Transitions

[Monica Thammarath]

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

 

It is with mixed emotions that I write to tell you that I will be transitioning out of my role as Education Policy Advocate at the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC).  As most of you know, I have accepted the position of Senior Program/Policy/Specialist/Analyst in the Office of Minority Community Outreach at the National Education Association (NEA).  I will be starting my new position as liaison to the AAPI community for the NEA on Tuesday, May 31^st.

 

It has been an honor and privilege to have been a part of the NCAPA, CHSE, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, AAPICU, and other coalitions and families through SEARAC for the past two and a half years.  It is difficult for me to leave my position, especially now, as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is being prioritized by the administration and both houses of Congress, the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) goes through its second year of appropriations, and Common Core State Standards (CCSS) is being poised to be implemented across the country in the next few years.

 

As many of you know, being the Education Policy Advocate at SEARAC in Washington, DC was my dream job.  As an undergrad at UC Berkeley, I used to read SEARAC’s statistical profile and dream about one day being able to work on issues that I felt personally connected to and for an organization that I not only truly believed in but also helped to resettle my parents and family members when they first came to this country as refugees.

 

I owe special thanks to all the staff, board members, local community-based organizations, and YOU for the privilege of standing up on behalf of AAPI students whose diverse needs continue to be overlooked or ignored.

 

Helly Lee, SEARAC’s Director of Policy will be taking over my duties until a new person is hired. If you have any recommendations for an Education Policy Advocate for SEARAC, please share the below job announcement with your colleagues and relevant networks.  SEARAC looks forward to hiring someone amazing who will be able to continue doing our education policy work.

 

Please feel free to contact me with any questions until my last day on Friday, May 27^th. After that, you may contact Helly Lee at he...@searac.org if you need to reach someone at SEARAC regarding education policy matters.

 

While it is difficult for me to leave SEARAC, as a proud product of California’ public K-16 education system, I look forward to continuing our work together in ensuring great public schools for every student and can be reached at mtham...@nea.org.

 

Best,

Monica

PS: If you're around the DC area, please join me for a farewell happy hour that the SEARAC staff is hosting for me:

• Location:  Dirty Martini, 1223 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
• Date:  Friday, May 27th
• Time:  4-6pm

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About | Donate

SEARAC Position Announcement Education Policy Advocate Summary:  The Education Policy Advocate will provide a wide range of integrated advocacy, training, and organizational development services to and for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and organizations.  S/he will be a highly skilled professional with a strong background in policy analysis and advocacy. The ideal candidate will have expertise in K-12 education issues affecting AAPI and underserved communities and be able to both, effectively work in large coalitions and partnerships as well as independently. S/he will have primary responsibility for implementing SEARAC’s Southeast Asian American Action and Visibility in Education (SAVE) program.  The purpose of this program is to increase the awareness of national, state, and local policymakers, as well as federal institutions, about the diverse educational needs of AAPI communities, particularly Southeast Asian American (SEAA) communities. As apart of  the SAVE program, SEARAC will work in partnership with nine national members of the Campaign for High School Equity (CHSE) to engage national and local SEAA community partners in long term advocacy in support of the progr’s goals. This will be accomplished in combination with our local community based partners. Additionally, SEARAC will work closely with institutions of higher education at the local and national levels, commissioning research that will yield much needed information about the gaps and challenges in ensuring that SEAA students graduate from high school ready for college or work. The Education Policy Advocate reports to the Director of Policy and is a critical member of SEARAC’s policy team. Location of Position:  Washington, D.C. Major Responsibilities: Conduct policy analysis and advocacy on education issues that affect AAPI communities, specifically SEAA communities Co-chair, lead, and participate in appropriate national coalition committees around education policy and grass roots organizing in education issues Educate legislative, administrative, and community decision makers on education policy issues affecting AAPI communities Manage partnerships with local community based organizations across the nation Conduct and coordinate research that focuses on educational barriers in AAPI communities Engage AAPI community-based organizations in sustained education advocacy Organize and conduct national and regional trainings about educational challenges in AAPI communities and ways to address them Develop education advocacy training materials and training modules Develop education policy document(s) Disseminate education policy information to community members on a consistent basis Assist with fundraising and reporting for program Work with other SEARAC staff and board members in support of SEARAC’s overall mission Expected Qualifications: Experience with legislative advocacy, including: familiarity with the federal legislative process, experience communicating with policy makers, and experience communicating complex policy issues to local communities and community based organizations Experience with education policy issues as they pertain to AAPIs, specifically SEAAs Experience organizing local communities and providing trainings Experience working with media, including writing press releases, press advisories, etc. Experience fundraising and planning programs Extensive knowledge of SEAA communities Superior verbal and written communication abilities Experience in budgeting, financial management, and project reporting Experience working in collaborations Undergraduate degree Compensation: Competitive, plus a strong benefits package. Starting Date: As soon as possible. Deadline for Receipt of Application: May 27, 2011, or until filled. Application Procedure:  Please e-mail, fax, or mail a resume, cover letter, and a brief writing sample (preferably policy related, no more than 3 pages) to: Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) ATTN: Helly Lee, Director of Policy 1628 16th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20009 Fax: 202/667-6449 E-mail: he...@searac.org Please include “Education Policy Advocate Position” in the subject line of emails and faxes. SEARAC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Monica Thammarath Education Policy Advocate Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) 1628 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 office phone:  202.667.4690 ext. 105 mobile / google voice:  202.709.6764 office fax:  202.667.6449 email:  mon...@searac.org web:  www.searac.org   follow me on twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/SEARAC_Mon   please support SEARAC through the Combined Federal Campaign! CFC# 11950

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Monica Khong Seng Thammarath
mtham...@gmail.com | 202.709.6764

"Our ultimate objective in learning about anything is to try to create and develop a more just society."
- Yuri Kochiyama