inside - Navajo Nation Department of Diné Education

July-August-September 2012
Depart-
Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2013
ment of Diné Education
4th
www.navajonationdode.org
INSIDE STEM STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION
W i n d o w
Rock, Arizona, February 15, 2013. At the
Navajo Nation Education Center, Sunrise
Conference Room, the
Navajo Nation convened a strategic planning session on STEM
(Acronym for:
Science,
Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics). Participants (Educators,
Scientists and Administrators) attending the
Planning Session included: Rose Graham,
NNSFA Program Manager;
Darcy Renfro, Science Foundation of Arizona and Arizona STEM Network; Steven
Grey, Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory; Nevina
Kinlahcheeny, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory;
Karen Lesher, Superintendent; Al Reed, Innovate &
Educate; Rebecca Benally,
Vice President of Diné College; Fannie L. Atcitty, Diné
College Board of Regents;
Elmer Guy, President of Navajo Technology College;
Alice Carron, Navajo Technology College;
Cathleen
Barton, Intel and NM Stem;
Suzy Baldwin and Linda
Benally, Arizona Public Service; Calvin Harvey, DODE –
ODSMT.
The strategic planning session is a response to
NABIS-56-11.
The
Nabik’íyáti’
Committee of the Navajo
and businesses.
Nation Council, by Resolution NABIS-56-11, supports The Agenda covered:
the creation of the Navajo
■ Discussion and agreement
Tribal College STEM initiative
on goals set forth in Resoproject to prepare the Navajo
lution NABIS-56-11.
Nation and its children for an
economically independent and ■ Building a Current Analysis:
Understanding the
sustainable future.
Navajo Nation’s current
The Resolution aims
profile.
to increase STEM programs
at tribal colleges. The Resolu- ■ Identify and discuss the
tion anticipates tribal colleges
realities of current educausing STEM education protion reform and their imposal will prepare youth for
plications for the Navajo
future employments and caNation.
reers thereby STEM estab■ Action planning (i.e.:
lishes the foundation for a
What do you want to do
Navajo Nation economy in
and what does success look
advance technology and innolike? Draft key elements of
vation.
an action plan with long –
The main objective
and-short term goals for
of the STEM Strategic Planaction; develop guiding
ning Session is to establish a
principles and underlying
framework and direction for
assumptions.
an actionable STEM and to
identify high impact opportunities for students, teachers
January— February—March 2013
Department of Diné Education
FY 2013 2nd Quarter
NAVAJO NATION BOARD OF EDUCATION
Jimmy C. Begay
President
Chinle Agency
Dolly C. Begay, MA
Vice President
Eastern Navajo Agency
There is two-vacancy on the Navajo Nation Board of
Education. In August 2012 Board Member Andrea Charlie
resigned and then in January 2013 Tina James-Tafoya resigned from the Board.
________________________________
In the meeting held January 4th, 2013, NNBOE discussed NNBOE’s goals and objectives for the next six
months, which includes: Title 10, 2, 11 and the One Grant
Concept with the Feasibility Study and Analysis of the Department of Diné Education. In addition, Ms. Rose Graham,
Department Manager, ONNFSA, provided an update report
on the status of the Chief Manuelito Scholarship. Under
the New Business item, the Board approved the Gallup
McKinley County Public Schools Impact Aid Indian Policies
and Procedures for SY 2013-2014.
________________________________
The Board in the January 14th, 2013, special meeting
(held in the DODE Sunrise Conference Room) received an
overview report on the status of the Navajo Head Start.
The report included a section on the authorities and responsibilities of the Board as incorporated into the reorganization of the Navajo Head Start. In addition, the Board
approved Resolution NNBEJA-184-2013, which approves
the Navajo Nation Board of Education as the oversight governing body for the Navajo Nation Head Start.
________________________________
Katherine D. Arviso
Secretary
Fort Defiance Agency
Dr. Bernadette Todacheene
Northern Navajo Agency
►
Review the 2012-2013 DODE Strategic Plan.
