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Press Release Date: 10/1/2009
Indian Education Summit is Oct. 1-2
The seventh annual Indian Education Summit will be held Thursday and Friday at the Red Lion Hotel in Lewiston and features several panel discussions on the educational issues facing Native American students.
The summit features Tom Luna, Superintendent of the Idaho State Department of Education, May Jane Oatman-Wak Wak, the Coordinator for Idaho State Indian Education, and a Native American College student roundtable.
Prior to the Summit, there will be an Idaho Indian Education Meeting with a greeting from Lewis-Clark State College President Dene K. Thomas on Wednesday at noon and a reception for tribal leaders and legislators at 5 p.m., both also at the Red Lion.
The Summit begins on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in the Warrior Ballroom with an opening ceremony and presentation of colors. Luna will then give the opening remarks at 9 a.m., and Oatman-Wak Wak will discuss the State Indian Education Report Card at 9:45-10:30 a.m. After a 15-minute break, Jeff Taylor, Director of Special Education for the Idaho Department of Education, will talk about addressing the disproportionate number of Native American children in Special Education.
During lunch at noon-1 p.m., Washington State University professor Michael Pavel will discuss “Equality in Education.” At 1:15-3:15 p.m., Summit attendees will have the choice of attending either “Bullying & Harassment: Affects of Student Achievement” by Kendra Hughes, Senior Program Advisor for the Equity Program and Northwest Regional Lab, or “Dropout Prevention & Student Retention” by Robin Butterfield of the National Education Association.
Also at 2-5 p.m., student representatives for LCSC, Boise State, University of Idaho, North Idaho College and Northwest Indian College will have a roundtable discussion on the recruitment and retention of Native American students in higher education, promoting life-long learning, and overcoming barriers.
Two more discussions will be held at 3:30-4:45 p.m. as Aaron Thomas from the University of Idaho will talk about “Science: Hands-On Experiences in Science/Engineering & preparing students for the first year in college” and LCSC’s Cliff Matousek presents “Math: Overcoming Fear and Promoting Engagement.”
The Summit then wraps up on Friday with Arthur Taylor, the University of Idaho Tribal Liaison, and Bob Sobotta Sr., Superintendent of the Coeur d’Alene Tribal School, giving opening remarks at 8:30 a.m. At 9:45 a.m., Mike Jetty, the Indian Education Specialist for the Montana Office of Public Instruction, will talk about “Cultural Aspects of Interdisciplinary Curriculum.”
The final discuss is on “Impact Aid” by Kerry Wingell from the Impact Aid Office at the United States Department of Education. She will talk at 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. The Summit will then wrap up at noon.
Anyone wanting to attend the Summit can still do so for $75 and can register at the door. The registration fee also allows participants to attend the Partnerships in Education (PIE) conference workshops being held at Lewiston High School on Thursday and Friday. College credit also is available for attending the conference. The cost for certified teachers is $83 per credit and $234 per credit for all others.
For more information on the Summit, contact either Lisa Guzman at 792-274 or lmguzman@lcsc.edu ; or Arthur Taylor at (208) 885-7895 or ataylor@uidaho.edu
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