We're not done yet, but we've made great progress in assembling our Governing Board to lead our school.
1) Ben Soce - Ben is an outdoor educator at the National Indian Youth Leadership Project. He brings the gifts of knowledge of positive youth development and outdoor experiential education, and a commitment to holistic health and wellness. Ben is a citizen of the Navajo Nation, a graduate of Gallup High School, and a father to students in Gallup's public schools. 2) Masika Sweetwyne - Masika is a high school teacher and school board member from Zuni. She brings the gifts of a commitment to rigorous academic programming and the skill to develop curriculum in line with our project-based learning philosophy. 3) Philmer Bluehouse - Philmer is a traditional healer from the Fort Defiance area of the Navajo Nation. In the 1990s, Phil helped create the Navajo Peacemaking Courts based on traditional notions of justice. Philmer brings the gift of a commitment to peacemaking and restorative justice for youth. 4) Madeline Leyba - Madeline is a life-long Gallup resident and graduate of Gallup High School. Her son also attended GHS and her step-daughters currently attend Gallup public schools. Madeline brings the gift of years of experience working at GMCS and Teach For America. She has knowledge of state policies, finances, and RFP processes, as well as a deep belief in culturally responsive school models since visiting Puente de Hozho school in Flagstaff. After much discussion and discourse among the many wonderful folks who have been taking part in our planning meetings this spring, we settled on a final name for our school: Six Directions Indigenous School.
We feel like the name signals our commitment to a culturally responsive model while also acknowledging an aspect of local funds of knowledge--the recognition of six cardinal directions--that is shared among different tribes who share in the history of this place. Six Directions symbolizes a commitment to holistic education, and our commitment to six priorities: 1) Rigorous Academics 2) Culture 3) Language 4) Purpose and Power 5) Health and Wellness 6) Community From Space to Indigenous Ancestral Engineering: Commander John Herrington Charts New Territory6/7/2015 Check out this inspiring story about the first Native American in space and his path to becoming an educator.
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