A three-year, $900,000 grant is allowing the UNM College of Education to provide scholarships to American Indian students interested in teaching in Native American communities. Funding was provided by the Indian Education Division at the New Mexico State Department of Education.
Through the grant, the Institute for American Indian Education (IAIE) at the College of Education hopes to increase the state’s native teachers and principals. IAIE was created in 2003 in response to New Mexico’s critical need to improve academic achievement and to reduce dropout rates. The institute will provide a forum for educators, scholars and tribal leaders to examine the critical education issues facing Native American communities.
Joseph Suina, IAIE director and College of Education associate professor, believes UNM is ideally suited to train American Indian educators. Suina is from Cochiti Pueblo and is one of eight native UNM College of Education faculty members.
“Native American teachers from the community tend to stay in the community,” said Suina. “If these teachers provide a role model by participating in the traditional community, and at the same time are a professional role model, they show students it’s possible to be of two worlds and do well.”
Classes for scholarship recipients begin in June. Program participants must be
undergraduate, post-bachelor or graduate students interested in teaching or administration at the elementary or secondary level. Scholarship recipients are expected to complete the program in two consecutive years. Scholarships provide tuition, fees, a textbook allowance, travel expenses and a $750 stipend each semester.
Those interested in obtaining an administrative license must have at least six years of regular classroom teaching experience and be eligible to enter into the licensure program or the graduate program in administration.
Scholarships applicants must be enrolled in a federally recognized tribe and intend to teach in New Mexico or for the Navajo Nation.
Applications for fall semester are being accepted through April 4. For additional information, contact Joseph Suina at (505) 277-7781.
Contact: Greg Johnston, (505) 277-1816
Posted by scarr at February 28, 2005 04:03 PM