Giving Compass' Take:

· Writing for The Hechinger Report, Jordan Weymer, principal of the Donald McKay School in East Boston, explains how his school has become a safe space for immigrant students and welcomed them with open arms.

· How does school culture impact the success of students? How are schools supporting immigrant students and creating a positive environment?

· Here's how this town is embracing immigrant students in its schools. 

The Donald McKay School in East Boston, where I serve as principal, has always reflected our community not only in terms of population, but also in spirit and approach. For generations, immigrant strivers have called East Boston their Gateway to America.

Today, East Boston is home to the highest percentage of foreign-born citizens in any Boston neighborhood. Here, we are the proud educators of the next generation of strivers in a school that is 89 percent Latino, the majority of whom are English language learners. More than 50 percent are economically disadvantaged.

Every child deserves a high-quality education that recognizes and respects his or her dignity and humanity, and that relishes in the stories of school and community. That’s why teachers and schools like ours across the country are doing their life’s work, nurturing the dreams of students in the heart of an immigrant community.

Read the full article about how a school created a safe space for immigrants by Jordan Weymer at The Hechinger Report.