Guest Commentary

President's Executive Order on Education is Timely and Needed

Jolene Aleck in Native Condition. Discussion »

Jolene Aleck - Northern Paiute

CHICAGO - This past Friday, President Barack Obama issued an Executive Order called "Improving American Indian and Alaska Native Educational Opportunities and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities."

This Executive Order for improvement has come at a time when many American Indian and Alaska Native educational advocates need support in the work they do on a daily basis.

Many of my American Indian colleagues working in public schools under Title I, Title VII and other federal title programs have worked hard in tackling equity issues within their districts, as have many individuals working in higher education.

Our work intersects at so many levels. For example, when tribal enrolled students from a Bureau of Indian Education/Bureau of Indian Affairs supported school enter in a public school, there are programs in place that support their academic and cultural development. There are programs that even help their parents' adjustment. Many support programs within higher education exist that help the transition as well.

However, unfortunately, we all seem to work in silos.

The only opportunity to come together is at national conventions such as the National Indian Education Association, NIEA, where we share our work and network. From the networking opportunities, there has been movement and recent committee work to help the folks that work in with tribally enrolled youth in urban settings called "Urban/Rural Native Education Council."

I hope this executive order will push forward much needed discourse about how various local, state and federal agencies support the work of many American Indian and Alaska Native educational advocates.

American Indian and Alaska Native children deserve the best we can provide for them. They are our future. Most importantly, they are our hearts and we love them. I hope this Executive Order will create opportunities to establish working groups (regionally) and can convene and show progress in various areas.

There is good work already being done currently, and at this point I encourage everyone to share this Executive Order by distributing it to their public districts, state educational agencies and develop committees at the local level. I've already approached our district on what we can do to make this Executive Order impactful for our families.

Jolene Aleck, Northern Paiute, is project manager of the Chicago Public Schools' federally-funded project - Title VII American Indian Education Program. Ms. Aleck serves on many committees and speaks on equity issues for Native American families within public schools. She is a graduate student at Northeastern Illinois University-Inner City Education. She is a past NIEA Scholar and Pyramid Lake Paiute Scholar. You may view the Chicago Public School, Title VII American Indian Education Program at ChicagoTitleVII.org

updated December 6, 2011 4:20 pm est; posted December 5, 2011 6:00 am est