How can I participate in the TLSI?
Teachers are motivated, intellectually curious teachers who want to improve their content knowledge and have high expectations for their students. Teachers 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 TLSI. 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 longer questions are:
- Part of our mission is to work with teachers who are leaders in their schools/centers or communities. How do you demonstrate leadership in your role as a teacher? (your answer should be 200-400 words)
- Through this program, you will write a culturally responsive curriculum unit to teach in your classroom. Please describe a topic or theme that you are interested in writing your curriculum unit about. (your answer should be 200-400 words)
- 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. Click on this Google Link to hear what the seminar leaders have to say about their sessions.
Eligibility criteria
- Employed as a K-12 teacher full-time in a school serving Apache students
- Employed in a publicly-funded or tribally-funded school in Arizona
- Ability to attend ALL meetings 2023 TLSI schedule
Expectations of accepted applicants
- This PD is offered in a hybrid format, with online meetings some evenings, 3 Saturday in person meetings, and 2 weekend residencies at NAU in the summer. We provide lodging and food during the 2 weekend residencies. Attendance at all meetings is required 2023 TLSI schedule
- 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
- Write a culturally responsive curriculum unit to use in their classroom
Benefits of TLSI
- Faculty affiliate status at Northern Arizona University during the program dates, which gives full access to Cline Library resources
- A certificate indicating their completion of 60 hours of professional development
- Recognition by the school/district of their accomplishments
- 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 on the INE/NAU website
- Networking and learning from other educators in Native-serving schools
- A stipend provided upon program completion
- Graduate course credit available, for a fee