How can I participate in the DINÉ?
Teachers in the DINÉ are motivated, intellectually curious teachers who want to improve their content knowledge and have high expectations for their students. Fellows must also commit to remaining in the classroom in their current district or school on the Native Nation for at least three years. Due to the workload, first-year teachers are not typically a good fit for the DINÉ. If you meet these criteria, you may apply.
We are no longer accepting applications for this program at this time. Please check back periodically. You can also email us at nativeservingeducators@nau.edu if you would like to be added to our contact list.
The application is completed via google forms, which requires you to complete and submit the entire application at one time. Please be sure you allow sufficient time to do this; we recommend approximately one hour. You will need to confirm that your principal supports your application, so you should talk about this with her/him before you apply. The application includes three longer questions, and we recommend you draft your answers to these three questions in Microsoft Word (or a similar word processing program) ahead of time and then copy and paste them into the application when you are ready to complete the full application. Each answer should be between 300-500 words. These three longer questions are:
- Part of the mission is to reach teachers who are leaders in their school districts. How do you demonstrate leadership in your role as a teacher?
- State your first-choice seminar from the list above (see options here). Explain why you are interested in this seminar topic, and describe a specific way you could integrate this seminar topic into your teaching. Click on this Google Link to hear what the seminar leaders have to say about their sessions.
- State your second-choice seminar from the list above (see options here). Explain why you are interested in this seminar topic, and describe a specific way you could integrate this seminar topic into your teaching. If you do not have a second-choice, please just write that and move on to the next question. Click on this Google Link to hear what the seminar leaders have to say about their sessions.
Eligibility criteria
- A full-time, fully certified K-12 teacher in a grant, BIE, or public school on or bordering the Navajo Nation
- Committed to attending 4 Saturdays & a 10-day summer residency in 2023
- Seeking a challenge, but supportive opportunity to learn more about a content area, and write a curriculum unit to use in your classroom
- Wanting to embed Diné culture and/or language within your curriculum
Expectations of accepted applicants
- Attend meetings, including the final Showcase and Open House on December 2nd, 2023 in Flagstaff DINÉ schedule 2023
- Submit all writing assignments on time, including the final complete curriculum unit that meets program specifications
- Maintain regular communication via email and/or phone with the program staff
- Every teacher will write a culturally responsive curriculum unit as part of the program
- Learn with colleagues and an NAU professor about the theme
- Improve content knowledge in the relevant area
- Grow capacity to engage students using the principles of cultural responsiveness
Benefits of program participation
- Increased knowledge of best practices in culturally responsive curriculum development
- Completion of a published, self-authored curriculum unit for use in your classroom
- Access to colleague’s self-authored curriculum units for use in your classroom
- Networking and learning from other educators in Native-serving schools
- A stipend provided upon program completion
- Graduate course credit available, for a fee