Professional Partner of the Month: April 2008
Kevin Chhin
"If Kevin thinks he needs to do something to help our families . . . he will do it, even if it means a late night visit. Many weeks he has to work seven straight days and all overtime hours bring him no extra pay. This is remarkable as he is a married man with three young children of his own. He is a role model for our students, a dedicated family man, proud father and hard worker."
- Elaine Steinbacher, Coordinator of Region ONE, Chester County Intermediate Unit’s Pennsylvania Migrant Education Program
"I’ve seen Kevin Chhin in action at our Leadership Institute, and he is nothing short of incredible. He gives 100% of himself, 100% of the time, to provide an incredible and fun learning experience for the youth he’s serving."
- Marc McCann, Associate Vice President of Programs, The Second Mile
"Kevin truly knows how to connect with the students. He shows them genuine concern and positive attention at all times. He makes personal sacrifices on a regular basis if it means giving a student an extra opportunity."
- Nicole Prum, Supervisor of Migrant Education Programs
Kevin Chhin wears many hats, and wears all of them well. He serves as a Student Support Specialist, a Recruiter, and a Parent Coordinator in Philadelphia, working for the Chester County Intermediate Unit’s Migrant Education Division for the past nine years. In this capacity, he works with migrant families, primarily from China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Anyone who knows Mr. Chhin understands the incredible effort and skill he puts into his work as he tries to improve the lives of hundreds of people, the bulk of whom are disadvantaged due to a lack of language skills, incomplete knowledge of American systems, and/or a lack of monetary and other resources. For all that he does to serve children and youth, the Second Mile recognizes Kevin Chhin as its April Professional Partner of the Month.
If you talk to Kevin Chhin’s colleagues, you’ll hear similar stories and sentiments: this is a man who is incredibly goal-focused, dedicated, and hard working. Once he’s made his mind up on completing a task, there is little to stand in his way. He’s driven to help the children and their parents who are struggling to get a good education, and in finding their niche in the community and the country at large. Clearly, many of these attributes come from Kevin’s family and their experience – escaping from Cambodia in a long and harrowing ordeal that led them through refugee camps, multiple countries, and finally a church-sponsored arrival in Wheaton, Illinois. Mr. Chhin eventually moved to Syracuse, New York, then Philadelphia, but his 22 years in America have never been easy, especially given he’s not a native English speaker.
And since he has worked so diligently to master English, and educate himself, and successfully take on jobs with more and more responsibility, Kevin Chhin is the perfect role model for the students who are now going through, at least at some level, what Kevin has experienced himself. He understands the issues that families and their children from Asian countries are facing, he counsels them on how to make the most of educational opportunities, and he coaches them on how to be true to their own cultures while also embracing American culture. His mantra would certainly include the phrase "work hard," as he sees this as a key tool for success, a tool he uses in all aspects of his own life.
What motivates Mr. Chhin to work so assiduously? He himself explains that he never sees himself completing his task; therefore he can always do more. It’s this sense of service, combined with his empathy for others and understanding what their needs are, that drives him to help them meet their needs, as quickly as possible. A smile or a simple thank you seem to be all that Kevin needs to keep moving forward and working.
And from where does he draw the most satisfaction in his job? Elaine Steinbacher, Coordinator of Region ONE, Chester County Intermediate Unit’s Pennsylvania Migrant Education Program, describes Kevin’s influence: "Kevin Chhin inspires others. Most of the young boys in our program want to be just like him, and that is what makes Kevin feel great satisfaction." Nicole Prum, Supervisor of Migrant Education Programs, thinks that he draws
the most satisfaction from seeing the program’s shy, introverted students develop into confident, college-bound students. Kevin explains that in addition to his ability to influence and inspire, he draws a great amount of satisfaction from the parents who trust him to work with their children, and who sometimes give him a “teardrop thanks.” Partnering with these parents, Mr. Chhin sometimes watches their combined efforts lead to a child graduating from high school, gaining acceptance to college, and then graduating with a higher degree. And there’s no thank you like the ones that come from former students, who seek Kevin out after finding success, to tell him how big a role he played in their lives.
While it’s difficult to begin with, Kevin Chhin’s job only seems to get more challenging over time. He cites the fact that with the economy somewhat down, there is more fear and uncertainty from the families with whom he works. Parents want to provide the best for their children, and many worry that their children will be failures, because they (the parents) cannot provide for them. Additionally, language is always a potential problem. When working with Cambodian families, Kevin Chhin can communicate easily, as he speaks Khmer, like them. But when he is helping Chinese, Indonesian, or Vietnamese families, English is the common language that all parties need to use. If the parents’ English language skills are not real strong, then Kevin must rely on the children or other translators to convey all the necessary information, and this can be an issue.
When talking with Kevin, it’s easy to understand how and why others are drawn to him. He comes across as a very self-confident person, yet he’s relaxed and a great listener. He loves kids and young people, and interacts and plays with them non-stop. Long bus ride? Kevin is the staff member teaching the kids games, songs, and cards the whole way there. He also spends time running the Migrant Education Saturday Program. He balances having fun with getting work done in a very effective way. These dynamics were evident earlier this month when he brought two teams of five students each to The Second Mile’s Leadership Institute in State College. All ten students look up to him for support, advice, and overall guidance. Clearly, they trust what he tells them, and they’re willing to work hard both to please him, and also because they know that he understands what it takes to succeed.
While Kevin loves his job and is dedicated to completing all its many facets and more, he clearly lights up when talking about his family. He enjoys celebrating life every Saturday with them - his three siblings, his mother, and his own wife and kids. He talks fondly of his wife of almost ten years, Sondra, and their three children, aged 7, 5, and 2. Food and music are part of these get-togethers, and Kevin enjoys writing songs, playing music, and cooking.
Elaine Steinbacher says that Kevin Chhin "is in the same mold as a younger Jerry Sandusky," a great – and appropriate – compliment comparing Kevin to The Second Mile’s founder. The Second Mile is proud to recognize Kevin Chhin as its April Professional Partner of the Month due to his incredible commitment and efforts in improving the lives of the children and families with whom he works.
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