High School Senior Koua Xiong
Madison’s Joe Thomas Awardee
Madison’s Joe Thomas Awardee
| Reading with Ty Quawn |
| Koua Xiong with teacher Carolyn Konkol |
| Reading with Ray |
Lincoln Elementary School parent Kay Cahill:
I have known Koua since he began to assist in my daughter’s [K-1] class at Lincoln
Elementary in 2007-08 as part of his Work and Learn studies. In the course of that year,
Koua suffered a devastating personal loss, but he never wavered in his commitment to the
students in his classroom.
I am touched when I see the tenderness this teenage boy can show to a sad 5-year-old,
the patience with which he lets 6-year-old boys roughhouse with him, the humor with which
he has played dress up, engaging the kids at their level.
Earlier this year, I watched in awe as a man, who might have been discounted in his
childhood because of his humble social origins, [take the] oath of office to serve, as
President Barack Obama has said that he knows his story is uniquely possible in the United
States. Koua’s story is also an American story that began in hardship and loss and shows
promise to become another story of success. Perhaps Koua will become a teacher, a
community organizer, an attorney; there is no limit to what he might accomplish. He has the
talent and the commitment, and he has people who believe in him.
Lincoln Principal Deborah Hoffman:
This year, Koua volunteer[ed] additional time at Lincoln … He is kind, generous friendly,
and dedicated to helping our students learn. In addition, he demonstrates a positive attitude
and work ethic.
I cannot imagine anyone else who has coped with tragic losses so well, only to dedicate
himself to service in our public school.
Laura Pinger, Speech Clinician:
[Koua] is able to become involved with K-1 students at each of their levels, offering
academic support with patience, understanding and flexibility … as well as moral and
emotional support to all the students in the classroom and after-school program. He is
tireless and open to completing any task requested by teachers and he does so with a smile
and positive attitude.
Carolyn Konkol, K-1 teacher at Lincoln, and WLC teacher John Ivens:
Koua more than just volunteers and works at Lincoln. He is an integral part of the Lincoln
Community. The depth of his relationships with students is powerful. His presence in those
rooms and the building signify a lot to the struggling and traditionally disengaged learners in
our district. His resilience inspires others to continue and stay on the right path
I have known Koua since he began to assist in my daughter’s [K-1] class at Lincoln
Elementary in 2007-08 as part of his Work and Learn studies. In the course of that year,
Koua suffered a devastating personal loss, but he never wavered in his commitment to the
students in his classroom.
I am touched when I see the tenderness this teenage boy can show to a sad 5-year-old,
the patience with which he lets 6-year-old boys roughhouse with him, the humor with which
he has played dress up, engaging the kids at their level.
Earlier this year, I watched in awe as a man, who might have been discounted in his
childhood because of his humble social origins, [take the] oath of office to serve, as
President Barack Obama has said that he knows his story is uniquely possible in the United
States. Koua’s story is also an American story that began in hardship and loss and shows
promise to become another story of success. Perhaps Koua will become a teacher, a
community organizer, an attorney; there is no limit to what he might accomplish. He has the
talent and the commitment, and he has people who believe in him.
Lincoln Principal Deborah Hoffman:
This year, Koua volunteer[ed] additional time at Lincoln … He is kind, generous friendly,
and dedicated to helping our students learn. In addition, he demonstrates a positive attitude
and work ethic.
I cannot imagine anyone else who has coped with tragic losses so well, only to dedicate
himself to service in our public school.
Laura Pinger, Speech Clinician:
[Koua] is able to become involved with K-1 students at each of their levels, offering
academic support with patience, understanding and flexibility … as well as moral and
emotional support to all the students in the classroom and after-school program. He is
tireless and open to completing any task requested by teachers and he does so with a smile
and positive attitude.
Carolyn Konkol, K-1 teacher at Lincoln, and WLC teacher John Ivens:
Koua more than just volunteers and works at Lincoln. He is an integral part of the Lincoln
Community. The depth of his relationships with students is powerful. His presence in those
rooms and the building signify a lot to the struggling and traditionally disengaged learners in
our district. His resilience inspires others to continue and stay on the right path
By Laura Salinger
Fifty-eight individuals were recognized at the 2009 MMSD
(Madison Metropolitan School District) Recognition Awards
ceremony on March 30 for their dedication and exceptional work
within the school district and community.
