WIDTE HOUSE INITIATIVE ON AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE
EDUCATION
October 23 , 20 14
The White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education (WHIAIANE) and the U.S .
Department of Education invite you to attend the first-ever School Environment Listening Tour, which
will take place on October 26th from 9:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. in the North Hall of the La Crosse Center in
La Crosse, Wisconsin. The tour aims to create a space for schools and communities to voice their
opinions about how we as a department can better assist institutions to meet the unique educational and
culturally-related academic needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students.
The listening sessions focus on school environment - bullying, student discipline and offensive imagery
and symbolism. My office, WHIAIANE, is gathering feedback during the tour and will use this
information to consider how we can implement future action to ensure American Indian and Alaska
Native students receive high quality education.
Already underway, listening sessions have occurred in Franklin, Wisconsin (October 1Oth) and
Anchorage, Alaska (October 21 51). Additional sessions will be held in the coming weeks in Seattle, WA,
Troy, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Oklahoma City, OK; East Lansing, MI; and Tulsa, OK.
Event information can be found at www.edtribalconsultations.org
CALL IN INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY
Please cal/1-800-475-0481. The participant passcode is 5548634.
WHIAIANE and the Department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) are committed to supporting school
districts, states, tribes and other organizations as they seek to better serve Native American students,
ensuring that all students have equal opportunities and resources in order to learn, succeed in school,
careers and in life. OCR recently released guidance to educators on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of
1964 to ensure that all students have equitable access to the resources that they deserve- and that are
their right- such as academic and extracurricular programs, strong teaching, facilities, and instructional
materials. Administration officials and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan have engaged directly with
tribal officials on a range of educational issues important to Indian Country. This tour will allow us to see
what areas in our educational system need improvements, so that our students can safely and comfortably
learn about their heritage and culture, while still ensuring that they are college and career ready.
Respectfully,
William Mendoza, M.Ed.
Executive Director
White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education
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Listening Session
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Listening Session Agenda
NORTH HALL, LA CROSSE CENTER- LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN
OCTOBER 26, 20 14
Sunday, October 26, 2014
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Acknowledgements, Framing the Day, and
Introduction of Elder, Veterans, Drum, and Panelists:
Tracy Littlejohn, Community Moderator
Opening Ceremonies:
Presentation of Eagle Staff & Flags - Andrew Blackhawk Legion Post 129
Flag Song and Honor Song- Little Thunder
Opening Prayer - Robert Mann
9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Welcome:
Jon Greendeer, Ho-Chunk Nation President
Brian Jackson, Wisconsin Indian Education Association President
Sheila Briggs, State of Wisconsin Assistant State Superintendent
9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Introduction I Overview:
William Mendoza, Executive Director
White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education
Patrick Alexander, Attorney at Law
US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
Discussion - Q& A
10:45 a.m. -11:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Break - Youth invited to attend concurrent Youth Session next door
Concurrent Sessions:
Parents/Educators/Advocates Session
Current Issues in Wisconsin
Pupil Non -Discrimination Complaint Process in Wisconsin
David O'Connor, American Indian Studies Consultant
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
"Indian" Mascot & Logo Task Force
Barbara Munson, Board Member
Wisconsin Indian Education Association
11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
I Youth Session (next to North Hall)
Emilio De Torre, Director of Youth and Programs
American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin
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Small Group Roundtable Discussions
*Will need adult volunteers to help facilitate discussion for youth participants
Facilitators Framing Questions to Students:
• What do we mean when we talk about school environments? (School
settings beyond classrooms - at the bus stop, on the bus, cafeterias,
hallways, libraries, gymnasiums/locker rooms, playgrounds, etc; school
buildings - decorations, images and symbolism, posters and information;
online - information shared with students, parents and community on
website(s) and/or social media)
• What are you experiencing at school? Do you feel good about being at
school?
• Is it okay to be Native at school? Why or why not? What would make it
better?
• Who are the people and what are the activities that make school a good
experience for you? Who and what make it difficult? Why?
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Pr ayer & Lunch (served in adjoining main presentation room in North Hall)
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Studen t Testimony
2:00p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Community, Advocates and Educator Testimony
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Positive Community Practices (10 minutes each)
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La Crosse School District - Dirk Hunter, Title VII Administrator
• Tomah School District - Priscilla Cleveland, Title VII, Teacher
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Black River Falls School District - Shelly Severson, District Administrator &
PaulRykken,Teacher
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Lac du Flambeau j ENVISION - Doreen Wawronowicz, Envision Teacher
• Widening the Circle - Tracy Littlejohn, Symposium Coordinator
3:30 p.m. - 4:00pm
Closing
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Summary of the Day / Closing Remarks
JP Leary, First Nations Studies, UW-Green Bay
William Mendoza
White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education
Patrick Alexander
US Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
Presentation of Gifts
4:00p.m.
Tr aveling Song: Little Thunder
Testimony Release
For and in consideration of my child's engagement as a speaker at the White House Initiative on American Indian/Alaska
Native Education, I hereby give the White House Initiative on American Indian/Alaska Native Education Director, their
legal representatives, those for whom the videographer is acting, and those acting with their permission, the right and
permission to use videotape recordings of my child for the purpose of compiling a recommendation to the White House.
I hereby waive any right to inspect or approve the finished videotape, or sound track matter that may be used in
conjunction therewith or the eventual use that it might be applied.
I hereby release, discharge and agree so save harmless the White House Initiative on American Indian/Alaska Native
Education Director, representatives, employees of the Ho-Chunk Nation, or any person or persons, acting under their
permission or authority, or any person, persons, for whom they might be acting, in whole or in part.
I hereby certify that I am the parent/legal guardian of - - - - - - - - - - - - - -·' and competent to sign on
their behalf, so far as the above is concerned.
I have read the foregoing release, authorization and agreement, before affixing my signatu re below, and warrant that I
fully understand the contents thereof.
Student Name
Parent/Guardian (Signature)
Date
Parent/Guardian (Printed Name)
Witness (Signature)
10/22/14 MAL
Date
Student Testimony
School __________________________________________ Grade____________
Tribe
Please use the space below to share comments on your school experience(s)
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