Welcome, bienvenidos, ښه راغلاست, እንኳን በደህና መጡ, مرحباً, خوش آمدید —these are just a few of the greetings spoken by RISD’s Translation and Interpretation Services when assisting multilingual families.
With approximately 80 languages spoken in RISD, the district translations and interpreters work daily to bridge language barriers for students, parents, and more. Spanish is the most requested language, and other frequently spoken languages include Pashto, Amharic, Arabic and Farsi. These languages represent the culture of RISD’s diverse student population.
On a yearly basis, the department provides interpretation and translation services:
- For thousands of RISD parents and guardians
- Translates over 65,000 translated words across district communications (this is Spanish ONLY)
These efforts are led by Teresa Ordóñez, from the district’s Strategy and Engagement team. Ordóñez joined RISD in 2020 and oversees the district’s translation and interpretation services, managing both internal workflows and contracted language service teams to ensure timely, accurate, and culturally responsive language access across the district.
“Language access is about dignity, trust, and belonging,” says Ordóñez. “When families can fully understand, ask questions, and be heard in their home language, they can truly partner in their child’s education. Our work ensures that language is never a barrier to engagement, advocacy, or student success.”
The team’s services range from interpreting during community meetings and workshops to translating documents like flyers, calendars, letters, and the student code of conduct.
Visit the translations and interpretation services page for more information and to request services.