Among the winners was Koua Xiong, a high school senior at
MMSD’s alternative high school the Work and Learn Center (WLC).
Xiong took home the prestigious Joe Thomas Community Service
Award, an honor presented to seniors “who have distinguished
themselves by their service to their school and community.” What
is so remarkable about Xiong’s story is not so much the award
itself but the hurdles that Xiong has tackled in order to get where
he is today.
“He really is an exceptional student,” WLC principal Ann
Fischer said. “He is a young man with a great future.”
At one point in his life, however, Xiong’s future looked bleak. He
entered kindergarten as an ESL student with very limited English
skills and moved often during a tumultuous childhood. Later,
struggling at school and falling in with a bad crowd, Xiong was
beginning to fall through the cracks. Continuing on this trajectory,
he was easily on his way to becoming another failing statistic.
Xiong, in danger of becoming a high school drop-out, enrolled
in LC. During this time, he would be the one to find his older
brother after he had committed suicide — a heart wrenching and
life-changing tragedy. Still, despite this major calamity,
connections would begin forming that year to catapult Xiong onto
another, more positive life path.
Fifty-eight individuals were recognized at the 2009 MMSD
(Madison Metropolitan School District) Recognition Awards
ceremony on March 30 for their dedication and exceptional work
within the school district and community.
Among the winners was Koua Xiong, a high school senior at
MMSD’s alternative high school the Work and Learn Center (WLC).
Xiong took home the prestigious Joe Thomas Community Service
Award, an honor presented to seniors “who have distinguished
themselves by their service to their school and community.” What
is so remarkable about Xiong’s story is not so much the award
itself but the hurdles that Xiong has tackled in order to get where
he is today.
“He really is an exceptional student,” WLC principal Ann
Fischer said. “He is a young man with a great future.”
At one point in his life, however, Xiong’s future looked bleak. He
entered kindergarten as an ESL student with very limited English
skills and moved often during a tumultuous childhood. Later,
struggling at school and falling in with a bad crowd, Xiong was
beginning to fall through the cracks. Continuing on this trajectory,
he was easily on his way to becoming another failing statistic.
Xiong, in danger of becoming a high school drop-out, enrolled
in LC. During this time, he would be the one to find his older
brother after he had committed suicide — a heart wrenching and
life-changing tragedy. Still, despite this major calamity,
connections would begin forming that year to catapult Xiong onto
another, more positive life path.
Xiong with Konkol's class; (below) Hmong at
Heart class
Heart class
As part of WLC’s curriculum, he was required to volunteer and was placed in Carolyn Konkel’s K-1 classroom
(part of Lincoln Elementary’s Open Classroom Program). It is at WLC and in Konkol’s classroom where Xiong
slowly began to blossom. Konkol took Xiong under her wing and became his mentor. She would soon find,
however, that Xiong would give back to her classroom as much as she gave to him.
“Last year when I first met Koua volunteering in Carolyn Konkol’s K-1 class, he seemed respectful, yet
reserved,” Lincoln Elementary 5th grade teacher Marc Kornblatt says. “At the time, I knew he was dealing with
a family tragedy and was impressed at how gracefully he carried this burden. Since then, I have learned that he
also had a history of drug abuse and gang affiliation.” Kornblatt went on to describe the transformation he
witnessed in Koua as he went from reserved to a friendly, and strong but gentle, school leader. “To see how far
he has come in his short life is inspiring.”
Teachers and parents laud Xiong’s impact on students. They say he was able to make connections with
students, in ways that others couldn’t.
“He just really reaches kids; he reaches the kids that other teachers have a hard time reaching,” Konkol
says.
Not only did Xiong reach sometimes-unreachable kids, he also helped Konkol develop a unit on Hmong culture,
which he co-taught. He attended the SWEIO Convention panel “Teaching Hmong Students and Culture” and
(part of Lincoln Elementary’s Open Classroom Program). It is at WLC and in Konkol’s classroom where Xiong
slowly began to blossom. Konkol took Xiong under her wing and became his mentor. She would soon find,
however, that Xiong would give back to her classroom as much as she gave to him.
