Bilingual elementary school staff members used to field every call from Spanish speaking parents.

“A lot of parents do get embarrassed and shy when trying to speak English,” Heartland Elementary’s Community Resource Coordinator Julia Gomez said.

However, because of the skills classes taught at the Family Learning Centers housed at three Jordan District elementary schools, it’s becoming more common for these parents to communicate with whichever staff member answers the phone.

“I have parents not asking for me and so it's very rewarding,” Majestic Arts Academy Elementary School FLC coordinator Rosa Tecalco Mendez said. “They are able to excuse the kids’ absence, even log into Skyward and do the yearly registration. They can do it on their own, and they don't need us for everything and so that's just so great.”

The FLCs at Columbia, Majestic and Heartland elementary schools are a resource for school communities and family members of students. They offer a variety of English, computer, life skills and GED classes.

Columbia Elementary FLC coordinator Holly Infante said one of the most needed classes teaches parents how to navigate Skyward, the schools’ system to access grades, lunch balances, registration and to schedule teacher conferences.

“Every single year was the same thing,” Infante said. “They don't know how to get into Skyward, they don't know how to use it. It’s in English and it’s hard for them to understand it.”

Acquiring language and computer skills helps parents be more involved in their child’s education and in their community.

“A lot of these parents sometimes don't see the bigger picture,” Infante said. “When schools have Family Learning Centers, it presents them opportunities and things that they didn't even realize they had chances and new experiences and things for them to do outside of their little bubble.”

Understanding child care is hard to find, FLC teachers allow parents to bring their children to most FLC classes.

“One thing that I love about our Family Learning Center is that our kids see their parents pursue learning, and so it builds this sense that school is important to my parents, and therefore school is important to me, “ Majestic Principal Marianne Johansen said.

While the majority of participants are Spanish-speaking, FLCs also serve families who speak other languages with the help of translation apps and interpreters.

FLCs also help families with basic needs—food, clothing, hygiene and housewares donated by the Jordan Education Foundation, the USANA Foundation and generous community members. Families also receive support navigating health insurance, immigration status, food and utilities assistance and American cultural norms and holidays.

FLC resources have improved many peoples’ lives, helping them get jobs and make connections in the community.

One woman, who thought she would just be a homemaker her whole life, earned her GED, learned computer skills and now teaches classes at the FLC. A Lyft driver who struggled with English gained confidence to converse with his passengers after taking basic English classes.

FLC coordinators encourage parents to volunteer at the school to practice their English skills. Johansen loves to see parents helping with book fairs, teacher projects and Food Bank donations.

“A lot of times our marginalized communities don't feel like they belong in schools, or they don't feel like they belong in our community, and I think this creates a space where they know they belong, and they know that they're important, and they know they have something to contribute,” Johansen said.

Johansen expects to see an even bigger increase in participation from Spanish-speaking parents at Majestic this coming year when Mendez serves as the school’s first bilingual PTA president.

Gomez said there’s been a recent uptick of Spanish-speaking parent volunteers at Heartland, too.

“Little by little, the parents are coming out of their comfort zone to be able to participate, whether it be on a field trip or to help the PTA set up for dances—little things like that,” she said. λ