{"id":26514,"date":"2026-02-23T21:01:33","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T21:01:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/college-education\/?page_id=26514"},"modified":"2026-03-12T16:48:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T16:48:11","slug":"pitas","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/college-education\/pitas\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing Indigenous Teachers for Arizona Schools (PITAS)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"nau-block nau-block-left-nav-top-bound\">\n    \t<button id=\"left-nav-toggle-btn\" onclick=\"toggleNav();\">\n\t\tON THIS PAGE \n\t\t<i id=\"chevron-icon\" class=\"fas fa-solid fa-chevron-down\"><\/i>\n\t<\/button>\n\t<div id=\"left-nav-menu-track\">\n\t\t<div id=\"left-nav-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"rfi-above-anchor-tags\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ri-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/nau.edu\/admissions\/request-information\/\" id=\"request-info\" class=\"btn bg-true-blue left-nav-menu-bottom-button display-mobile\">Request info&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div id=\"left-nav-menu\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"menu-section menu-section-links\"><h6 class=\"hidden-mobile left-nav-list-header\">ON THIS PAGE<\/h6><ul class=\"left-nav-menu-list left-nav-automatic on-this-page\"><\/ul><div class=\"ri-container\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nau.edu\/admissions\/request-information\/\" id=\"request-info\" class=\"btn bg-true-blue left-nav-menu-bottom-button display-mobile\">Request info&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"menu-section backcolor\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHOW CAN WE HELP?\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"responsive-icons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a href=\"tel:928-523-5511\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/themes\/nau-marketing-2021\/img\/icon-phone.svg\" alt=\"Telephone:\"> 928-523-5511<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a href=\"mailto:admissions@nau.edu\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/themes\/nau-marketing-2021\/img\/icon-email.svg\" alt=\"Email:\"><span class=\"left-nav-email\"> admissions@nau.edu <\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<section class=\"nau-block left-nav-section\"><header class=\"entry-header\"><div class=\"breadcrumb\"><ol class=\"breadcrumbs\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\">IN<\/a><span class=\"breadcrumb-chevron\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&gt;<\/span><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/college-education\">COE<\/a><span class=\"breadcrumb-chevron\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&gt;<\/span><\/li><li class=\"current\">Pages<\/li><\/ol><\/div><h1 class=\"entry-title text-left \">Preparing Indigenous Teachers for Arizona Schools (PITAS)<\/h1><hr class=\"h1-hr  text-left \" role=\"none\"><\/header><!-- .entry-header --><\/section><!-- <section class=\"nau-block left-nav-section grid-md-12\">\n    <header class=\"entry-header\">\n        <h1 class=\"entry-title text-left \" tabindex=\"0\" id=\"h1-first\">Dummy H1<\/h1>\n        <hr class=\"h1-hr  text-left \" role=\"none\">\n    <\/header>\n<\/section> -->\n\n<section class=\"nau-block left-nav-section grid-md-12\">\n    <div class=\"page-content\">\n        \n\n<p>Preparing Indigenous Teachers for Arizona Schools (PITAS) is designed for para-professionals, educational assistants, and others in Native-serving schools in Arizona and surrounding communities who want to become certified teachers.&nbsp;PITAS Scholars can earn a bachelor\u2019s degree in elementary education (K-8th grade); OR a bachelor\u2019s degree in early childhood special education (PreK-3rd grade); OR a master\u2019s degree in elementary education (K-8th grade).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PITAS Scholars will stay and work in their home communities while earning their degree. Classes will be delivered in an online\/zoom format that accommodates most work schedules. Scholars will participate in one weekend residency in Flagstaff each Fall and Spring semester, and a two-week summer residency in Flagstaff. We provide lodging and meals during all residencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>We are currently recruiting for the next two PITAS cohorts. Those pursuing the Early Childhood\/Special Education (preK-3<sup>rd<\/sup> grade) bachelor\u2019s degree will begin classes in May 2026, and those pursuing either a bachelor\u2019s or master\u2019s degree in Elementary Education (K-8<sup>th<\/sup> grade) will begin classes in August 2026. Both cohorts will graduate in May 2028. &nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The PITAS program covers all tuition costs, and Scholars are required to teach in a Native-serving school upon graduation. PITAS also provides all Scholars with a laptop and a small stipend each semester. To be eligible for funding, Scholars must complete the FAFSA and remain in good academic standing every year of the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A word of caution: consider your options carefully, as withdrawing from the classes after established university deadlines may result in personal responsibility for tuition and fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PITAS was developed because Indigenous leaders and educators requested a pathway for community members to become certified classroom teachers. Housed in Northern Arizona University\u2019s College of Education, PITAS centers on Indigenous educational approaches and knowledge. Our goal is to prepare culturally responsive teachers for schools serving Arizona\u2019s 22 Native Nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Eligibility criteria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Individuals working as Paraprofessionals, Educational Assistants, and in similar roles on or bordering any of Arizona\u2019s 22 Native Nations are eligible if they can provide a fingerprint clearance card, official transcripts from an accredited institution, and a certificate of Indian Blood (CIB).&nbsp; In addition,&nbsp; applicants must have the following verified by a College of Education Academic Advisor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">For the bachelor\u2019s degree pathway:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>45 units of completed coursework<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ENG 105 or equivalent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>MAT 150 or equivalent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>MAT 155 or equivalent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 lab science course<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>EDF 200 or equivalent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cumulative GPA of 2.5<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">For the master\u2019s degree pathway:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A completed bachelor\u2019s degree from an accredited institution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cumulative GPA of 3.0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For the full list of requirements and instructions about how to apply, please refer to the \u201cGet started now\u201d section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get started now<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\t\t<script src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/nau-marketing-2021\/js\/accordion.js\"><\/script>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"accordion accordion-flush my-5\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"collapse-Step-11-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-Step-11\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-Step-11\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tStep 1\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"collapse-Step-11\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse \" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"collapse-Step-11-header\" style=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Complete a short <a href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/xHgU1VxRc42MRMEw6\">PITAS Interest Application<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This is how we first get your name and contact information so we can be sure to support you while you are applying to PITAS. This step is VERY important so that we know you want to be in PITAS when you apply to NAU in Step 2.