Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month

Rachel Hutson - Wilbur Rowe Middle School

 I feel curious about what impacts may come from this recognition.

How has your Asian American and/or Pacific Islander heritage helped shape you as an educator? 

 For the longest time, I associated being Asian with being a minority, which is ironic since there are more Asians in the world! So I really identify with concepts like under-representation and having my cultural point of view dismissed...but I recognize that none of that is really about being Asian..just a minority.

Being Asian has helped shape me as an educator because it empowers me to blend in an Eastern philosophy/mentality. For example, when I teach Gravity, Western teachers love to teach it from Newton's point of view because it syncs with the Western mentality: Materialism, Physical world, I need to see it to believe it. But I bring in Einstein's version of gravity which syncs well with Eastern mentality: Non-material, Energetic, I need to believe it to see it. West and East can learn a lot from one another but the West is really slow to learn from the East. I get to help overcome that hurdle.

Were there other Asian Americans and/or Pacific Islanders you looked up to as a kid?

 I mean Gandhi is cool because he ousted the Brits without violence. Mother Teresa is an honorary Asian. My mom met her in school once and asked her if she felt like she was Indian and Mother Teresa answered 'What do you think?'. Mother Teresa is influential because she wasn't afraid to touch people with diseases and this has allowed me to not be too proud or afraid to interact with the world around me even if it is gross. I pick up nasty trash because I know it can wash off. I won't be too proud to clean up my planet and she helped me get this way.

What makes you most proud to be Asian American and/or Pacific Islander?

I'm proud that Asians have held onto their customs and roots and haven't fully bought into Imperialist beliefs that we're lesser. I'm proud that we have a deep spirituality woven into our culture. I'm proud that our food is so good, our clothes so beautiful and our dance so fun! I'm proud that we produce the most movies in the world. 

Theresa Just - Oregon Trail Elementary

How does it make you feel that our NCSD School Board has formally recognized May’s Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month?

Incredibly proud - The AAPI community is a diverse, rich and multifaceted culture that has contributed to so many historical and current achievements within this country (and world) despite facing so many challenges. Most recently, the wave of hate unjustly targeted toward the Asian community over COVID-related misconceptions has been appalling. Therefore, it's imperative that our board stands up to hate. I applaud them for doing so. 

 

How has your Asian American and/or Pacific Islander heritage helped shape you as an educator?

I was primarily raised by my mother, who was an immigrant. Her ability to navigate the English language was in the "beginning" levels in reading and writing. As a result, I did not have much help with homework as a young child. I often felt lost and confused, and I know it hurt her that she couldn't help me. As a child attending elementary in the 1980s, there was not an option of English Language Development Services where I lived. As a result, I don't have a rich academic vocabulary. It's only recently that I felt empowered enough to explain that to colleagues that I don't often understand "big words" and need an explanation or time to look up meanings. I'd like to think my experiences have led to a heightened awareness about the needs of our students and their families who struggle to access the educational system. In particular, as a special education teacher, I am especially sensitive to the over-identification of children of color and children whose first language is not English being referred for and placed in special education unjustly. 

 

Were there other Asian Americans and/or Pacific Islanders you looked up to as a kid?

 Without a doubt, my mother. Coming to this country as an immigrant in 1969 and navigating racism, an unknown language, and sacrificing the basic necessities while doing everything in her power to ensure that her only daughter received a quality education brings me to tears. And it's not just me, I have other friends who will tell the same story.

 

What makes you most proud to be Asian American and/or Pacific Islander?

 All the AAPI community who are demonstrating first hand that the stereotype of the meek Asian American or Pacific Islander is false. I see first hand members of the AAPI community standing up to hate and speaking out about it time and again. 

And in NCSD, I have formed so many strong friendships with members of the AAPI community (as well as others) in our  affinity group for educators of color. They have held me up when I've been weak and acted as a sounding board when I need to be heard and speak freely (without using big words of course:)