Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cultural Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Indian Education program outlines Act 31 work, cultural events and powwow plans
Summary
Jennifer Willoughby reported on Act 31 self‑assessment work, teacher resources and professional development, and a district powwow set for May 2; she described summer institutes, regalia workshops, and student cultural programming designed to meet DPI requirements and support Native students.
At the April 13 meeting Jennifer Willoughby, director of early childhood and family education, updated the board on Indian Education efforts and compliance with Act 31. She described district‑level self‑assessment work coordinated with DPI, recently completed teacher team reviews (elementary, middle and high school grade‑level meetings), and next steps to embed resources into teacher materials and expand professional development for social studies teachers.
Willoughby said DPI's Act 31 requires instruction about tribal sovereignty and tribal histories at least twice during a student’s school career; the district's scope‑and‑sequence document has been updated and will be posted on the district website. She invited middle and high school teachers to a DPI American Indian summer institute and outlined a schedule of cultural events: willow harvesting and drum‑making workshops, regalia‑making sessions, a powwow on Saturday, May 2 at the middle school (open to the public), and a Native graduation celebration at the high school in May.
Why it matters: The district is formalizing curricular resources and professional development to meet statutory Act 31 requirements and is reestablishing on‑campus cultural events that support identity and engagement for Native students.
What comes next: Staff will finalize the updated Act 31 scope document on the website; Jennifer Willoughby and instructional coaches will coordinate additional professional development and outreach to families and community partners.
