PSU Magazine Winter 2000

students from elementary age through high school. In 1993, Roslyy, his wife and daughter, and his parents came to Oregon "for economic reasons," he says. "It was very hard to leave Russ ia." He applied to become an instruc– tional assistant in the North Clackamas School District. "There are so many people moving into the area speaking foreign languages," he says. "Some schools have more than 100 ESL students." Also like Abad, Roslyy places prime importance on instructing his students in their own language and culture, not just in the English language. "I take the class out or bring omeone from the community to classes. I asked a Russian parent to come to class and talk. She brought clothes, books, a magaz ine. She will read a page (in Russian) , and I'll read a page (in English). Roslyy says participating in the Bilingual Teacher Pathway program is demanding but rewarding. "I work eight hours a day as an instructional assistant. I take one class one evening a week, four-and-a-half hours in one night. But I'm really glad this program came at the right time for me," says Roslyy. D sa Harris, a BTP student who N as worked in the Gresham Barlow School District as an ESL assis– tant fo r four years, has no problem relating to her migrant students-she was one herself. Born in Texas to Mexican parents, Harris, 46, settled in Monmouth with her fam ily in the early 1960s as migrant workers. She later became the beneficiary of the Upward Bound program, which helped her afford college. Harris attended the University of O regon. She didn't complete her degree, but be ing there "helped me realize what I wanted to do," she recalls. "I got married and raised chil– dren, but my dream of completing my stud ies was never realized." After her divorce, she applied to work in the school district. "I had always wanted to go for my certification, but never thought I could afford it." When PSU accepted her for the BTP program, she knew her goal of becoming a certifi ed teacher was in sight. "As a full-time breadwinner, I thought there was no way," Harris remembers. "BTP has given me this opportunity. It's not going to happen overnight, but I'm working toward it." T here's a great need for ESL, but not enough certified teachers, says Harris, who wants to remain in the same district and teach elementary students once she finishes the program. For instance, only one or two ESL teachers now work in the district, she notes, and Califo rnia schools are offer– ing new ESL teachers $20,000 bonuses because they're in such demand. Harris thinks BTP is a natural for fulfilling the public need and helping educational assistants at the same time. "These people are already doing the work. Why not go to them and find ways fo r them to complete their training?" Because of Harris' own background she has a preference for bilingual rather than ESL instruction in the schools. BTP gives graduates an endorsement in both, but different districts use different approaches. For example, "Gresham doesn't use bilingual, but I've incorporated that in my teaching. I read to them in Spanish . 1 fee l that's very important. "Growing up in the '50s," says Harris, "we were not allowed to speak our language, but forced to speak English." As a result, she believes it took her longer to pick it up. She applies her ph ilosophy to her four chil– dren, who range in age from 11 to 22- year-old son David Solano, a PSU student and sportswriter for The Vanguard, who aims to become a sportscaster. "I involve my children in cultural events in the east Portland Hispanic community," she explains, noting that she has performed social and volunteer work since her ch ildren were young. She's organized book fa irs, Christmas programs, church events, and the annual Teddy Bear Parade in G resham. She has also helped direct families to community services to help them through crises-such as abu ive re la– tionships. "Part of why I enjoy my job is, it gives me a lot of contacts in the community," she says. Of the Bilingual Teacher Pathway program, Harris concludes, "It is one of those things that came to me at the right time. I'm more determined now than I've ever been. I'm just very excited about it; I feel so you ng. I didn't feel I could ever accomplish these things. The opportunity to become certified is like a dream come true." D (Cliff Collins is a Portl.and-area freelance writer.) Rosa Harris can relate to the needs ofher Gresham elementary students. She grew up in a migrant working family. f.4.. WINTER 2000 PSU MAGAZINE 17