Friends of the Madden Library

Ia Xiong, local educator and author of a children's book, "The Gift: The Hmong New Year," will talk about the continuing immigration saga of the Valley's Hmong at the Friends of the Madden Library program on Jan. 21.

A reception will begin at 6 p.m. with the program at 6:30 p.m. in the Henry Madden Library.

Xiong arrived in the United States  at the age of 12 knowing just two words of English ("yes" and "no"). Twelve years later, in 1992, Xiong was the first Hmong-American teacher in the Clovis Unified School District , teaching first grade at Sierra Vista Elementary School .

She received her bachelor's degree from Fresno State , and her master's degree in school administration from Fresno Pacific University . Xiong transferred to the Fresno Unified School District in 1997 to become a "teacher on special assignment," working with Fresno schools on English learner compliance with California state and federal laws.

Xiong is now the vice principal of Centennial Elementary School in Fresno . She is completing her last year in the Fresno State -UC Davis jjoint doctoral program in Educational Leadership.

Reservations for the library program are required by Jan. Call 8-5790. Guests are welcome. A charge of $2 will be charged at the door for non-members; $1 for students. All Friends of the Madden Library meetings are accessible to the physically handicapped. A sign-language interpreter will be provided upon advance request.