Choua Yang Email & Phone Number

Fresno, California

After all the years of building and building educational programs for youth, this one is definitely my niche when it comes to working with youth in the front lines and developing programs. I get to train youth and prepare them for the work force through the WIOA program in partnership with SETA.Here, I supervise staff in 2 offices located at the Franklin and Hillsdale job centers, with the team we case manage for 160+ youth participants who complete the job training program. With my time split between the two offices, I am exposed to north and south communities in Sacramento. Through the program, we develop service learning projects, leadership activities, pre-employment and work experience programs for low income youth.

This is a really cool job to be able to work at both ends of program development and administrative oversight. Though, I moved up a position level, I still got to work front line at JFK while supporting 4 other large comprehensive high schools. Throughout my career, superiors always taught me to empathize with others, this is a great way to do it as an AD. Because staff knew of my background and willingness to stand next to them in the battlefield, they respect my leadership in direction.

I started out as a part time Team Leader, just having tons of fun discovering a whole new world for education. At the time, I also volunteered in different places to get my feet wet to really find out if I want to be a high school counselor, through this job I found out that counselors were getting laid off. But as I dug a little deeper, I started to really enjoy this kind of work in education. The flexibility and program design attracted me to stay, so I've been here ever since. I get to work with high school students on the front line, inside and outside of the classroom, budget managing to create better learning opportunities, and not restricted to classroom policies. There were times, I felt almost like an assistant principal because I have to know ED Codes and credentialing regulations, as well as disciplining students and staff, and dealing with angry parents. During these years, I worked mainly at Luther Burbank high school and began coaching and training colleagues at other comprehensive high schools in 2010. This is where I really enjoyed working with others in my field, to help become successful by sharing my knowledge and experience. I often let them know that after-school programs can make a difference in a school and individual students.

Partner with company management on programs and benefits that enhance Hmong employees' engagement in the business’ success. Harmonize cultural values with workplace rules. Enhance employee engagement by increasing understanding of company policies and practices. Assist Human Resources with language barriers and cultural competency in assessing employee needs as well as organization changes. Translate for annual open enrollment processes and health assessments. Walk employees through open enrollment changes and provide technical assistance with online enrollment. Provide translation and explain handouts for Hmong employees who do not understand work policies and procedures, as well as English.