►
Review the Executive Branch Strategic Plan.
►
Discuss the Superintendent’s conflicting schedule of
meeting attendance.
________________________________
The Board approved Resolution NNBEJA-185-2013 at
the NNBOE special meeting January 29, 2013. Resolution
NNBEJA-185-2013 pertains to several important matters,
such as: The Navajo Nation’s Position Statement on education and testimony; Supporting the Department of Diné
Education and Local School Board Positions (Diné Bi Ołta
School Board Association, Inc.) on the Fiscal Year 20132014 Bureau of Indian Education Funding regarding: Indian Education, Administrative Cost Grants, Student
Transportation, Facilities Management, Operations, and
Maintenance, School Facility Improvement and Repairs
and school replacement construction. Ms. Angela BarneyNez, Executive Director of the Diné Bi Olta School Board
Association, made the presentation.
________________________________
When the Board opened the special meeting January
21, 2013, an important discussion on the agenda was the
preparation for the joint meeting between the Board and
HEHSC. After thorough and complete discussion, the Board
unanimously approved the following issues to bring before
HEHESC:
►
Overview, Summary, and Status of the Navajo Nation
Accountability Workbook.
NNBOE Members meet with Vice President Jim
►
Recommended Amendments to Title 2, 10 and 11.
►
Discussion and consideration of additional Delegations
of Authority to the Department and Board.
►
Delegation of Authority: Reauthorization of P.L. 100297 Grant and P.L. 93-638 Contract Schools.
►
Options for Board of Education to implement “stand
alone”.
At the March 8th, 2013, regular meeting, the Board approved Resolution NNBEMA-187-2013 to effect a name
change from the “Office of Youth Development” to “Diné
YOUTH”. In addition, the Board approved NNBEMA-1862013 to amend ECMY-28-02 that pertains to the ONNSFA
Policies and Procedures. The Board received the following
update reports:
►
Local Governance Act Model (Chapters/FMS)
►
Self-Governance Compact Model (638 Hospitals)
►
►
►
School Reauthorization process and activities.
Navajo Head Start Restructuring activities.
WRUSD School Consolidation/Closure Plans.
Page 2
Rose J. Yazzie
Western Navajo
Agency
Gloria Johns, MA
Board Member
Appointed
Navajo Culture
Representative
Bennie Begay
Board Member
Appointed
Navajo Culture
Representative
Delores NobleParker
Board Member
Appointed
School
Administrator
Patrick Lynch
Board Member
Appointed
Parent
Representative
January— February—March 2013
Department of Diné Education
SUPERINTENDENT TAH’S MESSAGE
The federal budget cuts
(sequester) which became effective
March 1, 2013, definitely have potential impact on national and local
school operating budgets. The federal
budget cuts affected impact aids.
Many state schools on the Navajo
Nation rely on impact aids from the
federal government.
The federal budget cuts also have
potential impacts on BIE school
budgets, by five-percent budget cut,
which oversees 31 schools on the Navajo Nation. Overall, 65 schools
(combining BIE schools, grant schools and
contract schools) on the Navajo Nation
are affected - in one form or anotherbecause of the federal budget cuts.
Schools are compelled to review their
budgets to maintain operation.
Despite federal budget cuts, the
education of Navajo children must
continue to move forward. School
busses will continue to pick-up school
children, school children will continue
to occupy school buildings and classrooms and teachers will continue to
FY 2013 2nd Quarter
see children and teach students.
School children are undaunted by the
federal budget cuts.
In so far as education is concerned, the Navajo people is resilient
and have in the past displayed the
capacity to pick-up the pieces where
others have failed. With renewed resources and priorities, the Navajo Nation can set a firm cornerstone to
build a Nation of education on stable
grounds.
There is still a bright future to
look forward to despite current and
future federal budget deliberations.
