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Columbus County Indian Education staff highlight cultural programming, student supports
Summary
District staff described an $81,814 Indian Education grant used for staffing, student college experiences and STEAM-linked cultural lessons and said the four‑year cohort graduation rate for American Indian students was 88 percent.
Tamara Carter, Indian education coordinator for Columbus County Schools, told the school board that the district’s Indian Education program is funded through a competitive annual grant of roughly $81,814 and supports staffing, student programming and partial conference registration costs.
The program pays assistant salaries and “pays for half of the students’ registration for NICNEO,” Carter said, referring to the North Carolina Native American Youth Organization conference. Carter said roughly 25 students attend each year, rotate among universities and experience dorm life and campus sessions. She said Indian Education pays $100 of the $200 registration and that community donors covered the remaining $100 for some students who could not afford it.
“Because we don’t want any student that wants to participate … not to be able to go because of financial need,” Carter said.
The presentation described program activities that connect cultural learning to STEM (described as “STEAM” in the presentation), including corn‑necklace projects that use measurement and design, robotics workshops using a robot called Sparrow for storytelling, planting projects tied to local wetlands and a Venus flytrap restoration trip to Carolina Beach. Courtney Graham Patrick, Indian education staff assigned to East Columbus High School, and Darlene Graham, the program assistant working at Artesia Elementary School, showed photos and said lesson plans align workshops to North Carolina academic standards.
Carter cited academic results the program tracks: “If you look at our four‑year cohort graduation rate of American Indian students, you see we’re at 88 percent. We are above the district and the state average.” She said the district’s 2023–24 test results were added to the materials, and noted COVID‑era declines in some years before recent improvement.
Board members praised the program’s hands‑on instruction and community partnerships. Dr. Strickland and Mr. Worley both commended the cultural and STEM activities; Mr. Beck and Mr. Thompson were noted in the presentation as regular supporters who attend events. Carter and program staff said volunteers and tribal partners help run medicine‑wheel, basket‑weaving, pottery and other workshops and that United Tribes of North Carolina scholarships (typically $500) and a new Back to Braid scholarship ($5,000) have supported students.
The presentation included photos of graduating students, a roster of graduates now in the workforce or attending Southeastern Community College, and recognition of elder volunteers. Carter said the program collects federal Form 506 documentation to identify students eligible for Indian Education services, and that assistants monitor attendance and make home visits when necessary.
Board members asked about attendance trends, and Carter said attendance among American Indian students is improved this year but that late arrivals and early check‑outs remain an issue. The board thanked the presenters and requested notification of upcoming STEM and cultural events.
The board took no vote on the presentation itself; it was received as information.
