About the Refugee and Newcomer Supports Program
The APS Refugee & Newcomer Supports Program is part of the Office of Equity and Engagement and is new and rapidly adapting to community and school needs. Below is a brief overview of current supports.
Refugee Case Managers
Refugee Case Managers provide support to refugee students, families and the schools that serve them. Case Managers speak various languages that are common amongst newcomers in APS. Families may contact the Case Manager who speaks their language directly. Case Managers are not replacements for interpreters and translators.
Primary job roles are:
- Parent engagement
- Student & Family support
- Community outreach
- School support
Dina Raheem
Arabic
dina.raheem@aps.edu
Edmond Mwamba
Swahili, French,
Lingala, Tshiluba
mwamba.twite@aps.edu
Mohammad Ismail
Dari, Farsi,
Pashto, Urdu/Hindi
mohammad.ismail@aps.edu
Newcomer Specialists
Newcomer Specialists also speak the languages of the local refugee community and provide in-classroom support to newcomer students. Specialists work alongside teachers to ensure that the material being taught is accessible. They do this by utilizing their language skills to explain complicated concepts and provide academic and social support to newcomers.
Farida Ibrahim
Swahili
Van Buren Middle School
Parwin Hussaini
Farsi, Dari, Urdu, Hindi
Del Norte High
Mbarak Hussein
Swahili
Highland High
Chantal Muhumure
Swahili, Kinyarwanda, French, Kirundi, Kinyamulenge, Kibembe
La Mesa Elementary School
Newcomer Teachers
Liz
Bradford
Newcomer Teacher
La Mesa Elementary
Natalie
Perez
Newcomer Teacher
La Mesa Elementary
RNSP Program Manager
Brandon Baca
The APS Refugee & Newcomer Support Program Manager, Brandon Baca, coordinates and oversees district refugee and newcomer supports. He supervises a team of Refugee Case Managers, Newcomer Specialists, Newcomer Teachers and works with local community organizations to build collaborative partnerships to support newcomer education. Brandon is the primary point of contact for schools.
If you have any questions or would like to request support, please contact Brandon at: brandon.baca@aps.edu or 505-803-7781