The Navajo people have overcome
past federal Indian policies (some are
most unspeakable) and the Navajo people survived because of the determination to gain knowledge and an education in the most subtle form.
Navajo Nation Johnson-O’Malley Program
Meets with Subcontractors (School Districts)
♦
♦
♦
♦
On February 26-27, 2013, the Navajo
Nation Johnson-O’Malley Program met with
Subcontractors at the San Juan College in Farmington, New Mexico.
The panel discussion on goals and objectives included:
The agenda included general assembly,
panel discussions and breakout sessions. The
breakout sessions were designed to provide technical assistance to subcontractors.
■
■
■
■
Over 94 educators and parents attended
the 9th annual Subcontractors Regional Meeting.
The Navajo Nation JOM provided to subcontractors and participants updated information on JOM
Budget, student count, developing educational
plans and other updated educational information.
The meeting focused on assisting school
districts (subcontractors) about how to develop
and proceed with the FY 2013-14 JOM Proposal.
According to NNJOM, these are relevant issues
and concerns of the thirty one (31) subcontractors, which are located on the Navajo Nation and
in boarder-towns adjacent to the Navajo Nation.
Staffs at the Navajo Nation JOM and other
pertinent Agencies/Departments provided important information regarding program proposals
dealing with JOM contracts. Ms. Delphina E.
Shunkamola, BIE Education Program Specialist,
provided detailed information about the BIA on-
Star School
Pinon Unified School District
Page Unified School District
Flagstaff Unified School District
San Juan Unified School District
Ganado Unified School District
Window Rock Unified School District
Navajo Preparatory School
The three breakout sessions included:
▬
Analyze and understand the 2013-14 proposal, budget, timeline, channel of funds,
process of subcontract, and submission of
invoices;
Education plan;
IEC Monitoring/Need Assessment
site monitoring visit.
▬
▬
Assistant Superintendent Mr. Tim Benally
presented the current status of the Dine Department of Education’s plans on the Diné Standards
Initiative.
“The panel discussion gave updated information
to the subcontractors about how successful programs do their proposals,” says Jonas Yazzie,
NNDODE Education Specialist.
In addition, Dr. AnCita Benally, the Office
of Dine’ Culture, Language and Community Service, presented information about a “Research on
the Navajo Language Decline”.
The discussion on the education-plan-needs assessments and objectives, the panels shared their
expertise on how they develop their proposals.
Mr. Yazzie explains,
In the afternoon, February 26, 2013, the
panel discussion on needs assessment included
the following schools:
Page 3
These discussions provided strategies by
incorporating the Navajo Nation education priorities into their education plans.
January— February—March 2013
Department of Diné Education
FY 2013 2nd Quarter
2013 NAVAJO NATION SCIENCE FAIR
NAVAJO NATION DEPARTMENT OF
DINE EDUCATION KICKED-OFF THE
2013 NAVAJO NATION SCIENCE FAIR
AT THE RED ROCK STATE PARK –
GALLUP, NEW MEXICO
The Navajo Department of Diné
Education (NNDODE) held the 2013
Navajo Nation Science Fair February 26
& 27, 2013, at the Red Rock State ParkGallup, New Mexico.
The Office of Diné School Improvement of the Navajo Department of Diné
Education was excited about the positive responses with more participants.
