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Cherokee Nation education committee hears Job Corps update, scholarship and school facility news
Summary
At its March meeting, the Cherokee Nation Education Committee approved minutes, heard a Talking Leaves Job Corps update that included concern about a possible DoD/Navy change in barracks oversight, and received announcements on scholarship deadlines, Camp Cherokee, Head Start’s new facility and Sequoyah High School’s athletics and facilities schedule.
The Cherokee Nation Education Committee met at 3 p.m. and approved the minutes from its Feb. 9 meeting before receiving a series of program reports and announcements.
Diane Kelley, executive director of career services for Talking Leaves Job Corps, updated the committee on student programs and staff changes. Kelley highlighted the building trades and surge tech programs and noted a student had been accepted to an advanced culinary program in California. She also informed members of the recent death of former finance director Jimmy Woodard.
Committee members then discussed reports that federal partners may change how some Job Corps facilities are operated. Councilor Danny Callison said, “it is rumored right now within the Department of Labor that the uh Navy might take over the barracks that they're in again,” and warned that the incoming fiscal-year planning could ask Job Corps to align programs with Department of Defense needs. Members said they want to influence program design if federal oversight or recruiting priorities change.
Mark Vance, executive director of the Cherokee Nation education department, provided several calendar and application updates. He said, “March 1st scholarship applications open for the 2026-2027 year,” noted that Chief and Deputy Chief Honor Awards applications are due March 31, and announced an Education Pathway Summit on April 1 at Carl Albert College. Vance also described the Trail of Tears award for eighth and 12th graders and reminded councilors that Camp Cherokee opens March 13 and is a free, weeklong STEM-oriented summer program.
On early childhood services, Verna Thompson of Head Start reported that the Stilwell site had moved into the new Steel Will facility that day. “Children and staff are so excited they moved in today,” Thompson said, adding that Head Start programs have moved multiple times at some sites and that the upgraded facilities are much needed.
Terry Eustace, superintendent of Sequoyah High School, briefed the committee on athletics, student achievements and facilities. Eustace noted the girls basketball send-off schedule and several student competitive successes in choir and track. He said the academic building and performing arts center have a tentative turnover date of Aug. 7, with school scheduled to start Aug. 12, and described the new indoor practice facility and other upgrades.
Council members asked procedural and enrollment questions: whether Sequoyah students participate in statewide shows (two students do), how the school handles appeals of admission decisions, and the timing and format of new, shorter enrollment and scholarship applications. Vance and Eustace advised constituents to refer appeals to the superintendent’s office and encouraged applicants to begin applications early.
The committee heard no old or new business and the chair made a personal announcement about delivering the Isabelle Baker Memorial Lecture on Thursday, March 12, with a Zoom option to be circulated. Clifton Hughes moved to adjourn, seconded by Danny Callison, and the chair declared the meeting adjourned.
What happens next: councilors asked staff to circulate the lecture Zoom link and requested continued updates from vocational programs as federal partners’ plans become clearer.
