SE Valley Times

Native American students in the Kyrene School District are set to benefit from a unique grant partnership. The district is among the first urban and non-reservation districts to receive a grant from the Navajo Nation Johnson-O'Malley (JOM) Program. This grant offers supplemental funding for cultural enrichment activities that promote Native American heritage and initiatives aimed at improving educational outcomes for Native American students.

"The goal of the program is to ensure that Kyrene Native American students have access to resources that support their cultural identity as well as academic growth," said Erin Schroeder, Assistant Director of Federal Programs and Outreach. "This can include activities that celebrate and preserve indigenous culture and tradition, events that encourage family engagement in their student's education along with targeted academic support focused on improving reading and math skills."

The district has already begun utilizing the grant funds by organizing a celebration for Native American Heritage Month. On November 6, 172 students, staff, family members, and guests attended the Native American Heritage Celebration at Kyrene del Pueblo Middle School. The event featured live performances and traditional cuisine, honoring the diverse cultures of North America's Indigenous people.

"I remember a few events from when I went here," shared former Kyrene student Wind River Joaquin, now an aunt of two current Kyrene students. "This is the first event I've been to now that my nieces are students, and it's so cool to hear from members of my tribe and other tribes. It's great that my nieces have opportunities like this to come together and learn more about our cultures."

The JOM Program is federally funded and aims to support educational and extracurricular opportunities for Native American students. Kyrene received JOM funds as a subgrantee of the Navajo Nation, with allocations based on the number of eligible Native American students in a district and specific program needs.

"We are so grateful to the Navajo Nation for partnering with us to bring this grant to Kyrene. These funds address the unique needs and support the educational journey of Indigenous students. They provide essential resources, honor Native American heritage, and enable Kyrene Native American students to thrive," Schroeder said.

Kyrene School District serves over one thousand students representing 38 tribal nations within its boundaries, which include part of the Gila River Indian Community.