“This year over 521 entries were submitted from Kindergarten to 12th grades
representing over 30 schools, ”says
Johanson Phillips, Principal Education
Specialist at the office of Diné School
Improvement, NNDODE. 27 judges
have signed-up to evaluate and score
science projects that included eight
categories:






Animal Sciences
Behavior & Social Services
Biology
Chemistry
Engineering
Environment Sciences
♦
Valtavia Cook, Rock Point Community School
Behavioral & Social Sciences
♦
♦
♦
♦
Kaly Arvizu, Tuba City Boarding
School;
Kierman Sherman and Aubry Joe,
Ganado Intermediate School;
3rd (tie) Kami Atcitty and Tiana Sam,
Montezuma Creek Elementary
School
3rd (tie) Derrick Lamerman and
Courtney Yazzie, Red Mesa Junior
High School
Biology
♦
♦
♦
Superintendent Tah reviewing a science project
Chemistry
February 27, 2013, Navajo Nation Science Fair (Grades 5-6) Junior Division
Results are:
♦
Animal Science
♦
♦
♦
Chris Bahe, Rock Point Community
School;
Rhiannon Lansing, Montezuma
Creek Elementary School;
Johndenmy Mendoza and Marcus
King, Atsa Biyaazh Community
School;
Hyatt Todachinnie and Skylar Tortalita, Montezuma Creek Elementary
School;
Shanya Willie, Kin Dah Lichi I Ota
School
♦
Tia Morgan, Tiis Tsozi Bi Olta
Crownpoint;
AlannahIgra Mangubat , Tuba City
Boarding School;
Justina Slim, Tuba City Boarding
School
Computer Science
♦
Talis Yazzie, Tsehootsoi Dine Bi
Page 4
♦
Olta;
Tori Wesley and Cyndi Jackson, Pinon Elementary School
Engineering
♦
♦
♦
Te’a Scott, Aneth Community
School;
Denisha Nez, Pinon Accelerated
Middle School;
Wyatt Francisco, Wingate Elementary
School
Environmental Sciences
♦
♦
♦
Danyel Johnson, Tse Bit Ai Middle
School;
Devin John, Tsehootsoi Elementary
School;
Charlotte Sam, Wingate Elementary
School
Physical Science
♦
♦
♦
Seth Crespin and Johnny Gutierez,
Tohajiilee Community School;
Dana Begaye, Pinon Elementary
School;
Taina Sandoval, Tse Bit Ai Middle
School
Overall Highest Point Winner in the
Junior Division (Grades 5-6)
♦
Kaly Arvizu, Tuba City Boarding
School
Continue on page 8
January— February—March 2013
Department of Diné Education
FY 2013 2nd Quarter
NNDODE, NNBOE and HEHESC HOLD STRATEGIC WORK SESSION
On January 29 and 30, 2013,
NNDODE, NNBOE and HEHSC held
joint strategic work session.
NNDODE covered presentations
on the 2013 priorities of the Navajo Nation Education systems.
The presentation included
discussions on the Navajo Nation
as the State Education Agency and
Members of the Health, Education and Human Services Committee: (from left) Charles Damon II,
Walter Phelp, Kenneth Maryboy, Jonathan Hale, Joshua Butler, Dwight Witherspoon

Vice President Rex Lee Jim
future prospective of the Navajo
Nation Department of Dine Education.

On January 30, 2013, NNDODE
presented the following Navajo Nation Department of Diné Education
goals:


One Grant Conto establish a One Grant Office
cept;
within the Department of Diné Edu Oral
Navajo
cation.
Language Assessment;
In addition, in the academic
 Impact Aid;
component of the One Grant Con AZ Indian Educept, NNDODE proposes to establish
cation Act;
school improvement officers within
 Identify
and
the Department of Dine’ Education
Resolve Reorganiwith the following objectives:
zational
Issues;
 Expedite
Background Checks;
Streamline 164 Review
Process (SAS);
2013 Increase budget for
DODE Programs;
Enhance DODE Administration with a staff attorney, Finance Office, PerNNBOE Members at the Strategic Work Session
sonnel Management;
 Partnership
with the Bureau of
Indian Education;
 Implement the ASU MOA.
and obtaining data.
 Partnership with State departments of Education to assist
The One Grant
teachers’ certification.
Concept will im Implement Common Core Stanprove upper mandards.
agement and de Develop Diné Standards Assessvelop support for
ments.
education reform.
 Develop Diné Content Standards
NNDODE proposes
Curriculum.
