Intercultural Specialists
Intercultural Specialists connect multicultural and under-served families and students with community and school programs, resources, and events to ensure academic success.
Intercultural Specialists specialize in:
- Promoting academic success with multicultural students
- Educating multicultural families how to navigate the Eastern Carver County Schools educational system
- Mediating concerns between multicultural students and schools
- Building the bridge between diverse families and the school community
- Promoting cultural awareness
- Being a resource for questions and concerns for multicultural parents and students


Front row, Left to Right: Madeleine Arenas, Lucia Seeman, Maria Johnson.
Back row, Left to Right: Ramla Abdi, Khambay Sivongsay, Nadaa Hassan, Joe Johnston, Virma Behnke, Nayely Becerra-Balbuena, and Andrew Gilbertson.
Intercultural Specialists – 2017-18 school year
Contact Andrew Gilbertson, ICS supervisor, for more information.
Bluff Creek Elementary
Virma Behnke — 612-282-4867
Carver Elementary
Ramla Abdi — 952-687-7918
Chanhassen Elementary
Joe Johnston — 612-282-4768
Chanhassen High School
Khambay Sivongsay — 612-383-4130
Chaska High School
Madeleine Arenas — 612-559-7121
Chaska Middle School East
Nayely Becerra-Balbuena — 612-930-6376
Maria Johnson — 612-282-1842
Chaska Middle School West
Nayely Becerra-Balbuena — 612-930-6376
Clover Ridge Elementary
Nadaa Hassan — 952-679-9753
East Union Elementary
Joe Johnston — 612-282-4768
Family Learning Center
Lucia Seeman — 952-679-0605
Integrated Arts Academy
Joe Johnston — 612-282-4768
Jonathan Elementary
Khambay Sivongsay — 612-388-4130
LaAcademia
Lucia Seeman — 952-679-0605
Pioneer Ridge Middle School
Maria Johnson — 612-282-1842
Victoria Elementary
Joe Johnston — 612-282-4768