REDWOOD ELEMENTARY INDIAN EDUCATION
Indian Education Purpose and Goal:
Improve the Native American student achievement and graduation rates through academically rigorous culturally responsive instruction, family and student engagement and collaborative partnerships with schools and community.
Indian education provides many services for the Native American students and families not only within the school setting, but also through family and community involvement. A few of the different roles we play are:
Support for Instruction: Indian Ed. staff work with teachers to help them become familiar with the best ways for Native students to learn. We do this through professional development opportunities for teachers, but also through one-on-one relationships, logical help in finding appropriate materials and reviewing curriculum for culture sensitivity.
Support: The Indian Ed. staff provides emotional, cultural, and academic support for Native American students in a variety of settings.
Advocacy for Families: If a Native student is experiencing difficulty at their school, their parents can contact Indian Ed staff and they will work with them, facilitating communication to resolve the issue.
Liaison: Serve as a Liaison between families, Redwood Area School District, Lower Sioux Indian Community, as well as the Tribal Council in collaboration, working towards our shared goal of student success.
The Indian Education program has been a fixture at Elementary School for many years! The Indian education department at the Middle/High school will be staffed by Ruth Good Thunder, Holly Schmitt and Jackie Probst as we combine the two area's as a continuous K-12th grade program.
We are here to provide academic, mental and emotional support to our Native American students while also providing them a positive and safe environment.
The program services are available to any self-identified Native student, and although many of our students come from the nearby Lower Sioux Indian Community, we welcome our relatives from any of the native nations.
The staff monitor the students attendance and academic progress while communicating with them and their families to resolve any obstacles which would hinder their ability to reach their potential. While tutoring is available before and after school, we also offer
cultural enrichment opportunities as well as post-secondary exploration.
American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (AIPAC)
Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.78, subdivision 1, states that a school district in which there are 10 or more American Indian students enrolled must establish an AIPAC. An AIPAC may be comprised of parents or guardians of American Indian students, American Indian secondary students, American Indian district staff, American Indian community members, and family members of American Indian students. The AIPAC works closely with the district to help ensure that American Indian students are receiving culturally relevant and equitable educational opportunities.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Jackie Probst, Director of Indian Education
507-644-8124
jprobst@redwoodareaschools.com
Kara Siegfried, RVMS Indian Education Staff
507-644-8723
ksiegfried@redwoodareaschools.com
Holly Larsen, Elementary Indian Education Staff
507-644-7220
hlarsen@redwoodareaschools.com
Heidi Linsmeier, Elementary Indian Education Staff
507-644-7220
hlinsmeier@redwoodareaschools.com
Dorothy Neis, Elementary Indian Education Staff
dneis@redwoodareaschools.com