Committee Members Sought for Certification for Instructors of Native American Languages

Tomorrow, Oct. 17, is Deadline to Apply

Oklahoma Capitol -- The Oklahoma State Department of Education is in the process of developing certification for instructors of Native American Languages in Oklahoma public schools. 

A committee will be formed to review past certification in our state, investigate similar certification in other states, and work to develop the new certification standards in collaboration with Oklahoma’s Tribes. 

All interested parties wishing to be part of the committee may complete an application by October 17, 2012, to apply. Download an application form here. 

Contact either of the following people for additional information:

Desa Dawson
Director World Languages
(405) 521-3035
Desa.Dawson@sde.ok.gov

Dwight M. Pickering
Director of American Indian Education
(405) 522-1591

Dwight.Pickering@sde.ok.gov

"Completing the Circle" Workshop Designed to teach Native American Children in Foster Care

OKLAHOMA CITY -- “Completing the Circle,” a workshop designed for Native American children in Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) foster care, will be held from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Oct. 14 at Camp DaKaNi, 3309 Hefner Road in Oklahoma City.

“Completing the Circle” is a program that helps foster children, their foster and biological families and their tribal families travel a path together toward healing.  The program teaches Native American culture, practices and heritage to Native American foster children in central Oklahoma who are placed in non-Native American foster homes.

In Native American culture, the circle is especially sacred, as it symbolizes the Sun, Moon, and the Earth.  Perhaps more importantly it represents a symbol for the circle of life, which is forever evolving and teaching new lessons.

"'Completing the Circle' helps Native American children in foster care feel good about who they are, where they came from, who their ancestors were, and that they can draw strength through their mind, body and spirit," said Deloris Ferguson, OKDHS Rockwell County Director.

The workshop is free, but registration is required.  Additional information may be found by visiting http://events.oucpm.org/area3ctc/ (link opens in new window) or by phoning (405) 470-6221.

Barresi Welcomes New Director of American Indian Education

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 13, 2011) — Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi recently welcomed Dwight Pickering as the new Director of American Indian Education at the state Department of Education.

“We are so excited to have Mr. Pickering fill this position,” Barresi said. “We have been looking for ways to develop strategies at the state level to effectively educate American Indian children and to infuse this rich part of our state culture and heritage into our curriculum.”

Pickering, of Sapulpa, is a member of the Caddo, Otoe, and Kaw Tribes and worked most recently as the Education Director for the Caddo Nation. In that position, he was responsible for all education programs, including development, implementation and evaluation of higher education, adult education and job placement and training programs as well as some supervision of the nation’s Head Start Program.

"I am very excited about this position, and the opportunity it provides to work with not only the education of Indian children but all children in the State of Oklahoma," Pickering said.

Pickering has a general education degree from Haskell Indian Jr. College in Lawrence, Kan., and a Bachelor’s of education from Tarkio College in Tarkio, Mo.

In his duties at the state Department of Education, Pickering will work with American Indian tribes in implementing a proposed new state plan of education for American Indian children. He also will direct the planning and development of statewide technical assistance and professional development programs to improve the learning environment for American Indian children enrolled in Oklahoma public schools.

Desa Dawson, director of World Language Education at the state Department of Education, said the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education (OACIE), a relatively new council of advisors established by the state Legislature, participated in the director’s selection process by serving on the interview panel along with agency staff.

“We very much appreciated their willingness to offer their expertise in this matter,” Dawson said.

Pickering fills the vacancy left by the department’s much beloved Valeria Littlecreek, a long-time advocate for Indian education issues. Littlecreek retired from her position but remains active in Indian affairs.