The National Comprehensive Center’s Native Education Collaborative (NEC) developed the Circles of Reflection, a framework to engage state education agencies (SEAs), tribes, and local education agencies (LEAs) in rich, reflective discussions and strategic planning to provide high quality, motivating educational experiences that improve Native students’ academic attainment. Presenters will describe the Circles of Reflection process and the other resources that the NEC has created to help build the capacity of SEAs to collaborate with tribes and LEAs. Presenters will also share results from the evaluation of the implementation of the pilot of Circles of Reflection in four states. Participants will have an opportunity to engage in discussions about the process and how it may be applicable in their particular context.
Ms. Bitterman has been part of the Native Education Collaborative since the National Comprehensive Center received funding from the U.S. Department of Education for it in 2019. She has been extensively involved in all steps of the project, from interviewing the expert panel and identifying the needs to developing the resources and providing technical assistance to help build the capacity of states to collaborate with districts and tribes.
Ms. Smoker Broaddus has ten years of experience as director of Indian Education for the state of Montana, four years as Native Education practice expert at EDNW, and is a former teacher/principal/tribal college instructor.