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"collapse-Step-22-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-Step-22\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-Step-22\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tStep 2\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"collapse-Step-22\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse \" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"collapse-Step-22-header\" style=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Apply for admittance to Northern Arizona University.<\/p>\n<ul id=\"block-b680ff76-710a-4f55-957b-53837ea04dfc\" class=\"block-editor-rich-text__editable block-editor-block-list__block wp-block is-selected rich-text\" role=\"group\" aria-label=\"Block: List\" data-block=\"b680ff76-710a-4f55-957b-53837ea04dfc\" data-type=\"core\/list\" data-title=\"List\">\n<li>Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Elementary Education OR Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Early Childhood Education\/Early Childhood Special Education\n<ul id=\"block-b680ff76-710a-4f55-957b-53837ea04dfc\" class=\"block-editor-rich-text__editable block-editor-block-list__block wp-block is-selected rich-text\" role=\"group\" aria-label=\"Block: List\" data-block=\"b680ff76-710a-4f55-957b-53837ea04dfc\" data-type=\"core\/list\" data-title=\"List\">\n<li>Type of application: TRANSFER STUDENTS APPLICATION<\/li>\n<li>Campus: Business Partnerships<\/li>\n<li>Major\/enrollment program choice: select Org Partnership-Online<\/li>\n<li>Degree program: Elementary Education or Early Childhood Education &amp; Early Childhood Special Education<\/li>\n<li>Degree name: BS in education<\/li>\n<li>Select term: fall 2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Master\u2019s Degree in Elementary Education\n<ul>\n<li>Type of application: GRADUATE STUDENTS APPLICATION<\/li>\n<li>Program selection: Elementary Education- Certification MEd (Organizational Partnership \u2013 online)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"collapse-Step-33-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-Step-33\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-Step-33\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tStep 3\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"collapse-Step-33\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse \" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"collapse-Step-33-header\" style=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Complete the <a href=\"https:\/\/studentaid.gov\/h\/apply-for-aid\/fafsa\">FAFSA<\/a> (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).<\/p>\n<p>Have your FAFSA sent to NAU by selecting Northern Arizona University at the end of the application. If selected for verification, your FAFSA file must be verified. You will receive an email to your NAU email if verification is required.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"collapse-Step-44-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-Step-44\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-Step-44\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tStep 4\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"collapse-Step-44\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse \" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"collapse-Step-44-header\" style=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Complete an interview with the PITAS Anchor Faculty, Dr. Sig Boloz.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Boloz will contact you to set up a short interview via zoom or phone.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Important tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Once you get your NAU email address, be sure to check your new NAU email account every few days in case more information is needed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Should you have any questions about the Financial Aid process, please contact\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:financial.aid@nau.edu\">financial.aid@nau.edu<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you already have a bachelor\u2019s degree, and you run into any problems while applying for the PITAS master\u2019s degree in Elementary Education, please contact <a href=\"mailto:amy.faull@nau.edu\">amy.faull@nau.edu<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you have some college classes completed, and you run into any problems while applying for the PITAS bachelor\u2019s degree in either Early Childhood\/Special Education OR Elementary Education, please contact <a href=\"mailto:laverne.kescoli@nau.edu\">laverne.kescoli@nau.edu<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you have general questions about PITAS, please contact <a href=\"mailto:Sigmund.Boloz@nau.edu\">Sigmund.Boloz@nau.edu<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">News and updates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/azcapitoltimes.com\/news\/2023\/11\/22\/nau-creates-pathway-for-indigenous-educators-to-earn-degrees\/\">NAU creates pathway for Indigenous educators to earn degrees<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.azfamily.com\/2023\/10\/27\/indigenous-teachers-program-aims-combat-teacher-shortage-tribal-communities\/\">Indigenous teachers program aims to combat teacher shortage in tribal communities<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/news.nau.edu\/pitas_grant\/\">How NAU is tackling the teacher shortage in Indigenous communities<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/101\/2023\/12\/AZ-Republic-article-Aug-2023-1.pdf\">NAU program aims to help build pipeline of Indigenous educators in Arizona<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Questions?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Please contact Sigmund Boloz<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"mailto:Sigmund.Boloz@nau.edu\">Sigmund.Boloz@nau.edu<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<div class=\"nau-block nau-block-left-nav-bottom-bound\">\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":817,"featured_media":22302,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"8313,8329,10117,8532,9963,7863","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"2normal","ring_central_script_selection":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-26514","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/college-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26514","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/college-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/college-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/college-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/817"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/college-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26514"}],"version-history":[{"count":70,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/college-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26514\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26604,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/college-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26514\/revisions\/26604"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/college-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/college-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}