CNative Education Update

2:15 p.m.

Background Information:

Purpose of Title VI: Provide supplemental supports for Alaska Native and American Indian students for a successful experience throughout K-12 schooling years through prioritized and targeted assistance.

Title VI Advisory Committee

All seats on the Title VI Advisory Committee are now full.  Members include:

          Parent Representative (Any KPBSD Title VI student parent)

• Seat A—Region 1 (Tyonek, Nikiski, Kenai)—Elizabeth Standifer (Tyonek)
• Seat B—Region 2 (Sterling, Soldotna)—Michael Bernard (Sterling) Chair
• Seat C—Region 3 (Seward, Moose Pass, Cooper Landing, Hope)—Rebecca Dixon
• Seat D—Region 4 (Ninilchik, Anchor Point, Homer)—Carolyn Choate (Homer)
• Seat E—Region 5 (Seldovia, Nanwalek, Port Graham)—Vladimir Moonin (Nanwalek)
• Seat F—At-large (any region)—Monica Anderson (Homer)

            Student Representative (Any KPBSD Title VI enrolled student)

• Seat G—At-large—Nadia Walluk (Kenai)
• Seat H—At-large—John Holland (Soldotna)

            Staff Representative (KPBSD employee)

• Seat I—At-large—Krystalynn Scott (Soldotna)(Works at Skyview Middle School) Vice-Chair

The KPBSD Title VI Advisory Committee meets quarterly.  The FY17 Quarter 4 meeting is scheduled for April 12^th from 3:00-4:30 in the borough assembly chambers.  The committee is having a work session on March 7^th to develop FY18 program priorities. 

The KPBSD Title VI Native Education Program continues to provide supports as identified through the KPBSD Title VI Advisory Committee for its FY17 priorities in the following ways: Tutoring, KPNYL, and ANSEP. 

Tutoring

Tutoring continues at Nanwalek, Nikiski, Port Graham, Skyview, and Tebughna.  KPBSD Native Education has also partnered with the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, who provide tutors at Mt. View and Kenai Middle School. 

KPNYL

Project GRAD/Kenai Peninsula Native Youth Leaders serves 13 sites: HHS, Susan B English, Soldotna Prep, Skyview, KCHS, Kenai Alt, Nanwalek, Port Graham, Ninilchik, Tebughna, Seward HS, and Soldotna HS.  59 students received leadership credit last year through KPNYL.

ANSEP

KPBSD sent 11 KPBSD students to ANSEP February 14—25 from the following schools: Homer Middle, McNeil Canyon, Nanwalek, Nikiski, Skyview, and Tebughna.  The Middle School Academy is a two-week experience designed to promote science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and careers. During this academic and residential academy, students engage in a variety of hands-on activities from building a computer, dissecting squid to testing structures on an earthquake simulation table and much more. 

Mr. Sarge Truesdell, Skyview Middle School Principal, and Mr. Woodhead, visited KPBSD students participating at ANSEP on February 17th.  Students and chaperones, along with those from LKSD, were working hard finishing their computer builds.

Other opportunities supported through Title VI funding include construction academies in Seldovia (students from Susan B. English, Nanwalek, and Port Graham) and Kenai (Kenaitze).  Also, we support travel to ANSEP’s summer STEM Career Exploration camps for any qualifying student who participated in the middle school academy.   

Partnerships

KPBSD currently benefits from several Native partnerships.  We currently have MOAs with the following partners: Chugachmiut (Language programs and heritage kits at Nanwalek, Port Graham, and Seward), Kenaitze Indian Tribe (Tutors at KMS and Mt. View), Seldovia Village Tribe (Chapman School healthy choices activities on all early release days), and the Tebughna Foundation (Tebughna School support).

Grants

KPBSD Native Ed is currently seeking partnerships to write and submit grants in consortium with tribal entities, as per the new regulations in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) as the Local Educational Agency (LEA).  This pursuit is ongoing, and takes into account the feedback KPBSD Native Education received from the recent needs assessment and the Kenai Peninsula Native Leaders Gathering that took place in February. 

Native Youth Community Project Grant (NYCP)

Kenaitze Indian Tribe received a NYCP grant in the amount of $944,404 over the next four years.  KPBSD is the Local Educational Agency (LEA), and providing the Project Coordinator for the grant; Conrad Woodhead.  The grant will provide tutors for four KPBSD middle school sites that KPBSD Title VI does not currently provide tutors for.  These sites include: Homer Middle School, Kenai Middle School, Ninilchik School, and Seward Middle School.  Kenaitze representatives and Mr. Woodhead visited with building principals on January 31 and February 1 and has involved them in the interview process.  All positions should be filled and active after Spring Break. 

Native Leaders Gathering

On February 3, KPBSD Native Education sponsored the first ever Native Leaders Gathering, inviting all Native entities from across the Kenai Peninsula.  The event took place at the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s Dena’ina Wellness Center.  Over 40 dedicated individuals attended and assisted helping the KPBSD Title VI Advisory Committee identify areas of need.  Round table discussion focused on 4 big questions: 1) What are our Native student’s biggest challenges?, 2) What current programs/grants do you provide/administer to support students?, 3) What roadblocks exist when serving KPBSD Native students?, and 4) How can KPBSD help you serve Native students?     

KPBSD Native Education Needs Assessment Survey

KPBSD Native Ed distributed a needs assessment survey that was open to the public from 1/16/17 to 2/20/17.  The survey had 108 responses and will be used to help the KPBSD Title VI Advisory Committee set future priorities. 

Correspondence

KPBSD Native Ed regularly updates the KPBSD Native Education Program Facebook page.  Additionally, KPBSD Native Ed Program brochures have been created and distributed to all 43 sites. 

Additionally, Conrad Woodhead and Tim Vlasak took part in the Cook Inlet Tribal Consortium’s Youth Symposium to learn about their programs and partnerships, January 23—24.