WEBVTT 00:01.101 --> 00:05.005 align:left position:47.5% line:89% size:42.5% ♪♪♪ 00:05.005 --> 00:07.674 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% I feel like what helps me in this job is that I can relate 00:07.674 --> 00:11.311 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% to students because I have been where they are at, I'’ve gone 00:11.311 --> 00:15.315 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% through similar situations but I also can relate to the parents 00:15.315 --> 00:19.452 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% because my parents and I were really- we had a really strong 00:19.452 --> 00:24.190 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% relationship, and I know what their side of it is like. 00:24.190 --> 00:27.794 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% My name is Andrea Pérez, and I am the Family Community Liaison 00:27.794 --> 00:29.496 align:left position:17.5% line:77% size:72.5% at Pomolita Middle School. 00:50.283 --> 00:53.753 align:left position:17.5% line:77% size:72.5%   So, here at Pomolita Middle School, we have about 750 to 800 00:53.753 --> 00:58.591 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% students and about half of those are Hispanic. 00:58.591 --> 01:02.395 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% A lot of those families have moved here from Mexico 01:02.395 --> 01:06.266 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% they don't know English, and some of them don't even know 01:06.266 --> 01:10.637 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% how to read or write, so I help a lot with that too. 01:10.637 --> 01:14.274 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% I connect with them and give them whatever help I can. 01:14.274 --> 01:16.943 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% I was born here but I lived in Mexico for a few years, 01:16.943 --> 01:19.579 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% so I came back when I was in second grade and it was really 01:19.579 --> 01:22.182 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% difficult for me because back then, there weren't many Spanish 01:22.182 --> 01:26.853 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% speaking people on the school staff. I always had to go with 01:26.853 --> 01:29.823 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% my parents and be the translator because they don't speak 01:29.823 --> 01:33.726 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% English. When I heard about this job, I thought it would be- 01:33.726 --> 01:36.830 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% I thought it was a great job to begin with because there's 01:36.830 --> 01:40.934 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% someone at the school who can help parents like mine to 01:40.934 --> 01:44.170 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% translate and to help them with filling out paperwork, fill out 01:44.170 --> 01:47.073 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% anything, and they don't have to worry about those kinds of 01:47.073 --> 01:50.376 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% things. So, we're a really good resource for them. 01:50.376 --> 01:52.512 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% They can call us with any question, and we can find out 01:52.512 --> 01:55.448 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% for them and help them in the best way that we can. 02:02.155 --> 02:04.357 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% It makes me feel good that I can be that person for these 02:04.357 --> 02:08.495 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% families that they can go to for any question that they have. 02:08.495 --> 02:11.397 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% If they need to know anything about our school or about the 02:11.397 --> 02:13.666 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% community, they can come and ask me. If I don't know the answer, 02:13.666 --> 02:16.169 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% I'll find out and get back to them, but I think it's really 02:16.169 --> 02:19.706 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% important to have someone that anybody can go to. 02:19.706 --> 02:22.041 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% I have a parent on the phone who I'’ve been talking to for a 02:22.041 --> 02:24.744 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% little while, and she really wants to talk to you about some 02:24.744 --> 02:26.946 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% issues she'’s having with her student. When would be a good 02:26.946 --> 02:29.182 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% time for you guys to meet? 02:29.182 --> 02:34.320 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% I think the key to helping parents relax and trust us is to 02:34.320 --> 02:37.157 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% just listen to them. Make sure that their concerns 02:37.157 --> 02:39.692 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% are heard and that they know that we're doing something about 02:39.692 --> 02:43.163 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% it. Just listening to them and making sure that they understand 02:43.163 --> 02:47.667 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% that we care, helps a lot. It puts their mind at ease, 02:47.667 --> 02:49.569 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% I think, because they know that there's someone that they can 02:49.569 --> 02:53.606 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% automatically go to. I enjoy helping them connect with who 02:53.606 --> 02:57.577 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% they need to connect to. I think that without this 02:57.577 --> 02:59.846 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% position at our schools, it would be more difficult for 02:59.846 --> 03:03.816 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% parents to connect and I really, really like talking to them and 03:03.816 --> 03:06.853 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% just getting their story and being able to help them. 03:06.853 --> 03:09.722 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% When I go home at the end of the day, I just feel really 03:09.722 --> 03:13.026 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% accomplished for being there for people, being there for parents, 03:13.026 --> 03:16.296 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% whether they're speaking English or Spanish. But most especially 03:16.296 --> 03:19.199 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% the Spanish-speaking families because I was there for them, 03:19.199 --> 03:22.735 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% and I did the best I could to help them, and it makes 03:22.735 --> 03:26.406 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% me feel really good. And I think back to when I was younger, 03:26.406 --> 03:28.875 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% and we had the same issues so, I just told my mom, like, 03:28.875 --> 03:32.011 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% I just feel really, really lucky to be here and to help 03:32.011 --> 03:34.347 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% these parents with all of these things.