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Educators to explore issues,
solutions at Indian Ed summit
Native American students account for 10 percent of the
enrollment at South Dakota’s public schools. Often, these
students face unique challenges within the education system. A
lineup of national experts at the Indian Education Summit will
help all South Dakota schools learn to better serve
Native American students. This year’s summit is set for Sept.
24-26 at the Ramkota in Pierre. The theme is “Our Voice, Your
Voice, One Voice.”
“This conference targets educators at all levels who work
with Native American students, whether your school is on a
reservation, in a community bordering a reservation or in a
larger town with significant minority populations,” said Keith
Moore, director of Indian education for the South Dakota
Department of Education.
Keynote speakers at this year’s summit include Jim Littlejohn
of Lecture Management Inc. In his presentation on Ruby Payne’s
“A Framework for Understanding Poverty,” Littlejohn will address
the differences between generational and situational poverty,
the impact of language differences on student success and the
“hidden rules” of economic classes.
James Loewen, a sociologist and best-selling author, also is
slated to speak. Loewen is the author of “Lies My Teacher Told
Me: Everything Your High School History Textbook Got Wrong.” He
will deliver a keynote address titled “All the Lies My Teacher
Told Me About Native Americans.” His breakout session, “Going
Beyond the Textbook,” will provide curriculum ideas outside of
traditional textbooks.
Representatives from the Montana’s
education department will serve on a panel discussing that
state’s successes with Native American education. Robert Cook, a
teacher at Rapid City’s Central High School and a Milken
Award winner from South Dakota, will present his success stories
working with at-risk 9th-grade students. Other breakout
sessions will address topics ranging from South Dakota’s Reading
First program to the GEAR Up program.
Rounding out the lineup of speakers
is Ryan Wilson, president of the National Indian Education
Association, and representatives from the U.S. Department of
Education’s Office of Indian Education.
Click here to register for the summit, or call Aske Whitebird in the Office of Tribal Relations
at (605) 773-3415.
Cost is $75. Participants will receive a free book by either
Ruby Payne or James Loewen.
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