Point of View Viviana Killion, Galena Park ISD

The Case for Language Inclusivity in School Communications

by Viviana Killion Senior Director for School-Community and Governmental Relations Galena Park ISD

Walking into my kindergarten classroom back in 1985 is a moment I recall vividly. Ms. Estes stood in the doorway to greet my mom and me into the classroom. Her small frame, tidy gray hair and warm smile invoked warmth and kindness. I nervously leaned into her hug, and I remember looking at my mom as if to say, “I think I’m okay, but I’m scared.” `My mother’s tentative smile seemed to convey the same message back, “I think you’re okay, but I’m scared, too.” We couldn’t understand what Ms. Estes was saying because neither one of us spoke or understood English. Spanish had been the only language spoken in our home, and as I walked through the doorway – unable to communicate with my teacher – I was greeted by classmates who couldn’t understand me either. It felt scary and lonely.

I don’t regret this experience, as difficult as it might have been at the time. There were few Hispanic families in Crosby, Texas back then, but I was blessed by many kind, loving teachers and administrators throughout my education who embraced my family’s language and cultural differences and found potential in a young Hispanic girl. They found ways to connect with my family, and my mom would offer homemade flour tortillas in return for the kindness they showed us. But I wonder how different my experience might have been if language and culture had been inconsequential.

I am part of the communications department in Galena Park Independent School District, which serves an 80 percent Hispanic student population. Our district has been extremely intentional about serving these families equitably for many years. We are fortunate to rely on dedicated translators who devote much of their time to translating curriculum, assessments and communications so our students are served, and families know what is happening in our schools and in our district. Nearly every single communication sent to families has a Spanish counterpart. It is a priority in Galena Park ISD, and the expectation is set by our highest level of leaders – Board of Trustees, Superintendent and Cabinet.

The case for language inclusivity

It’s important to be mindful of our efforts to be languageinclusive in our communication departments. We can dismiss our obligation to be inclusive because we think we lack the personnel or access to a skilled translator, but we owe it to the children and families we serve to be diligent in finding a way to make it happen. In Texas, districts have a statutory obligation to implement a family engagement plan for the purpose of supporting student achievement, and research shows undeniable evidence that student success and family engagement are not mutually exclusive. A basic tenet of family engagement is the establishment of trust between school systems and families. Never has the importance of trust been so glaring as it has been in the last year and a half. Our communication efforts have increased exponentially to provide critical information pertaining to cleaning procedures, contact tracing, vaccination opportunities, virtual learning, etc. In providing this information, we establish an unspoken partnership with the families we serve, and we establish trust. However, our efforts to establish trust are in vain if the information we send home is not understood because of language differences. If you can’t relate to the frustration these families might feel, then consider your own frustration knowing the communication you worked hard to craft has served no purpose. We fail to establish trust and we fail our students by depriving them of critical information and resources necessary to be successful when we turn a blind eye to language inclusivity.

Purpose & progress over pride & perfection

As PR professionals, we put so much pressure on ourselves and our departments to produce a “perfect” work product because we’ve all been on the receiving end of harsh public criticism. It’s part of the job. We rely on this false standard of perfection, believing we can keep negative criticism at bay and protect our PR egos. It’s human nature. Consequently, we avoid tasks or projects that seem overwhelming or beyond our capacity.

Making the choice to be a language-inclusive communications department can feel overwhelming. You don’t have the staff, the budget or the time, and you convince yourself that your district is too small or there is no significant need for bilingual communication. You don’t want to fail. But I’d like to offer a word of encouragement and let you off the hook – if you know your purpose, it doesn’t have to be perfect.

We are in the business of education to help children, and our children are best served when we focus on purpose and progress over perfection. When our purpose is clear, we become less fearful of failure. When we make the decision to translate one newsletter, we make progress. Eventually, we translate every newsletter and progress becomes cumulative. Your purpose of being an effective communicator, supporting families, establishing trust and ultimately student success, will be evident and have a lasting impact on the lives of our students and the families we serve.

Practical Tips for Language Inclusivity in Your District

Start with one

Don’t pressure yourself to translate all communications when you begin to implement a multi-language culture in your department. It’s about progress, so allow yourself to take baby steps.

Source a volunteer

Is there someone in your building or a parent volunteer who might consider translating a few items occasionally? It doesn’t hurt to ask!

Propose a translator position or a stipend

If the possibility of adding a full-time position to your department exists, create a thorough proposal to justify the addition of a dedicated translator and always monitor data and metrics. If you can’t get a full-time position, propose a yearly stipend for a staff member you can trust for translation work.

Forego perfection

What if you go to the trouble of publishing a translated communication and you receive negative feedback for a spelling or grammar error? Don’t allow yourself to be discouraged and remember your purpose. Don’t give up.

Use the tools already in your toolbox

Do you leverage the software and programs already available to you? See if your mass notification system has an automatic translation feature. Verify that your website provides automatic content translation and know where the “magic button” is so you can help direct parents to the feature. Have you tried Google Translate? The translations aren’t always perfect, but if you have limited access to a knowledgeable translator, a Google translation is better than nothing at all.

It's about heart and purpose

I love sharing the following video of our superintendent and school board because it’s a great example of a perfectly-imperfect Spanish communication that conveys heart and purpose over perfect Spanish.

Check it out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y9FOM-uLEY