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Hispanic Heritage Month: Milwaukee bilingual teacher makes a difference

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Hispanic Heritage Month: Milwaukee bilingual teacher makes a difference


We are putting the spotlight on a bilingual teacher from Milwaukee Public Schools – during Hispanic Heritage Month.

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It is another day in Alondra Garcia’s classroom at Allen-Field Elementary School in Milwaukee. The space is filled with vibrant colors, butterflies and enthusiastic second-graders eager to learn. 

“She likes to celebrate everything that I like to celebrate,” said Jolaniz Acosta, a student. 

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“(English: She reads to us and I can understand it,)” said Damian Gomez, age 7. 

Garcia said she designs lesson plans to keep this diverse class of students engaged. 

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“My goal as an educator is to make sure I empower them,” Garcia said. 

And it hits home. Ms. Garcia is a first generation bilingual teacher – and she said she sees herself in every single one of her students. 

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“I always remembered in the back of my head that little girl who wanted to learn to do something to be someone in the future,” Garcia said. 

Like many of her students’ stories, Garcia’s family left their home in Mexico to make a home in Milwaukee. 

“My goal as an educator is to make sure they’re able to find their voice and that they’re able to use their voice as a power, as something that’s going to get them far in life,” Garcia said. 

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Garcia’s job does not end inside the classroom. In fact, it keeps on going in the community – as an activist fighting for immigrant rights and other issues affecting Latinos in Wisconsin. 

“Status does limit you, sadly, and I was a former DACA recipient for 12 years. Just recently, I obtained the U-Visa status. So that, eventually, will lead me toward permanent residency. I’m grateful my whole family qualified for that,” Garcia said. 

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Garcia said she inherited her drive from her father, Gilberto Garcia Calderon, who said he is proud to see his daughter’s efforts to serve and help others. 

“(English: Seeing her work and involvement just tells me she’s on the right path,)” Garcia Calderon said. 

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It is a purpose Garcia said she hopes will pave the way – and inspire the next generation. 

You can view more stories about Hispanic Heritage Month on FOX6Now.com.

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Milwaukee shooting near 12th and Locust; 20-year-old wounded

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Milwaukee shooting near 12th and Locust; 20-year-old wounded


Milwaukee Police Department (MPD)

Milwaukee police say a 20-year-old was shot and wounded near 12th and Locust on Tuesday, April 14. 

12th and Locust

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What we know:

Officials said the shooting happened around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment. 

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Milwaukee police are seeking an unknown shooter.

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What you can do:

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Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360 or, to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS or the P3 Tips App.

The Source: Information in this post was provided by the Milwaukee Police Department.

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Milwaukee Wave makes another dramatic comeback to reach MASL finals

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Milwaukee Wave makes another dramatic comeback to reach MASL finals


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  • The Milwaukee Wave advanced to the Major Arena Soccer League championship after defeating the Baltimore Blast.
  • Milwaukee won Game 2 of the series 5-4 and then secured the series win with a 2-1 victory in a 15-minute knockout game.
  • Veteran Andre Hayne scored the decisive goal with 55 seconds left in the knockout game.

The Milwaukee Wave performed MASL playoff magic for the second time April 13, coming back after losing the first game of a playoff series to advance.

Now the team with seven arena soccer titles will play for an eighth, having knocked off the Baltimore Blast with victories of 5-4 in Game 2 and 2-1 in the 15-minute knockout game that followed at the UWM Panther Arena.

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Venezuelan rookie forward Oscar Flores scored two goals in the first victory, the first to tie the game at 3-3 late in the third quarter and then the clincher midway through the fourth. On Flores’ final goal, he picked up a ball bounced hard off the boards by defender Stuart Grable and directed it in behind his back with his right heel.

Baltimore scored 32 seconds into the knockout game, but Wave rookie goalkeeper Gerardo Perez came forward and tied the game with a rebound goal six minutes later. That set the stage for veteran forward Andre Hayne, who took a pass from Ian Bennett and pounded it home with 55 seconds left.

The Wave, under first-year head coach Marcio Leite, won its quarterfinal series with the Empire Strykers in similar fashion, losing the first game before winning 60- and 15-minute games in one night.

Milwaukee won’t know its opponent until April 19th, when the St. Louis Ambush and San Diego Sockers play the second and possibly third game of their semifinal series.



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Milwaukee Public Schools plans to add 150 staff to classrooms

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Milwaukee Public Schools plans to add 150 staff to classrooms


Milwaukee Public Schools plans to add about 150 teachers and paraprofessionals to classrooms next school year. 

The positions were announced Monday, one month after MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said she planned to cut about 200 non-classroom staff positions. 

Cassellius said external audits of the district and meetings last summer with parents both highlighted heavy staffing at central office and less resources going into classrooms. 

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“I can see with my own eyes how hard it is with so many students in the classroom,” Cassellius said.  “So obviously, with 91 percent of our students not reading on grade level at fourth grade, it is essential that we give our kids a fighting chance where teachers have a reasonable amount of students to teach to read.”

MPS is planning to add 89 licensed classroom teachers, bringing the total number of teaching staff from 3,903 to 3,992, and 63 paraprofessionals to its schools. They will also add five school psychologists. 

The plan is estimated to cost $24.6 million and will be included in the 2026-27 draft budget. 

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“Lowering class size is a very strategic move in order to rebalance the district and be responsible with our finances,” Cassellius said. “But it’s also a very important academic decision for us as we meet the needs and listen to teachers and try to make sure that they have what they need so they can be successful in teaching our children to read.”

The investment in staffing comes as MPS works to close a $46 million deficit identified in the district’s 2024–25 budget by external auditors. 

To address the budget deficit and rising costs, MPS is identifying savings wherever possible.

Some of the savings include $30 million from reductions in Central Services and non-classroom positions; $11 million in increased state special education reimbursement funding and $40 million in savings from fewer charter schools. The district also has $47 million in new referendum revenue.

At the same time, MPS anticipates approximately $154 million to $171 million in new expenses, including covering increases in healthcare benefit costs and raises for employees.

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Of the 200 positions being eliminated by MPS, 59 are assistant principal positions and 62 “implementer positions,” or educators who have a teaching license but who are not assigned to one classroom. 

Cassellius said all of the people who received “excess letters” can reapply for teaching positions.



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