Pala tribe joins professional development education program

PALA – The Pala Band of Mission Indians in Southern California joins education programs in 10 states funded by the U.S. Department of Education selected to provide training programs to recruit and graduate American Indian teachers and administrators.

“This project aligns with tribal initiatives supporting youth. By training our own educators using native ways of knowing, the curriculum is more relevant and more likely to be successful,” tribal Chairman Robert Smith said.

“The data show that the ratio of American Indian-Alaska Native students to American Indian teachers and administrators reflects a strong need in Southern California,” project director Linda Warner said. “The ‘Grow Our Own’ project represents an exceptional commitment on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education and the Pala Band of Mission Indians to serve tribes in the region.”

The Pala Band of Mission Indians is partnering with the California State University San Marcos through the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center.

“The California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center welcomes the opportunity to link teacher and administrator certification with our work to create pathways for our students,” Dr. Joely Proudfit, director of the center, said. “The ‘Grow Our Own’ project is unique because it represents a true commitment to tribal sovereignty. The Pala Band of Mission Indians’ leadership has been a strong supporter of our initiatives, and we are pleased to join in this project.”

Applications for the project will be available online from the Pala Band of Mission Indians at http://www.palatribe.com or through the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center. The project supports certification for teachers and administrators. For more information on how to apply, contact Linda Warner at [email protected].