Lower School Teacher's Partnership with International Neighbors Garners National Attention

Cathy and her family were matched with a family from Afganistan, and for over a year, they have been helping their new neighbors not only learn to survive, but thrive in their new community. 

"As a teacher and mom, I am very comfortable in schools," says Cathy. "I went with them to their school’s Open House in August as three of the children visited their new classrooms. I helped explain things like the bus, lunch routines, take-home folders, and emergency forms. With the children just learning English, sometimes they are not able to ask their teachers questions during school. I look through their backpacks regularly and explain which papers need to be returned to school and which things can stay at home. The kids love to show off all that they are learning and doing in school. Their English is taking off!"

International Neighbors was founded by Kari Miller of Charlottesville, a local school teacher who recognized the many needs of refugee students and their families. The organization, including Cathy's work, was recently featured on NPR's Take a Number series. You can listen to the segment here.