A Closer Look
In this section, we aim to show practices and experiences of PK-12 teachers, counselors, support personnel, school and district leaders, students, and families in schools and faculty in higher education.
A Welcome That Lasts All Year: Hempstead Union Free School District
Hempstead Union Free School District in Long Island, New York, is creating a more welcoming school experience for newcomer students through its Refugee & Immigrant Student Welcome Program (RISWP), serving students in grades 7–12. Beyond a weeklong welcome orientation, the program offers year-round support through dedicated newcomer liaisons, English-language and academic assistance, trauma-informed counseling, family workshops, and connections to essential community resources.
From Quito to Queens: A Classroom Story Told Through Student Voices
At PS280Q in the Queens neighborhood of Jackson Heights, special education teacher Paula Diaz transformed CUNY-IIE’s CTLE course in immigration literature, taught by Prof. Cecilia Espinosa, into a powerful classroom project. Paula co-created a children’s book titled From Quito to Queens that centered on one of her student’s’ experiences moving from Ecuador to New York.
