The Institute for American Indian Education, (IAIE), a mentoring and support organization for American Indian students pursuing teaching degrees and administrative licensure, received an award of $140,000 from the New Mexico Higher Education Department.
Photo: Randy Brokeshoulder, Navajo, was the first student selected by the IAIE Native American faculty on UNM main campus for a New Mexico Higher Education Teacher Quality scholarship.
The American Indian Teacher Quality grant addresses the dearth of American Indian teachers in New Mexico. Although New Mexico’s population is 10 percent American Indian representing 22 tribal nations, less than one percent of all teachers in New Mexico are American Indian.
IAIE, located in the Department of Language, Literacy and Sociocultural (LLSS), UNM College of Education, began addressing the need to increase the number of American Indian teachers in 2003. Through a scholarship grant from the New Mexico Public Education Department, more than 60 American Indian students graduated with teaching degrees or administrative licenses in an unprecedented three year period.
The IAIE America Indian Teacher Quality grant, which originates from No Child Left Behind funding at the federal level, provides scholarships for at least 20 American Indian students, 10 from UNM-Gallup and 10 from UNM main campus.
The IAIE grant continues the program UNM-Gallup began two years ago under the direction of Helen Zongolowitz and begins the program for the first time on the UNM main campus. The UNM project is directed by Glenabah Martinez, a tribal member from the Pueblo of Taos and LLSS faculty member, and managed by Colleen Keane, IAIE program manager.
Each candidate must be an enrolled tribal member with preference given to New Mexico tribal enrollment, with demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to teaching American Indian students. Candidates must also be entered or on track to enter the College of Education and have taken the New Mexico Basic Skills Teacher Assessment test.
Scholarship applications for fall are available at Institute for American Indian Education. The deadline is July 1. For more information, call (505) 277-7781 or (505) 277-0577.
Media Contact: Sari Krosinsky, (505) 277-1593; e-mail: michal@unm.edu