(from left) Superintendent Andrew M. Tah and Dr. Kalvin White
Page 5
January— February—March 2013
Department of Diné Education
FY 2013 2nd Quarter
Navajo Nation Head Start Policy Council Special Meeting
On February 6, 2013, the Navajo
Nation Head Start Policy Council
(NNHSPC) convened a special meeting at
the Sunrise Conference Room of the Navajo Department of Diné Education.
Rita Begay, President of NNHSPC,
called the meeting to order around 9:00
am with the review and approval of the
agenda. Throughout the day, NNHSPC
was busy discussing the 2011 NNHSPC
Bylaws. Navajo Department of Justice
Attorney, Michelle Begay, who is assigned
to NNDODE, provided legal and technical advice to NNHSC to ensure that the
Bylaws comply with Head Start Performance Standards. “The purpose of updating the Bylaws,” says Rita Begay, President of NNHSPC, “is because they are
currently outdated and because NNHSPC
needs to comply with the proposed Navajo Head Start realignment.”
According to the Bylaws, the principal office of the NNHSPC is located at
the Navajo Head Start Administration
building. The NNHSPC consists of the
Policy Council and the Parent Committee.
In Article III, NNHSPC acknowledges parents and community representatives to participate in shared decisionmaking process in the interest of providing quality education services to children.
Provisions of Article IV of the
Bylaws refer to NNHSPC membership,
term limitation, compensation, notice of
meeting, voting, conference meeting,
composition, community representative,
election, membership term, removal, vacancies, and duties of the members of the
NNHSPC members.
Provisions of Article V delineate
the duties and responsibilities of the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Article VI set forth provisions on
the regulations and standards of conduct
officials of the Navajo Nation.
Provisions in Article V recite vari-
Page 6
ous Navajo Nation laws, such as:
▬ 45 CFR Head Start Performance
Standards
▬ Head Start Act
▬ 2 N.N.C. § 3758;
▬ 2 N.N.C § 3741;
▬ 11 N.N.C. § 1 et seq;
▬ 2 N.N.C. § § 3780—3782.
These laws are incorporated and
made a part of the Bylaws. Section Four
of Article VI covers provisions of conflict
of interest.
Provisions on committee and appointments are found in Article VII and,
according to Article VIII, any amendments to the Bylaws require affirmative
vote of two-thirds of NNHSPC.
Rita explains, “The next regular
meeting of NNHSPC will convene February 28, 2013, in Tuba City , but the overall
vote on the proposed amendments will
be held next month in March 2013 at a
scheduled regular meeting of NNSHPC.”
January— February—March 2013
Department of Diné Education
FY 2013 2nd Quarter
DBOSBA— SCHOOL BOARD ORIENTATION
January 25 –26, 2013, at the Red
Lion Inn, Gallup, New Mexico, with
Mr. Fernie Yazzie as the Emcee, the
Dine Bi Olta School Board Association
opened the two-day orientation for
school board members.
The Posting of Colors ceremony
was performed by the JR ROTC from
the Chooshgai Community School. The
American flag led the procession followed by the New Mexico flag and the
Navajo Nation flag. On January 25th,
2013, over 140 school board members
attended and participated in the orientation. On the second day over 120 members attended the orientation.
On the first day of the orientation, the agenda included six breakout
sessions as follows:
·
·
·
·
·
Education Accountability
Federal Background Checks
Parliamentary Procedures
Health Education
Educational Data and Reauthorization of Schools
On the second day of the orientation, time was
set aside for the
School Board Organization Meeting.
As scheduled, Mr.
Fernie
Yazzie,
President of the
DBOSBA, called
the meeting to order.
After much
discussion on the
details of the procedure and process
for the election of
Superintendent Andrew Tah addressing the school board members
the
Executive
Board members, nominations were made
from the floor. When the nominees acNavajo North Central Association
cepted their nominations, candidates were
AdvancEd.
given time to address the audience.
Votes on the candidates were held
In addition, the orientation covusing secret ballots.
ered information on Indian Education
Today and Ethics in Government Act.
