Staff Spotlight: Mohamed Mohamud

Mohamed Mohamud, educational equity outreach coordinator for St. Cloud Area School District 742 has traveled far, both in life and his educational journey.

Born in Somalia, his family fled during civil unrest to Cape Town, South Africa where he was raised. At 15, he immigrated to the United States where he attended Minneapolis South High School. As a young man, he never dreamed he would have a career in education, let alone in curriculum support and encouraging young students to become teachers.

“I attended St. Cloud State University, (SCSU)” says Mohamud. “I started off in philosophy and science courses. I was hoping to do something in the medical field but more along the lines of the philosophy of science. Fortunately, SCSU does not cater to that even though it’s a legitimate field!”

Mohamud took some time off from college to figure things out. When he went back to school, he knew completing his education licensure with an emphasis in history and social science was his path.

Now, Mohamud is in a unique position with District 742. He works directly with the social studies curriculum team, but he also works closely with the Future Teacher Academy, (FTA) a program in partnership with SCSU that aims to recognize students who may be interested in teaching as a career. The students are often the first in their family to attend a post-secondary education institution as well. The position helps bridge the gap between education and equity.

“We provide these students with mentorship,” says Mohamud. “We collaborate with SCSU and have our students spend a week on campus – live there, go to classes there. A lot of them come from backgrounds where mom and dad didn’t finish school at all. We basically just show them what the possibilities are of going to school.”

The idea of attending college seems far-fetched for some students. For Mohamud, it’s about opening the doors of opportunity to them.

Mohamud says the mentorship piece of his work is key. He meets with students weekly to be their advocate, mentor and guide. Through his own educational experiences, Mohamud can relate to the students. This year, he has seven students already admitted to SCSU through the FTA program.

“Those weekly meetings with students is the groundwork,” shares Mohamud. “You have to get to know the students and really become a professional friend to them. They open [up] and tell you the things that they are scared about, the issues they are dealing with on a personal level. … I don’t provide them with answers. I provide a map for them to find their own answers. One student that I’m working with now is struggling to decide whether or not he wants to focus on his sports. He wants to give it his whole heart. My role is to say, ‘You know, that’s wonderful, but it doesn’t hurt to have a plan B, so, let’s work on a plan B.'”

Mohamud’s goal is to create the best environment for student success.

“It’s going through step-by-step and looking at things that are going wrong,” explains Mohamud, “and how to make sure the things that we are doing right lead to a successful outcome.”

The students he works with make an impact on him as well.

“When I work with these students, sit and talk, we bond,” smiles Mohamed. “We have those ah-ha moments. I can see I’m helping them change their thoughts and perception on something. That tells me I’m pursuing what I thought was right as a career. It’s meaningful. Coming to the U.S. … from that background, it is a shock – a cultural shock. … It’s easier to do the less meaningful path. Some of my own friends from high school took the nihilistic path with drugs and gangs. Every time I meet with these students and am able to reach them, I can direct them towards a meaningful path.”

Now, he’s anxious to see his students move on to their post-secondary education in hopes that one day, they, too, will become teachers and want to make an impact in the lives of future generations.

 

Fun Facts:

1. Mohamud loves to be outdoors. He loves to sit by a lake in his lawn chair and read a book.
2. He likes to travel (road trip) and try different restaurants.
3. Mohamud was captain of his high school wrestling team.
4. He was also captain of his rugby team.