“Last year when I first met Koua volunteering in Carolyn Konkol’s K-1 class, he seemed respectful, yet
reserved,” Lincoln Elementary 5th grade teacher Marc Kornblatt says. “At the time, I knew he was dealing with
a family tragedy and was impressed at how gracefully he carried this burden. Since then, I have learned that he
also had a history of drug abuse and gang affiliation.” Kornblatt went on to describe the transformation he
witnessed in Koua as he went from reserved to a friendly, and strong but gentle, school leader. “To see how far
he has come in his short life is inspiring.”
Teachers and parents laud Xiong’s impact on students. They say he was able to make connections with
students, in ways that others couldn’t.
“He just really reaches kids; he reaches the kids that other teachers have a hard time reaching,” Konkol
says.
Not only did Xiong reach sometimes-unreachable kids, he also helped Konkol develop a unit on Hmong culture,
which he co-taught. He attended the SWEIO Convention panel “Teaching Hmong Students and Culture” and
took part in the Children’s Museum Hmong at Heart
training.
When volunteer work was no longer required as
part of his school curriculum, Xiong continued
volunteering (and still does) with Konkol’s classroom
anywhere from 10-15 hours a week and he now
currently works with MSCR’s Safe Haven after
school program.
***********
Xiong has truly touched numerous students,
parents and teachers. As proof, there is, of course,
the Joe Thomas Community Service Award. There is
also a stack of testimonials from parents and
teachers on my desk. As I struggle to summarize
their heart-felt words, I have decided to leave our
readers with excerpts of their words about this truly,
remarkable young man:
training.
When volunteer work was no longer required as
part of his school curriculum, Xiong continued
volunteering (and still does) with Konkol’s classroom
anywhere from 10-15 hours a week and he now
currently works with MSCR’s Safe Haven after
school program.
***********
Xiong has truly touched numerous students,
parents and teachers. As proof, there is, of course,
the Joe Thomas Community Service Award. There is
also a stack of testimonials from parents and
teachers on my desk. As I struggle to summarize
their heart-felt words, I have decided to leave our
readers with excerpts of their words about this truly,
remarkable young man:
At the Hmong New Year event in Madison
in their own educational experience.
Lincoln staff view Koua as more of a fellow staff member than just as a volunteer or a high school student. His daily commitment to Lincoln and its
students demonstrates how he changed his educational path from dropping out to being deeply engaged, depended on, and loved by a school community.
His engagement is school-wide. Observing students with a new outlook on their school day demonstrates his relationship skills and the impact he has on
the students he works with. His ability to have this type of influence on these children shows his daily and long lasting positive impact on the Lincoln
school community.
Parent Renee Hammond:
I was immediately impressed with Koua’s ability to connect with the children, which he did naturally through his fun loving spirit. Later, I was
impressed with his ability to mediate students’ disagreements and correct behaviors. There were a number of students in the class who particularly
responded to Koua and he took those children under his wing and guided them emotionally, as well as academically. His gift and commitment to working
with children is impressive given his age and in light of the adversity he has faced. Koua has had such a positive impact on these children — many of
whom have minimal such positive male role models in their daily lives — and he did so in a positive, cheerful, supportive manner despite sometimes
carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Lincoln staff view Koua as more of a fellow staff member than just as a volunteer or a high school student. His daily commitment to Lincoln and its
students demonstrates how he changed his educational path from dropping out to being deeply engaged, depended on, and loved by a school community.
His engagement is school-wide. Observing students with a new outlook on their school day demonstrates his relationship skills and the impact he has on
the students he works with. His ability to have this type of influence on these children shows his daily and long lasting positive impact on the Lincoln
school community.
Parent Renee Hammond:
I was immediately impressed with Koua’s ability to connect with the children, which he did naturally through his fun loving spirit. Later, I was
impressed with his ability to mediate students’ disagreements and correct behaviors. There were a number of students in the class who particularly
responded to Koua and he took those children under his wing and guided them emotionally, as well as academically. His gift and commitment to working
with children is impressive given his age and in light of the adversity he has faced. Koua has had such a positive impact on these children — many of
whom have minimal such positive male role models in their daily lives — and he did so in a positive, cheerful, supportive manner despite sometimes
carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
