Article #4 >>>>> >Journal of the K-12 Revolution: Essays and Research from Minneapolis, Minnesota<, Volume XII, Number Four, November 2025

Those Most Responsible for Abysmal Student Academic Proficiency Rates at the Minneapolis Public Schools

 

Department of Indian Education

                                    

The Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) Department of Indian Education is responsible for the  academic progress of American Indian students and therefore must take responsibility for the wretched academic proficiency rates for this MPS demographic student group.

 

With that observation in view, first peruse the abysmal proficiency rates of American Indian students in the Minneapolis Public Schools, then consider the particular MPS Department of Indian Education staff who must take responsibility for these results.

 

Minneapolis Public Schools 

Academic Proficiency Rates

Years Ending in 2014 through 2024

 

American

Indian

 

Math            23%  19%  19%   17%  17%  18%   9%    9%  10%  12%     

 

Reading       21%  20%  21%   23%  24%  25% 20%  22%  19% 18%    

 

Science        14%  16%  13%  12%  14%  17%     9%   9%    7%  12%  

 

Department of American Indian Education Staff, June 2024

 

Jennifer Simon (Cheyenne River Lakota), Director

Diana Leaskas, Account Specialist

Chirstina Wilson (White Earth), Program Coordinator

Alexis Dauenhauer (Standing Rock), School Success Program Assistant/Elementary Schools (North)

Patric Engrav (Boise Forte), School Success Program Assistant/Middle & K-8 Schools (Districtwide)

Gary Smith (Mille Lacs, Red Lake), School Success Program Assistant/Elementary Schools (South)

Madison Smith (Oneida), School Success Program Assistant/High Schools (Districtwide)

Justin Brokenrope (Sicangu Lakota), School Success Program Assistant/High Schools (Districtwide)

Amanda Turbett (White Earth), School Success Program Assistant/Elementary Schools

Alyssa Parkhurst (Red Lake), School Success Program Assistant/Elementary Schools

Alejandra (Ally) Moreno (White Earth/Red Lake), ), School Success Program Assistant/Elementary Schools

Dennis Gilbert, Jr. (Lac Du Flambeau, Leech Lake, Paiute), School Success Program Assistant/Middle Schools

Kris Winkelman (Lower Sioux), School Success Program Assistant/Contract Alternative Schools

Kayelynn Younkin, Language Intervention Support/School Success Program Assistant

Aquila Tapio (Oglala Lakota), District Program Facilitator/Special Education/Dream Catcher Project

Matthew LaFave (Fond du Lac), Ojibwe Language Teacher

Shiela Zephier (Oglala Sioux, Turtle Mountain), Dakota Language Teacher