Poornima DSouza Master of Education Instructor
Education:
Ed.D., University of St. Thomas
M.A. Karnatak University
B.A., Bangalore University
605-310-4105
pord_33@yahoo.com
Dr. Poornima D’Souza is a School-Home Liaison and a Parent Educator with the Sioux Falls School District. As a liaison, she tries to bridge the communication and cultural gap between the refugee and immigrant parents and the school system. As a parent educator, she empowers immigrant parents with computer skills, builds their proficiency in the English language, and teaches American social skills in order to help parents learn ways to support their children's education.
Dr. Dsouza is presently employed with the Sioux Falls School District. She has been with the district since 2004. Originally from India, she received her Masters in Banking and worked in the Public-Sector bank for 15 years before moving to the United States. Dr. D’Souza completed her doctorate from the University of St. Thomas, MN with Doctor of Education in the field of Educational Leadership. She switched careers to education and completed her English as New Language endorsement at SDSU. She teaches Differentiation and Diversity, graduate level course as an adjunct professor at Augustana University. She also teaches Instructional Strategies for Diverse Students and Settings at Northwestern College. Her hobbies include gardening, cooking, and graphic designing.
2017 - May, Presenter at U.S. Military Entrance Processing Station on cultural nuances and norms in the Asian Culture
2017 – March, Faculty in-service presentation to Sioux Falls Catholic School faculty on Linguistic and Cultural Challenges
2016 – January, Guest speaker at South Dakota Head Start Health and Nutrition Managers -ERSEA networking
2015 – November, Presenter at TESL Conference at Sioux Falls – Bridging the Multicultural Divide: Facilitating School-Parent Relationships
2015 – June, Guest Speaker for MCHC/RISE-UP program at Sioux Falls - Intersection of Education and Health in the Immigrant Population
2015 – April, Cultural training seminar for Youth Archery World Championship at Yankton
2013 – October, Presenter at TESL Conference at Sioux Falls – Parent University-Empowering Parents with Technology and Literacy Skills
2011 – October, Presenter at TESL Conference at Sioux Falls – Using Technology to Promote Cultural Awareness Within Your Classroom, School and Parent Community
2010 – August ELL Orientation, Jane Addams, SFSD – Web 2.0 Tools for ELL teachers
2010 – June, Presented to State of SD ELL Advisory Committee in Pierre on Web 2.0 Tools
2009 – August, Presenter at TESL Conference at Sioux Falls – Using Web 2.0 Tools to Connect Cultures
2008 – October, Presenter at TESL Conference at Bismarck – Best Approaches Involving Immigrant Parents and Families
2008 –August, Presenter at the Learning Starts at Home – Partnerships with Families Creates Success Conference
2008 – January, Presenter at the Student Support Staff Conference
2007– October Speaker at the OELA Summit VI at Washington D.C
2006-2015 – Presented at O’Gorman High School – ELL Mentors
2010 -2015 – Guest speaker at USF and Augustana University - Human Relations/ Differentiation and Diversity Class
Parent Educator/School-Home Liaison, Sioux Falls School District
Adjunct Faculty, Augustana University, Sioux Falls, SD
2017– May, Winner of book grant from REACH a Reader
2017– May, Publication: “Foot Prints”- collection of stories both fiction and non-fiction about the first-hand experiences of adult learners from different cultures.
2017– April, Winner of Innovation in Education grant for Literacy for the Parent University's World of Wisdom Book Club
2016 – December, Winner of Three Wishes to Three Teachers, First Lutheran Church for promoting Literacy at Parent University
2016 – August, Winner of Sioux Empire Realtors for Kids for Cultural Exchange
2015 – August, Winner of the Hometown Hero Award from Modern Woodmen of America
2014 – March, Winner of the Sioux Falls Junior League Grant for Parent University
2013 – October, Winner of the Community Foundation Grant for i-Pads
2012 – December, Winner of the PEP Grant and Community Foundation Grant for i-Pads
2010 – May, Winner of the Qwest Teachers and Technology Grant from South Dakota DOE
2009 – Winner of the SFSD Quality Fair
2008 – Winner of the SFSD Quality Fair
2007– October, Nominated as Sioux Falls Hero –Reaching out to Families – Published Argus Leader
1987– 1994 - Received appreciation letters for mobilizing funds, canvassing deposits, and organizing cultural events.
Recipient of many awards for developing web pages
Represented the State at the National Level Republic Day Parade as an Army Cadet - India
