A Valley View Elementary School second grade teacher got a surprise party May 23. Karen Holland-Wallace, who lives in Inver Grove Heights, has been with the school for 27 years, teaching kindergarten through third grades, including many English Language Learner (ELL) students.
The party was organized to show students’ and staff appreciation for Holland-Wallace’s work with her charges, especially with the children of the Dibba family, who came to the U.S. from Gambia in 2009. All four Dibba children have passed (or are passing) through Holland-Wallace’s classes, and she has become close to all of them.
At Valley View, 67% of the school’s 600 students are people of color, and many are learning English as a second language. Father Liman Dibba said when they arrived in Minneapolis, his wife, Faton Njie Dibba, and their children did not speak English. He said, “Ms. Holland-Wallace was the point of entry into this school.”
He recalled asking his son what he learned on the first day of school, and his son replied that he didn’t understand a lot of what was said. Dibba turned to Holland-Wallace with his concerns, and she reassured him that everything would be okay. Sure enough, when he was speaking English with his son several months later, his son corrected him, saying, “They don’t say it like that.”
Valley View Principal Jason Khulman said Holland-Wallace, “really hit it off with the family. She’s created a relationship with a family where she would go out there and help mom learn English as well as the rest of the family. They requested that every year that they had a child going into her grade level that they go into her class, and she’s always loved them. She’s got a personality that’s bigger than life. She’s just passionate about kids.”
As a decorated cake was cut, Holland-Wallace was just as appreciative of the Dibbas. She said, “Thank you, everybody. It’s not just me. We all try so hard and sometimes it’s hard work, so thank you! I appreciate it and you folks are an awesome family. I thank you for everything you do for your kids. We appreciate that so much!”
![](https://www.mynortheaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Valley-View-staff-join-Dibba-family-to-celebrate-teacher-Karen-Holland-Wallace-on-left-in-shorts.png)
Valley View Elementary teacher Karen Holland-Wallace (in black with glasses) with staff and students on May 23 at a surprise party held to mark appreciation of her work with students and their families. (Mark Peterson)