The State Advisory Council on Indian Education
Council Meeting
November 15, 2012
Education Building- Room 224 North and South
Call to Order
Teresa Cunningham-Brown, SACIE Chair, called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. She
welcomed members, guests, and the newest member, Karen Goins Kueny; reviewed the
agenda; and conducted a membership roll call.
Members Present
Trina Bennett
Bill Brewington
Brandi Brooks
Kathy Chavis
Dorothy Crowe
Teresa Cunningham-Brown
The Honorable Senator Jim Davis (District 50)
Marcia Hollifield
Angela Lynch
Karen Goins Kueny
Joseph Richardson
Sharon Williams
Members Not Present
The Honorable Representative Charles Graham (District 47)
Tiffany Locklear
Staff Present
Dr. Olivia Oxendine, Liaison
Staff Not Present
Debora Williams and Susan Silver. Angela Lynch was not feeling well and had to leave early.
Other Attendees
Darlene Ransom, Cumberland County; Elizabeth Mitchell, Hoke County; Billie Allen,
Richmond County; Rita Locklear, Robeson County; Kara Stewart, Chapel Hill/Carboro; Ana
Sanders, Johnston County; Bessie Richardson, Halifax County; Charles Richardson, Jr., NC
Commission on Indian Affairs; Michael Tally, Wake County; Gwen Locklear, Wake County;
Brett Locklear, NC State University; Jean Conley, Guilford County; Mickey Locklear, NC
Commission on Indian Affairs; and Alisa Hunt-Lowery, Johnston County Indian Education
Parent Committee.
Oath of Office
Doris McCain administered the oath to Karen Goins Kueny whom the State Board of
Education recently approved as one of the eight parents to serve on the SACIE.
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Approval of Minutes
Bill Brewington moved to accept the August 8, 2012 minutes, to which Dr. Joseph
Richardson offered a second. The motion carried. Senator Jim Davis then requested that
three corrections be made in the minutes. Mr. Brewington amended his previous motion to
reference these corrections. The amendment was approved by consent of the Council.
Chair’s Briefing
Teresa Cunningham-Brown, SACIE Chair, noted that November is Native American Heritage
Month and that various activities are scheduled to take place at the North Carolina Museum
of History. The Chair briefly discussed two local issues: 1) community perceptions of racial
hostility toward American Indians students in the Hoke County School System and 2) the
high-incident rate of corporal punishment affecting American Indian students in Robeson
County. Dr. Oxendine added that Action for Children, a non-profit organization in the
Triangle area, is lobbying to end corporal punishment and continues to seek Council
support. Dr. Richardson asked Dr. Oxendine to share any future correspondence from this
organization with council members. In general, the SACIE agreed that decisions about
corporal punishment must rest with each local district.
Information Update: The North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs (NCCIA)
Dorothy Crowe reminded the Council of Native American Heritage Month. She also
informed the members of the Commission’s first-hand knowledge of the aforementioned
issues in Hoke and Robeson counties.
American Indian Education Summit: Ad Hoc Committee Report
Darlene Ransom and Elizabeth Mitchell presented an overview of the proposed American
Indian Education (AIE) Summit. Building on the theme, Literacy Matters, the presenters
offered the following ideas for planning the conference program:
1) utilizing DPI expertise: research, resources, and educational consultants
2) examining the meaning of literacy (reading, math, and technology)
3) familiarizing the audience with the Common Core of Standards
4) identifying effective literacy programs and classroom strategies
Related Discussion
1) receiving financial support from DPI
2) determining a date and securing a location for the Summit
3) marketing the event
Darlene Ransom, Angela Lynch, and Elizabeth Mitchell encouraged everyone to make
suggestions, as the committee finalizes topics, speakers, and appropriate formats.
Annual Report to the State Board of Education
Olivia Oxendine presented a partial draft of the SACIE report, noting that it is tentatively
scheduled to go before the SBE in December 2012. Going forward, the report must be
streamlined, shortened, and promoted widely as a digitized document. The Council
authorized Brandi Brooks, Teresa Cunningham-Brown, and Olivia Oxendine to finalize the
report and to provide the Council with a draft of the recommendation before submitting the
document to the SBE.
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Afternoon Session
Brandi Brooks, Vice Chair, led the Council in a discussion of recommendation themes to
consider. Emphasis was given to SMART recommendations, that is, recommendations that
are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. Because the Council has not
conducted an in-depth study of a specific topic/issue, Olivia Oxendine asked the members to
consider omitting a list of recommendations in the next report. To this point, Bill
Brewington asked the Council and the staff to identify specific recommendations that
deserve State Board consideration. The need to assess the writing skills of American Indian
students was offered as a possible recommendation, but no motion was formalized.
Unity Conference 2013: A Call for Proposals
Bill Brewington moved to endorse a presentation of the SACIE report to conferees at the NC
Indian Unity Conference, which will be held in Greensboro on February 28-March 2, 2013.
Dorothy Crowe offered a second. The motion carried. The Chair agreed to follow up with
the required conference paperwork.
Announcements and Adjournment
After the Chair entertained announcements, Bill Brewington moved to adjourn. Dr. Joe
Richardson made the second. The meeting ended at 1:18 p.m.
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