Minneapolis Public Schools Department of Indian Education Staff, March 2018 >>>>> Due for Elimination in the K-12 Revolution

The Minneapolis Public Schools Department of Indian Education has fourteen staff members who purportedly follow department imperatives as expressed on the pertinent portion of the MPS website, as follows:

 

What does Indian Education Do?

Indian Education provides many services for MPS Native students and families. A few examples include

Support for Instruction

We work with teachers and schools to help them become more familiar with the best ways for Native students to learn. We do this through professional development opportunities for teachers, but also through one-to-one relationships. We also develop culturally relevant and engaging curriculum and materials for use in schools.

Support for Family Involvement

We provide resources and support for opportunities throughout the year, like Connecting Parents to Educational Opportunities, parent trainings and parent circles.

College Readiness

Our counselors work with Native students on college planning steps, personal awareness an academic preparedness. They do this by meeting with students in groups and individually, facilitating college field trips and assisting with financial aid and tribal enrollment processes. 

Advocacy for Families

If a Native student is experiencing a problem at their school, Indian Education will work to help resolve the issue. 

……………………………………………………………

 

Staff members at the MPS Department of Indian Education are given by position, as follows:

 

Minneapolis Public Schools Department of Indian Education

 

(March 2018)  >>>>>

 

Staff Member                                   Position

 

1)           Anna Ross                                         Director
2)            Terrell Bignell                                  School Success  

               Program Assistant

3)            Jodi Burke                                         Counselor on Special

               Assignment

4)            Tracy Burke                                       Counselor on Special

                Assignment

5)            Braden Canfield                               Social Worker
6)            Miskwa-Mukwa Desjarlait            Youth Engagement Specialist

7)            Ida Downwind                                  District Program Facilitator

8)           Alicia Garcia                                       Social Worker
9)            Tami Johnson                                    Counselor on Special

                  Assignment

10)          Elaine Kopischke                             Office Specialist
11)          Gary Lussier                                      District Program Facilitator 

12)          James Vukelich                                School Success  

                   Program Assistant

13)          Christine Wilson                              Family Engagement Specialist

14)          Odia Wood-Krueger                       District Program Facilitator 

 

……………………………………………………

 

Staff members of the MPS Department of Indian Education serve useful functions as liaisons to and advocates for American Indian students and families.

 

But they have been failures as educators. 

 

Curricula generated by the MPS Department of Indian Education have cultural value but the materials and approaches advocated by staff have done nothing to raise achievement levels of Native students:

 

For four successive academic years, those ending in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, fewer than 25% of American Indian students have met state standards for mathematics, reading, and science.

 

Much as is the case for staff members of the MPS Office of Black Male Achievement, staff of the Department of Indian Education have skills more pertinent to social work than they do skill and knowledge sets relevant to academics.

 

As the K-12 Revolution sweeps the halls of the Davis Center (MPS central offices, 1250 West Broadway), the Department of Indian Education will be eliminated;  its staff members will, as found to qualify, be incorporated into the new Department of Resource Provision and Referral.