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faribault.com
Yesica Louis, Jefferson Elementary School principal, remembers sitting in the same classroom where she’s pictured as a kindergarten student in 1982. (Misty Schwab/Faribault Daily News)
“After talking with her about transitioning my son into a new school, you can tell she loves the kids and making them feel safe and welcomed,” said Paul. Louis’ magnetic presence draws students to her the minute she enters a classroom. (Misty Schwab/Faribault Daily News)
catapulted me into this position [at Jefferson],” said Louis. “That job made me ready for this.”
Making an impact
It’s a common practice for principal Yesica Louis to play football with her students during recess at Jefferson. (Misty Schwab/Faribault Daily News)
As the principal of Jefferson, Louis wanders the halls and classrooms more often than she sits in her office. Being visible to students and staff is a priority for Louis, who spends most of her time at Jefferson in general Monday through Friday. “I’m able to talk to [the principal] in Spanish for the first time ever,” said Dora Mata. “Our families are very happy to have her here. It’s nice to see she can work with everybody, not just the kids.” Added Somali liaison Bashir Omar: “She’s a true leader and has really inspired me. She’s someone I look up to, and I want to reach her goals.” Jake Hager, who teaches social studies at the Alternative Learning Center, said Louis inspired him as well. Thanks to her encouragement, Hager has decided to take classes to earn his administration license. Parents are also pleased with Louis’ role at Jefferson, including Kelly Paul.
Beyond school When she’s not in school, Louis said her life is all about her family. She’s married to Ned Louis, head football coach and phy-ed teacher at Faribault High School, and the two of them have a set of 8-year-old twins, Mac and Viv. Her children attend Lincoln Elementary, so she can keep her roles as principal and mother separate. Louis’ other notable family members include her dad, Juan Porras, who helped teach her to remain positive. Porras’ wife, Kathy, who Louis calls Mom, helped immerse Louis into the American culture when she was growing up. Louis is also close with her biological mother, Rosa, who lives in Colorado. Her only brother, Seth, is a police officer in North Minneapolis and is what Louis calls “another success story.” “You can do and be whatever you want,” said Louis. “If you want to be principal, you can do that with hard work and determination. Nothing can hold you back, and language is definitely not a barrier.”
Commitment
said Louis. “[Bilingual] kids now have so much more support. We’re so fortunate to have bilingual staff meeting all the children’s needs. Now they have a sense of belonging. They fit in.” During her 11 years at Lincoln Elementary, Louis worked with Somali and Asian students in addition to Hispanic students. Because the curriculum involves visual aids and modeling strategies, Louis said she didn’t need to speak students’ languages fluently to help them learn
English. Following her experience at Lincoln, Louis took a position as an adult education coordinator for the Faribault School District. During her four years with that program, she obtained her administrative license for K through 12 education through an online program offered through Minnesota State University Moorhead. “I wore many hats, and because of that experience [with adult education] it
Reporter Misty Schwab can be reached at 507-7442551. Follow her on Twitter @APGmisty. ©Copyright 2018 APG Media of Southern Minnesota. All rights reserved.