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| Dear Partners in Education, The Office of Indian Education (OIE) strives to meet the educational and cultural needs of the Native American students across Arizona. With bi-weekly highlights, our goal is to provide consistent communication, share valuable resources, and highlight meaningful opportunities that may benefit Indigenous communities, including educators, students, and parents. NEW: To view ongoing updates to this email, please click the “View in browser” link at the top of this email. Sincerely, The Office of Indian Education indianeducation@azed.gov www.azed.gov/oie |
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| 🚩 Register now for the Indigenous STEM Symposium!April 27-28, 2025 – Less than 20 spots remaining! Visit our website for event registration information. Questions, email indianeducation@azed.gov. |
 Flyer Agenda Registration in APLD (Step 1 of 2). Visit website for full instructions. |
 Join us for free virtual professional learning! 💻Indigenous STEM Professionals Panel📆 Tuesday, May 6, 2025 from 5 to 6:30pm (MST) on Zoom. Hear from Indigenous STEM professionals and their perspectives on culturally relevant math, science, and STEM instruction, connections between their culture/identities, and their careers in STEM. Open to Indigenous youth, families, educators, and community members! |
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| OIE released the Tribal Regalia Graduation Toolkit! 🎓On April 9, 2025, the AZ Office of Indian Education released the Tribal Regalia Graduation Toolkit for Students and Families. On April 17, we released the Tribal Regalia Graduation Toolkit for School/District Administrators & Governing Boards. These were developed in collaboration with tribal leaders, state leaders, community partners, and Indigenous families. |
| View Toolkits |
| College Depot: Summer Bridge ProgramFirst time college freshmen can register now to receive one-on-one assistance with all the steps they need to take to start college in Fall 2025 such as signing up for Freshmen orientation, how to pay housing deposits, registering for classes, taking placement exams, and more! Appointments will be available in-person or virtually. Space is limited for this program: June 2-July 25, 2025. Visit events page to register today! |
| Salt River Jr. ACE Program Free summer bridge program for 5th-8th grade students who are members of SRPMIC, attend SRPMIC schools, or are returning Jr. ACE students. Provides information on college experiences, STEAM activities, and cultural, language, health, and wellness experiences. 📆 June 2-12, 2025 at Scottsdale Community College View the flyer, and complete the interest form for more information. |
 Join Student Advisory Panel!The AZ State Board of Education is accepting student applications until May 9, 2025. The purpose of the panel is to share student input and insight with the Board on requested topics, introduce students to the workings of state government related to education, and provide students with the opportunity to elevate key concerns and issues to the Board. Open to students who will be in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade in the 25-26 school year. View the flyer for more information. |
| 💡 Highlighted Scholarship – For current juniors! Applications are now open for the Class of 2026! The Cameron Impact Scholarship is a 4 year scholarship that covers full tuition, fees, and books at any accredited U.S. based college or university that the recipient chooses to attend. This will be awarded to fifteen exceptional students who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, community service, extracurricular activities, and academics. Visit website to view full eligibility requirements and application instructions. The early application deadline is May 21, 2025. |
| Need FAFSA help?Ask Benji is free for students and schools. You can communicate with Benji via your cell phone and will text you back (no calls)! Students or parents can text “HI BENJI” to 602-786-8171 and receive FAFSA help 24/7. Or schedule an appointment to get 1-on-1 FAFSA help. Visit www.askbenji.org to learn more. |
| Additional Student Events and Resources:Free, AI powered resume builder for students.Young Scholars Program (entering 8th grade) – due April 30, 2025Native Health Indigenous Wellness Camp – July 14 to July 18, 2025Free webinar: College Knowledge for Parents of 9-11th graders – August 27, 2025 |
| 🔔 Financial Aid Resources 🔔College Depot scholarship list – Deadlines vary.AIANTA Tourism & Hospitality Scholarship due April 25, 2025. Catching the Dream Scholarship due April 30, 2025.Education Forward AZ – Native American Scholarship due May 1, 2025. AZ Community Foundation scholarship list – Deadlines vary, May 2.American Indian College Fund Scholarship due May 31, 2025Native Forward Scholarship due June 1, 2025. Navajo Nation Scholarship applications due June 25, 2025.American Indian Services Scholarship due July 1, 2025.Graduate Students: Native American Graduate Fellowship due May 16, 2025 |
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 Indigenous Health and Education Leadership Academy opens May 1 Want to improve health outcomes or education in Indigenous communities? ASU’s Indigenous Leadership Academy is launching 2 new cohorts: Health Leadership and Education Leadership. If you or someone you know is passionate about health or education, visit the website to learn more! Applications open on May 1, 2025. For information, visit www.aipi.asu.edu/ila. |
| Family and Youth Scholarship – for Arizona IDEA ConferenceScholarship available to Arizona youth and young adults with disabilities and/or their family to attend the Arizona IDEA Conference on August 20-22, 2025 at the JW Mariott Desert Ridge, Phoenix, AZ. Scholarships cover registration fee, lodging, and mileage for eligible recipients. Apply by May 27, 2025, limited scholarships available. Website. |
| Tribal Leadership Academy for tribal leaders! Suited for newly elected or appointed tribal government leaders, including those who direct major tribal offices or divisions (including tribal education departments). Attendees will engage and experience faculty presenters on governance matters of vital importance to tribal nations. Travel and accommodations are provided. Applications are due May 16, 2025. Questions, email tribal.leadership.academy@dartmouth.edu or visit website. 📆 July 28-August 1, 2025📍 Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH |
 Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship 2026 accepting applications. Deadline: April 30, 2025Ten fellowships of $75,000 will be awarded to outstanding Native knowledge holders and knowledge makers engaged in meaningful work that benefits Native people and communities. The fellowship is a 2 year, self-directed program for individuals from diverse fields such as agriculture, youth leadership development, STEM, language revitalization, and more. Visit website for full details. |
 SUN Bucks Application now available. The SUN Bucks – Summer EBT 2025 application is now available in the SUN Bucks Eligibility Screener. Visit website for information. Applications must be submitted by August 5, 2025. |
| 21st Annual Fatherhood Is Leadership Conference📆 October 14-15, 2025📍Wrigleyville West Conference Center, Mesa, AZ. Visit website for event information. |
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 Join the APS Rural Math Educators Collaborative!K-12 math educators in Apache & Navajo counties – a fully funded professional development opportunity available! Collaborate with peers, refine instructional strategies, and improve student learning outcomes. Includes virtual cohort meetings (biweekly, June – September 2025), self paced coursework and expert coaching and support, and a culminating project to apply what you have learned.View Flyer, and complete interest form by May 15, 2025. Note for site administrators – if you are interested in establishing a site-based or district-based cohort, contact melissa.hamende@tntp.org. |
 AZ Literacy Road Show! 🚗ELA team coming to location near you! One day, free professional learning offers a deeper dive in to the application of the science of reading and structured literacy. Session tracks available for K-2, 3-5, Secondary, and Administrators. K-12 teachers, reading specialists, literacy coaches, interventionists, administrators, and support staff encouraged to attend! Space is limited. For event details and registration, view flyer. Tempe – June 17, 2025Yuma – June 19, 2025Coolidge – June 24, 2025Flagstaff – June 26, 2025 |
 Teachers In The Wild – Professional Development Opportunity 📒Would you like to sharpen your observation, questioning and research skills using nature as your classroom? Are you looking to rejuvenate and restore your balance after a year of teaching? Apply today for an all expense paid 6 day, 5 night professional development program to join other like-minded educators in place-based experiential learning. Participants will receive $250 stipend and $150 worth of supplies. Applications due April 27, 2025, visit website for more information and to apply. 📆 June 10-15, 2025📍 Southwestern Research Station in Portal, AZ |
| K-12 Educator Night – Heard MuseumEducators, you are invited to for an exciting night of professional learning and celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week! Join for exclusive museum access, catered dinner, and a keynote presentation and song by recording artist, motivational speaker, and youth advocate, Talibah Begay (Diné). Admission is $5, and space is limited. Registration details.📆 Saturday, May 10, 2025 from 4-7pm📍 Steel Auditorium, Heard Museum, 2301 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ |
| Get compensated for Summer professional development! Cu at the Mine – A Minerals and Mining professional learning academy for AZ educators (middle and high school) is taking applications! This 5 day academy empowers AZ educators with hands on lessons, engaging field trips, and expert insights to bring mining and mineral science into classrooms. Earn up to $1000, 40 hours of continuing education credit. Lessons are aligned with AZ Science and CTE standards. Parking, housing, and meals provided at the U of A. Questions, contact mining@arizona.edu. Choose from 3 sessions:📆 June 2-6, June 23-27, or July 7-11, 2025. Registration details. |
| Free webinar: Center for Educational Resources in Culture, Language and Literacy 1. Empowering High School & College Students to Learn and Maintain Languages for Life Through Courses on Multilingualism.📆 Wednesday, May 7, 2025 from 2-3:30pm AZ time. Registration2. Transforming Language Teaching Materials – Free webinar series.📆 April 23, May 14, or June 18. Website and Registration |
| Counselor Scholarships AvailableThe Rocky Mountain Association for College Admission Counseling (RMACAC) is offering professional development scholarships for one of the following:To attend the Guiding the Way to Inclusion conferenceTo attend Road Bus Tour to visit select Colorado universitiesNote: RMACAC membership is free for public high school counselors or HBCU/TCU schools. Scholarship website. |
| Arizona FAFSA UpdatesDid you know – Arizona has reached a 32.7% FAFSA completion rate for the Class of 2025! The state goal is to reach 40%. Visit www.collegereadyaz.com/fafsa/ for resources.Parents/students can call the AZ FAFSA Hotline Mon-Fri, 8am to 5pm, at 1-833-293-2372. |
| Free Digital Resources: IBM Skills BuildSupplement your curriculum with core technical and workplace skills learning, straight from tech leaders to your students. Secondary teacher toolkits available. Visit www.skillsbuild.org/secondary-educators. |
| Additional Events and Resources:AZ Events Calendar: STEM Events (SciTech)College Access Professional Training certificationTraining: Early Childhood Literacy: Phonological Awareness – April 30, 2025Webinar: Summer Steps for Financial Aid – May 6, 2025 (free for counselors)Training: Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences & Childhood Trauma – May 7, 2025AZ Agricultural Institute 1.0 (apply here) – June 9-12, 2025ADE Teachers Institute and Leading Change Conference – June 3-5, 2025Cultivating Native Student Success Convening – June 10-12, 2025AZ Summer CTE Conference – July 10-16, 2025Introduction to Dual Language Immersion (CARLA) – July 14-18, 2025The Southwest Middle Grades Summit – September 20, 2025ACTFL Convention and World Languages Expo – November 21-23, 20252025 ACT Arizona Conference, Tempe, AZ – December 9, 2025 |
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 OIE staff tabled at the MCC Gourd Dance & College/Career Fair.  Happy Administrative Professionals Day! Leann Smith (middle) is OIE’s Program Project Specialist. |
 Office of Indian Educationhttps://www.azed.gov/oie |
Posted inDiversity Education local Native American news
Arizona Office of Indian Education bi-weekly update
