professional development on building the capacity of teachers and school systems to engage immigrant families in their children’s education, language access, cultural competency, equity, unaccompanied immigrant children, immigrant family reunification, and refugee resettlement. Laura holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s degree in Education. Laura founded Immigrant Connections in 2017.
The purpose of Mid-West RBERN is to build capacity within school communities to cultivate strong leaders, high quality, meaningful instruction, and welcoming, inclusive environments for Multilingual Learners (MLs). We are committed to developing partnerships that result in equitable educational outcomes for MLs by capitalizing on the backgrounds, cultures, and strengths of diverse students and educators.