Dr. Christianna Hang Receives Doctoral Degree in Education
In November of 2011, Dr. Christianna Hang, superintendent of the Hmong College Prep Academy (HCPA) received her doctoral degree from St. Paul’s Bethel University – and achieved her lifelong dream of attaining the highest level of education.
Although Hang describes herself as an eager learner, she had to overcome many of the same obstacles faced by today’s Hmong students. As a first-generation Hmong girl, Hang rose to the challenge posed by the foreign education system she entered midway through elementary school. The difficulties of this experience inspired Hang to help others. “I was an aggressive student, I worked really hard in fourth grade [and thought] someday I’m going to conquer this language and this culture and I’m going to do something for this community.”
Hang eventually found her way to college, but encountered little help from her high school. Able to meet with her counselor only once, she had to do all of her college preparation on her own. When her hard work paid off and she received a scholarship to attend Minnesota State University in Mankato, MN, Hang decided not to take advantage of it because her family was unsupportive. “They didn’t understand,” Hang said, “They just said, ‘You’re a Hmong girl, you can’t go.’”
Despite being the first child in her family to have to opportunity to go to college, Hang began working an entry-level job for a local company instead. “I went to work for a corporate office for minimum wage. I worked there for eight years. I worked my way from the assembly-line to office management, and decided [that] this was not for me.”
Her volunteer work with the Hmong New Year led to her realization that she wanted to work with youth. She then began taking classes at Concordia University, earning her Masters of Arts degree in Organizational Management and Communications, and working in the Minneapolis public schools. Hang’s interactions with students brought her attention to the dire needs of Hmong youth. “I’ve found that in the community, the kids were really lost or behind. After I went back to work for Minneapolis public schools, that’s when it hit me that so many of the Hmong boys and girls are so lost. The ones that are really lost join gangs so they feel accepted and wanted, [others] assimilate so much that they don’t know how to function in either culture. I was a young parent at the time, so it really hit me.”
Having spent years working at all levels of a charter school in Minneapolis, she realized that she could do the same thing for Hmong students. “I decided to start research to [start up] a school that would help lost kids, [and] that integrated Hmong literacy and culture. So many parents have asked for it, but the bureaucracy was not going to allow it. [The school would] give them the pathway to college.”
Hang decided to continue her education, in part because charter school presidents are not required to be licensed superintendents, but she wanted to prove that her school was legitimate. “Usually directors are business people, but don’t have an education background. I wanted to make sure that nobody could complain that I didn’t have the credential. I also got my superintendent’s license. That is the main reason why I decided to go after the doctor degree.”
Early struggles as the leader of HCPA also influenced her decision to pursue her doctoral degree. As a part of the Obama Administration’s Race to the Top program, the Department of Education identified the school as underperforming. Although she claims that the department was later unable to explain the designation, it had a strong effect on Hang. “Our high school got identified for graduation that we were on the bottom, and that really hit me hard. Then I started questioning myself. Maybe I’m not doing the right things.”
Eager to find the solution, Hang focused her doctoral research on how charter schools can effectively use their resources of people, time, money, and leadership styles. As a result of her coursework, Hang believes she has discovered the answer. “It was kind of an awakening for me. [I thought] in the last six or seven years, as a leader, how has my leadership style impacted the teachers? What can change to make it better? [It] helped me be a better leader, helped me be more open-minded and be receptive to great ideas . . . I was never really a controlling person, but I was afraid to delegate responsibilities. I found that giving out delegations, making them stakeholders, the flow of energy and the flow of creativity is so much greater . . . People will rise up to the occasion if you give them the opportunity. I’ve learned to become more humble. I see myself as a servant-leader. I try to teach others that and give people the chance to be creative.”
The success of Hang’s work can also be found in HCPA’s continuing achievement of Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP. “[The coursework] helped me to reshape my school. I’ve implemented many changes. Our school has been able to make AYP. Reading went up 35%. Even though we didn’t improve as much in math, we made AYP in every category and in graduation and attendance.”
Yet, Hang sees some drawbacks to attaining her dream. “It’s lonely at the top. You don’t always get to do things that people would normally get to do. The flip side of that is that it’s one of the greatest rewards to be a leader, or just be a mom or a professional or someone who can achieve their dream or goal. It’s kind of my life and legacy. Someday I want the community to remember what we created together and what we can leave behind for our kids.”
By Teresa Townsend
