Red Cloud Indian School Welcomes U.S. Secretary of Education John King to Campus
Secretary King Speaks with Educators and Students about the State of Native Education
posted May 12, 2016
On Thursday, May 12, U.S. Secretary of Education John King visited Red Cloud Indian School to take part in a daylong forum on the state of Native education. Over 150 federal officials, Native educators, administrators, students, and tribal leaders gathered on Red Cloud’s campus to participate in a discussion organized by the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education (WHIAIANE). The Initiative—located within the Department of Education—has convened several forums this year on the Pine Ridge Reservation to explore new ways to improve educational outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native students.
“The entire Red Cloud community was thrilled to welcome Secretary King to campus today. His commitment to expanding opportunities in Native education—and to honoring Native culture and languages in our educational systems—is deeply inspiring and so important,” said Fr. George Winzenburg, S.J., president of Red Cloud Indian School. “He took time to tour our campus, visit our classrooms, and speak directly with our students and teachers about the challenges they’ve faced and the extraordinary things they’ve accomplished. We hope Red Cloud’s story and our innovative, holistic approach can help inform efforts to strengthen Native education nationwide.”
Following an honoring song performed by Red Cloud students, Secretary King addressed those gathered on the importance of providing all Native students with a competitive education that prepares them for advanced studies, successful careers, and healthy lives.
“It’s powerfully important for teachers to be prepared, to be culturally responsive in their classrooms, to understand kids’ language and cultural experiences and to build that into their instruction,” Secretary King said. “That’s part of what happens here at Red Cloud and it’s part of what’s helping Red Cloud to support young people who have a vision for their future and an optimism about their future.”
WHIAIANE’s Executive Director William Mendoza shared additional details about the Initiative’s efforts to address severe challenges in Native education, and Oglala Sioux Tribal President John Yellow Bird Steele acknowledged the hard work and commitment of educators across the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Secretary King toured Red Cloud’s high school and visited classrooms, learning firsthand about Red Cloud’s Lakota Language Project (LLP), the nation’s first comprehensive K-12 Lakota language curriculum. In addition, he participated in a roundtable discussion with a group of Red Cloud High School students. He spoke with students about their own experiences at Red Cloud, about the importance of incorporating Lakota language and culture in their education, and about what they believe can be done to strengthen educational systems on the reservation and across the country.
Reflecting on his visit, Secretary King reaffirmed the focus placed on the education of Native youth in this administration’s agenda.
“I’m deeply committed on behalf of the President and the Department of Education to use every moment we have to improve and strengthen education for our Native American students.”
Check back soon for a complete photo gallery of Secretary King's visit.
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Photos © Red Cloud Indian School