Teachers have a tough job. They often get little credit for educational achievements and all the blame for failures. And the profession is one of the lowest paying. But each fall, millions of teachers head back into the classroom. We’ll speak with some teachers about why they choose the classroom and what benefit teachers can bring to Native American students.
Guests:
Nepthys Justo (Santee Sioux Nation) – 3rd grade teacher
Dr. Joe Martin (Navajo) – professor of educational leadership in the college of education at Northern Arizona University and director of the American Indian School Leadership Program
Agatha John-Shields (Yup’ik) – assistant professor at the University of Alaska-Anchorage college of education
Vida Stabler (Omaha Nation) – Indian Education Director for Umoⁿhoⁿ Nation Public School
Hi. I’m Native with a 14 years experience in special education classrooms and I have a Master’s Degree in Education. I have been on numerous interviews for special education positions in Oklahoma. I finally became so frustratrated, I ask the principal what I was doing wrong that I seem to not be considered for open positions. I was informed, Oklahoma schools could not afford me, therefore I would probably not be hired anywhere. Schools could hire 4 new inexperienced graduates for what it would cost to hire me. I attended all the meetings that determined a student’s eligibility for special education, many student’s behavior’s were cultural not due to a disability, Native students relied on me for all sorts of information, I sponsored Native student Associations, and I’ve been teacher of the year. Yet, I can not find a job. No one can afford me. Sad.