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The University of New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE



Contacts: Colleen Keane, IAIE, 379-3315; e-mail: ckeane@unm.edu or
Steve Carr (505) 277-1821; e-mail: scarr@unm.edu

February 26, 2007

Senator John Pinto Sponsors SB 887 for Native American Teachers for UNM’s IAIE Scholarship Program

Senator John Pinto, a member of the Navajo Nation, recently introduced a state bill aimed at increasing the number of Native American teachers in New Mexico. If passed, SB 887 will continue the Institute for American Indian Education (IAIE) Scholarship Program, which began in 2004. It will provide $4 million to the University of New Mexico to help continue scholarships for Native American students pursuing teaching degrees, administrative licenses or a graduate degree with a concentration in Indian education.

IAIE is housed in the Language, Literacy and Socio-cultural Studies Department at the UNM College of Education. IAIE is funded by grants from the state of New Mexico. After three years of concentrated undergraduate and graduate education, approximately 50 Native Americans teachers, who received IAIE Scholarships, are now classroom teachers or administrators or soon will be.

Although the New Mexico Native American population is approximately 11 percent, only two percent of teachers are Native Americans. The IAIE Scholarship Program fills a needed gap in assisting New Mexico Native American college students financially. Most of the Native American students pursuing careers in teaching and education are older, non-traditional students. They range in age from 25 to 58 years of age.

Many of them have been in the classroom for years working as Teachers or Educational Assistants. They are now under a severe deadline to meet No Child Left Behind requirements. As older students, they do not qualify for the New Mexico Lottery Scholarship Program. Due to limited outreach to native communities on Scholarship opportunities and the lack of Internet connectivity in tribal communities, many native students do not have access to scholarship applications.

In addition to providing scholarships, IAIE provides mentorship opportunities for Native American students. IAIE is comprised of six Native American faculty and two emeriti Native American faculty. Mentoring services are key factors in retention and academic success. Numerous studies indicate that awareness of opportunities and mentoring leads to successful outcomes at all levels of education.

One of the most innovative and effective mentoring activities is the IAIE Saturday Scholar Classes, which is a combined undergraduate/graduate class. The Saturday classes cover current trends and issues in Indian Education, such as the Indian Education Act, Native American Language Act and Native American Charter Schools, and the Self Determination Act. The Saturday Scholar classes provide a forum for discussion and dialogue between faculty and students.

A UNM graduate, Sen. Pinto received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1963 and a Masters Degree in 1970 in Elementary Education. He was elected to the New Mexico Senate District 3 for San Juan and McKinley counties in 1976. He has served on the Senate Indian and Cultural Affairs, Conservation, Economic and Rural Development, Telecommunications and the Welfare Reform Oversight Committees.

Currently he is the Chairman of the Indian and Cultural Affairs Committee. Senator Pinto has been responsible for legislature initiatives from highway construction, education, health, water development, treatment centers and a ban on uranium mining on the Navajo reservation. He also supports environmental issues, family and children issues, government reform, labor, business, consumers, and animal protection and wildlife issues.
This year Sen. Pinto is also being honored for his 30 years as a New Mexico Senator and his service to the people of New Mexico. Gov. Bill Richardson, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, Veronica Tiller and Michelle Brown-Yazzie will honor him at a dinner this month in Santa Fe. Several IAIE students and faculty will attend the event thanking him for his leadership.

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