The Institute for Native-serving Educators (INE) is a collaborative initiative to strengthen schools across Indian Country. Housed in NAU’s Office of Native American and Indigenous Advancement (ONAIA), we partner with Native Nations, Indigenous-serving schools, and public school districts on and bordering reservation communities to develop professional development opportunities that meet community needs. We do not have a one-size-fits-all approach to professional development. Instead, we build a unique professional development experience based on the goals of the community and based on research and best practices in culturally responsive schooling.
Our mission
The goal of INE is to reduce educational inequities impacting Native American and Indigenous youth and communities, and to be the premier preK-12 professional development institute of choice for Native Nations in the United States.
By developing and supporting high quality, culturally responsive preK12 educators in Native-serving schools, we can address years of educational neglect and radically improve teaching and learning, thus preparing Indigenous students to thrive in higher education and beyond.
INE Professional Development Programs:
- Diné Institute for Navajo Nation Educators (DINÉ)
- Indigenous Early Childhood Educators (IECE)
- Teacher Leadership Shiłgozhóó Institute (TLSI)
- Indian Country School Counselors Institute (ICSCI)
- Indian Country School Leadership Institute (ICSLI)
- Culturally Sustaining and Investigative STEM (CSIS)
- Teaching in Indigenous Communities Certificate (TICC)
Your support directly impacts future leaders and researchers by contributing to:
Institute for Native-serving Educators
Your contribution to the INE fund will be used to support the capacity for the INE to continue with providing critically needed professional development for PK-12 teachers, school leaders, and school counselors to increase their capacity to serve Indigenous students in culturally sustaining and responsive ways. Since its inception, 246 INE Fellows have completed our institutes and have created and implemented curriculum units and practice guides that are now available in the INE open-access repository.
Barbara Madden Peterson Endowment
Your contribution to the endowment will support the long-term sustainability of the Institute for Native-serving Educators at Northern Arizona University to support initiatives that positively impact and address the needs of educators to contribute to the goal of Indigenous students to thrive and persist in education.
Indian Country School Counselors Institute
Your contribution to this fund is a commitment to impact the well-being of Indigenous students by supporting the ICSCI to grow the capacity and effectiveness of school counselors serving students from Native American communities.
Your generosity fuels innovation, access, and excellence at NAU. Every gift—no matter the size—helps create life-changing experiences for our students. Thank you for believing in the power of Lumberjack giving.
