What do you do at WSD?
I’ve been working here since 2015. I started as the study hall coordinator for the high school. The following year our middle school advertised a Behavior Interventionist position and I went for it. Currently, I am a middle and high school Behavior Interventionist.
I’m also a member of several teams that have recently been created to assist our school in becoming an “antiracist school”:
- Staff Restorative Justice circle keeper/Circle facilitator
- Recruitment & Hiring More Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) committee
- Equity Visioning & Professional Learning Planning Committee
What is a Behavior Interventionist (BI)?
A behavioral interventionist assists individuals to eliminate or replacing disruptive, harmful, disrespectful, or negative behaviors with positive actions.
As a BI in a school setting, I anticipate challenging student behaviors and situations. Understanding our student population, I tend to forecast and work through teaching, pre-teaching, reteaching and assisting in classroom management when needed. At the end of the day, I am happy knowing I’ve helped students move from challenging situations so they are able to focus on their academics and social-emotional wellbeing.
I also cover teachers sometimes. I enjoy doing it because I have a teaching background. I taught French and English as a second language for 11 years in Mauritania, Northwest Africa. I taught in public schools, taught and ran a private school, and taught at the US embassy to help officials communicate with the locals. I also did some translations for the US Embassy Officials and translated for the Washington Post, the UN, and the Mauritanian government.
What brought you to the U.S.?
I lived my whole life in Mauritania, in Northwest Africa. I vacationed in the U.S. seven times before settling here. I visited other states such as Texas and New York because I was interested in exploring professional opportunities in education. It took me a while to decide to become a U.S. citizen because I had so many opportunities back where I come from. In Mauritania, I was the Principal of a school and I worked for the U.S. Embassy, the Washington Post, and the United Nations as an interpreter. In Mauritania, as in Vermont, if you work hard there are plenty of opportunities.
After being here for a while and looking into opportunities and ways I can contribute I decided to become an American citizen. I also have a beloved family, biracial kids, and friends here. This is my home.
Living here as a Black man I have had some difficult experiences but luckily I have acquired the skills to deal with challenging situations mostly from my dad who was my community leader running RJ circles as I was growing up. My brain works like a bookshelf and I put everything where it goes. Meaning, whatever issues I may have out there won’t affect me working with our students. That’s one of the skills that allow me to handle challenging situations.
Growing up, my dad was a community leader. He ran Restorative Justice (RJ) circles. That is how I learned a lot about RJ. He handled challenging situations and brought peace to our community. I am happy I am able to practice those skills here when working with our students.
What’s something people in the district might not know about you?
I thrive in multiracial and multicultural environments. I speak seven languages. English is the 7th language I’ve learned, and I look forward to learning a few more languages.
I come from a family of five. I was the 2nd born, the only male. It was a position of responsibility and I am grateful I am able to support my sisters in their needs.
I lost my mom when I was ten. It was absolutely hard but I see my growth and strength in it. I lived with her for only ten years but it felt like much more. She shaped me into who I am. She was very caring, welcoming, and a good cook!
I left home when I was 13. I needed to focus on my education and chose to do so because I came from a house with many guests and an open-door policy. People came by to hang out all the time and spend the night. It was crowded and it led me to ask my dad for a more private space. I have always valued education.
I do not take anything for granted. I am always grateful. I busted my arm to get a degree and I have never failed a school year. I work hard.
Why do you heart WSD?
I love that Winooski is a mixture of races and backgrounds and I can contribute my knowledge and skills as a BI, or as a guest teacher. I just fit perfectly in the community.
Advice for current students?
For our students, it is all about a matter of trusting somebody. Trust is not easy but it is something we build. I came from a culture where we trust everybody until the trust is broken.
When you break it, it doesn’t mean you are punished, it means RJ circle time. Let’s talk about it, resolve it, and move on. We don’t linger on an issue for years.
I also urge our students to value education, and not take it for granted. They almost all have everything they need to be one of the best students in the US. Many students across the world don’t have laptops while in elementary, or secondary schools. Here, students even get fed at school.
More advice for students: Listen to your gut in terms of career. Do what you want to do in terms of jobs. It shouldn’t always be about money. I am saying that because some of our students end up getting a job at McDonald’s, the little money they get there gets in the way of their learning. Students focus more on their part-time job. Working at a restaurant can develop good skills but academics are also important. There should be a sense of balance. I understand some families need some extra financial support. Even though you’re trying to support your parents, don’t take your education lightly because that’s where your long-term success is.
I have never done a job I don’t like. My happiness counts the most. No one will ever have enough money in their lifetime. Even rich people. So, you have to focus on being happy and find a sense of purpose.