2012 National Forum on Dropout Prevention for Native and Tribal Communities

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

April 16, 2012

Denise Juneau

Montana State Superintendent of Public Instruction

As Montana's State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Denise Juneau is working hard to provide every Montana child a quality education that creates opportunities for them to be highly competitive in the global economy.

Juneau grew up in Browning, MT, and is the daughter of two educators. She attended, taught in, and worked with Montana's public school classrooms from elementary school through higher education and throughout her professional career.  Read On

April 17, 2012

Rev. Dr. Michael Oleksa

Acting Chancellor of the Diocese of Sitka, Anchorage and Alaska

Father Michael Oleksa is a widely known speaker who travels almost weekly throughout North America speaking from two perspectives – Orthodox Christian and as an expert on Cross Cultural Communications, typically speaking to state, federal, and educational agencies. After 40 years in Alaska, Father Michael is convinced Alaska has a mission to the rest of the Church, just as the Church has considered Alaska a mission field for over 200 years. He is most well known for his widely acclaimed four-part PBS television series, "Communicating Across Cultures".  Read On

April 18, 2012

Dr. John Molina

Chief Executive Officer, Phoenix Indian Medical Center

Dr. John Molina is the Chief Executive Officer for Phoenix Indian Medical Center, in Phoenix, Arizona. Prior to this appointment Dr. Molina was the Medical Director and Assistant Director for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Arizona’s Medicaid program. He is also Founder of Las Fuentes Health Clinic, a non-profit health center in his hometown of Guadalupe, AZ.  Read On

PRE-FORUM WORKSHOPS

Pedagogy of Aloha - Engaging Native Students to Achieve Success in High School and in Life

Sunday, April 15, 2012, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon
Presented by Dr. Ku Kahakalau, Honoka'a Hawaii

A Native Hawaiian educational model, grounded in Pedagogy of Aloha, is fostering Native success in high school and in life, using a way of education that is culturally-driven, academically rigorous, community-based, and prepares students to walk comfortably in multiple worlds, as they strive to reach their highest.

School and Family Relationships - Empowering Parents

Sunday, April 15, 2012, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon
Presented by National Board Member, The National Johnson-O'Malley Association, Okmulgee, OK, and facilitated by Ms. Virginia Thomas, NJOMA Board President

The JOM Program does more than just provide school supplies, it provides an avenue for parents to become involved in their children's education. We will explore the idea of strengthening the connection between parents and their children's school. The JOM Program follows children from kindergarten through high school and allows parents the opportunity to be part of their children's educational plan. Our hope is that you walk away from this Forum informed, empowered, and ready to build a stronger working relationship with your local school district. This will be an interactive Forum that will build your networking capabilities to other school programs that have been successful in reducing the dropout rate using parental involvement.

NDPC's 15 Effective Strategies and Application for Native and Tribal Contexts

Sunday, April 15, 2012, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Presented by Mr. Franklin Schargel, Schargel Consulting Group, Albuquerque; NM and Ms. Daisy Thompson, Albuquerque Public Schools, Albuquerque, NM

Through extensive research and practice, the National Dropout Prevention Center has identified 15 strategies that have proven effective in the area of dropout prevention.  These strategies are proven principles that can be implemented and tailored to any context.  This presentation will introduce the strategies and discuss their effective implementation in a native and/or tribal context.

Working Together to Succeed

Sunday, April 15, 2012, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Presented by Dr. Tim Bruce, La Conner School, Swinomish Indian Reservation, La Conner, WA; and Mr Brian Cladesky, Tribal Chairman, Swinomish Indian Tribe, La Conner, WA

This presentation will look at the dropout prevention efforts of the Swinomish Tribe and the La Conner School District, who continue to work together to increase school success for all their students.  Information presented will include a brief history of the educational challenges of the Swinomish Tribe and an overview of the research completed by the local school district and Tribe to gain a better understanding of the perceived attributes of success, as seen through the eyes of Swinomish High School graduates.  Recommendations stemming from this research will be shared as well as current statistics.  By working together, the Tribe and school district have developed ongoing student support systems and programs designed to help students stay in school and be successful.  An overview of these supports and programs will be presented with a time for discussion.

Graduation: More Than Staying in School

Sunday, April 15, 2012, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Presented by Ms. Marilyn Johnson, Albuquerque Bureau of Indian Education Office, Albuquerque, NM; and Dr. Sandra Covington Smith, National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities, Clemson University, Clemson, SC

The Bureau of Indian Education Dropout Prevention Initiative is the result of a partnership with the National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities.  The presentation will focus on the evidence-based framework for dropout prevention along with examples of how to promote student engagement among all students.

Resiliency in the Face of Historical Trauma

Sunday, April 15, 2012, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Presented by Dr. Carrie Johnson, United American Indian Involvement, Inc., Los Angeles, CA

Dr. Johnson will provide a general overview of the cultural, social, and historical factors that have had and continue to have a significant impact on the lives of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students. It is imperative to understand and comprehend the socio-historical context of AI/ANs in order to facilitate positive educational change and healing that will be passed on from generation to generation. The concept of wellness incorporates the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health of AI/AN people, and will be used as a framework utilizing a community-healing model for understanding how to effectively address the impact of historical factors on AI/AN students. The community-healing model recognizes the strengths and resiliency of AI/AN people and values identity, language, culture, and traditions that can assist in promoting positive changes.