FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — American Indian instructors comprise the smallest
fraction of the U.S. teaching force, accounting for less than 1 percent of
all teachers. Even on Indian reservations and in remote Native villages,
the majority of teachers originate outside the Native community. As a
result, institutions of higher education are faced with the daunting task
of increasing the success rate of American Indian and Alaska Native
students who are striving to train for a career in teaching.
Additionally, as a whole, American Indians have achieved the lowest
secondary educational levels among all racial minorities. Within one
four-year period, studies show that only 6 percent of all American Indian
students completed college degrees. During that same period, 7 percent of
Hispanics, 12 percent of blacks and 23 percent of white students
successfully completed degrees.
Serious efforts have been made to uncover the factors that contribute to
poor academic performance of Native students. Findings generally indicate
that one of the most prevalent obstacles to success is poor preparation for
higher education.
In spite of hurdles, frustrations, failures and disappointments, however,
today many American Indian men and women are making significant personal
and financial sacrifices to attend colleges and universities across the
country. A large number have chosen to pursue careers in teaching, and
administrators of northern Arizona educational institutions have been
working hard to find creative solutions to help these future educators
achieve their goals.
Nestled in Flagstaff on the edge of the Navajo and Hopi reservations in a
state that is home to some 27 federally recognized Indian tribes, Northern
Arizona University has a large Native population of approximately 1,500
students. Over the years, NAU has earned a solid reputation as a
comprehensive state university with an emphasis on undergraduate education.
The university was established in 1899, dedicated to the preparation of
elementary teachers for schools in the Arizona Territory. In 1925, it
became a four-year institution granting a bachelor’s degree in education,
preparing elementary and secondary teachers, and was renamed Northern
Arizona State Teachers College. A master’s degree in education was added in
1937.
Today, 15 percent — some 391 of the American Indian students enrolled at
NAU — are enrolled in the Education College and are working toward a
degree in teaching. Sixty-five percent of these students are enrolled in
the education graduate program. In academic year 2000 — ’01, 69 percent of
those enrolled in education courses were awarded bachelor’s degrees and 31
percent were awarded master’s degrees. All in all, 46 percent of all
education degrees awarded that year went to American Indian students.
NAU’s College of Education offers courses in teacher preparation,
instructional leadership and education specialties. Its stated mission is
to prepare education professionals to face the challenge of creating the
schools for tomorrow. They endeavor to do this by offering programs in
elementary and secondary education, technology and vocational education,
and library science. It also focuses on special education, bilingual and
multicultural education, and courses in educational technology.
Page Unified School District is a rural school district serving the Arizona
community of Page and surrounding areas located on the Navajo Reservation.
The student population is 69 percent American Indian, with schools ranging
from 55 to 91 percent Navajo. This particular area is characterized by a
high poverty rate, with some 60 percent of the K — 12 students receiving
free or reduced lunches.
Dine’ College, the only institution of higher education based on the Navajo
Nation, serves the residents of the 26,000-square-mile reservation which
spans the states of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. A postsecondary
educational institution, the college awards associate degrees and
certificates to students in fields such as education — fields important to
the economic and social development of members of the Navajo Nation.
In order to assist these institutions in the goal of training and
graduating new American Indian teachers and school administrators, NAU,
PUSD and Din College have been selected as three educational organizations
in northern Arizona that will receive support grants from the Office of
Indian Education Professional Development program. The grant awards are
earmarked for the training of qualified American Indians who wish to become
educators. NAU will receive $256,364, Dine’ College will receive $242,605
and PUSD will receive $265,689.
According to the OIE, the objectives of the funded projects must “address
opportunities for educational paraprofessionals and other eligible
individuals to complete the requirements to receive a bachelor’s degree in
education” and for “current Native American teachers to obtain an Arizona
Administrator’s certificate.” These two goals must be met within the
grant’s funding period.
A major feature of the project is the implementation of programs of
instruction leading to a bachelor’s degree in education or a master’s
degree in educational leadership. These will include state teaching
certification or the meeting of requirements for obtaining a State
Administrator’s certificate.
With this additional support, the OIE hopes to encourage and empower more
American Indians to strive to become teachers, department heads, principals
and role models in remote and rural Native communities, as well as in
mainstream schools across the nation.
Scholarships and grants
The best part of scholarships and grants is that they do not have to be
paid back. They are, essentially, free money. The U.S. government funds two
of the largest grant programs: the Federal Pell Grant and the Federal
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. Your state also may have a
state grant program.
Most other grants and all scholarships come either from the college you
plan to attend or from private sources, such as the American Indian College
Fund, service groups, religious groups, companies and, perhaps, even your
own employer.
There are special scholarships available to American Indian students. For
example, individual tribes contract with the BIA to administer the “Higher
Education and Adult Vocational Education Programs.” Tribes also may offer
their own scholarships, although the amounts are usually small.
In addition, some colleges and universities provide financial incentives to
encourage Native American students to enroll. And, private groups may
earmark special scholarships for Indians. For example, the Daughters of the
American Revolution American Indian Scholarship Fund typically awards $500
in scholarships to Native American students across the country.
Finding these grants and scholarships isn’t always easy, and it takes time
to fill out the applications. But it is well worth the effort. Be sure you
know the deadlines for filing the applications. Your tribe, local library,
the Internet, high school guidance counselor, and the financial aid office
at the colleges you are interested in attending are all good sources to
help you with your search. Also keep in mind that it’s possible to be
awarded more than one scholarship or grant!
Three things are very important to remember when applying for these grants
and scholarships, or for any financial aid, for that matter:
* Most scholarship decisions are made early.
* You must complete the required paperwork.
* You must turn in the paperwork by, or preferably before, the required
deadlines.
