“I like the co-workers and the kids. It’s a nice atmosphere,” said Patel after the last lunch shift of the day at Adams Elementary School. She is a food service worker at the school, placed there after she earned necessary certification through Anoka-Hennepin Schools’ Adult Basic Education program.
“English isn’t my first language, so I (went) to ABE classes, and I heard about the child nutrition program,” she said.
Blaine Learning Lab Program Supervisor Molly Liberto said the program Patel is a part of is designed to have English language learners intern at a school cafeteria for the entire school year before their skills and possible certification can be assessed and then possibly offered jobs. Liberto said Patel and a handful of other students finished their certification in December, and the district offered them jobs.
“That was a huge program success,” said Liberto. “Our goal is to get folks straight out of ABE and onto the next step of their lives.”
Liberto said the success of that group has spurred interest in other English language and adult education students in her program.
“Other students are starting to ask if we’ll be adding another internship program in the fall,” she said. “It definitely has its ripple effects.”
For Patel, her new job gives her security and something she values just as much: community.
“One time, I (went) to the mall, and one kid said, ‘Hi! I know you!,'” she said. “So, yeah. It’s good.”