Fernie Yazzie was reelected as the
Dr. Monte Roessel, Associate Deputy
President, and
Director, BIE Navajo Region, covered an
overview of the Bureau of Indian EducaMargie Begay as the Vice President.
tion.
·
·
·
Diné Character Building Standards
(K-3rd grade)
–
STANDARD:
I will develop and apply critical thinking to establish relationships with the
environment.
1–
I will express critical thinking to establish relationships with the environment.
PO 1.
I will recognize ways to express relationship.
PO 2.
shim
I will respect my immediate family.
PO 3.
I will recognize self-respect.
Page 7
January— February—March 2013
Department of Diné Education
FY 2013 2nd Quarter
CONTINUATION — 2013 NAVAJO NATION SCIENCE FAIR
February 27, 2013, Navajo Nation Science Fair (Grades 7-12) for Senior Division Results are:
♦
♦
Animal Science
♦
♦
♦
Tyra Nicolay and Cheyenne Keams
Tse Bit Ai Middle School;
Kayla Chee , Tsehootsooi Dine Bi
Olta;
Sera Cambridge , Pinon Accelerated
Middle School
Environmental Sciences
♦
♦
♦
Behavioral & Social Sciences
♦
♦
♦
Izabella Chee, Pinon Accelerated
Middle School;
Sydney Terry, Tsehootsooi Dine Bi
Olta
Alexander Wytewa and Deshna Joe,
Navajo Preparatory School;
Mathew Henderson, Pinon Accelerated Middle School;
Taylor Francisco, Navajo Preparatory
School
Above: Dr. Kalvin White evaluating a science
project. Below: The awards—Medals and
Titan Tablets
Shantel King and Jazmin Benally,
Navajo Preparatory School;
Kiena Toadlena, Tsehootsooi Dine
Bi Olta;
Timothy Benally & Anthony Lemus,
Ganado Middle School
Biology
♦
♦
♦
Crystal Stewart, Navajo Preparatory
School;
Sonya John , Navajo Preparatory
School;
Amaya Blackhorn, Red Mesa Middle
School;
Chemistry
♦
♦
♦
Nizhoni Jake and Kayla O’Jaye, Navajo Preparatory School;
Kai Lameman and Ian Lameman,
Red Mesa Middle School;
Noellani Buck and Amica Haceesa ,
Tse Bit Ai Middle School
Computer Science
♦
♦
Sean Eaton , Navajo Preparatory
School;
Zenita Manygoats, Pinon Accelerated
Middle School
Physical Science
♦
♦
♦
Engineering
♦
Isaiah Chavez and Tyler Bahe, Navajo Preparatory School;
DODE Staff tabulating scores from the Judging Sheets
Joel Charles, Navajo Preparatory School;
Leniah Yazzie and Krystelle
Boyd, Navajo Preparatory
School;
Marilyn Kaskalla and Kevin
Begay, Tse Bit Ai Middle
School
Science fair projects were evaluated and
scored using the following criteria:
1)
2)
Overall Highest Point Winner in
the Senior Division (7-12)
♦
Crystal Stewart, Navajo Preparatory School
►
Top three winners in each category
received Medals
►
Top winners in all categories received TITAN Tablet with 8GB
memory
5)
►
Overall Top two winners received
Latitude 10 Window Tablet
6)
Page 8
3)
4)
Scientific Investigation—Problem stated
clearly, problem challenging; follow problem
precisely; demonstrate practicality; variables
clearly defined; adequate date; indicate further research and plan.
Thoroughness— Date and testing extremely
thorough; understood between project and
other approaches; made attempts to solve
stated problem; comprehensive log book;
data supported conclusion.
Skill— Executed project will; did all actual
work.
Creative Ability/ Originality— Original idea;
approach original; data analyzed effectively;
project design neat and detailed.
Clarity— Exhibit neat and clear; oral and
written responses well organized and thorough
Interview