Zuni: Engaging Teachers and Community (ZETAC)
PI: Marjori Krebs, Associate Professor, Department of Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy
Co PI: Cheryl Torrez, Associate Professor, Department of Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy
Total Award: $720,274
Project Period: 7/1/16 to 6/30/17
Dr. Marjori Krebs
Dr. Cheryl Torrez
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has funded the Zuni: Engaging Teachers and Community (ZETAC) partnership between the Zuni Public School District (ZPSD), the Pueblo of Zuni, and the University of New Mexico. The primary goal of the ZETAC partnership is to increase the number of Zuni tribal members who are teachers in ZPSD.
ZETAC participants benefit in a variety of ways, including support for current Zuni teachers to earn Master’s Degrees; support for current Educational Assistants (EAs) and other community members to earn Bachelor’s Degrees or Master’s Degrees with teaching licensure; professional development for current and future Zuni teachers in the areas of Zuni History, Language, and Culture through project-based learning (PBL), and other instructional strategies relevant to the needs of ZPSD; preparing for the transition of the ZETAC Grant to be directly connected to the Pueblo of Zuni; and partnering during the transition of the UNM-Zuni Campus to the Pueblo of Zuni. This new facility is now known as the A:shiwi College and Career Readiness Center, directed by Mr. Hayes Lewis.
Participants have worked with UNM faculty, ZPSD teachers, ZPSD Zuni Language Teachers, the United States Library of Congress, and others as part of their professional development. Current elementary students have attended Popejoy Events as part of the Children’s Theater Series on campus. Current middle school and high school students have visited the UNM Albuquerque campus for recruiting visits, meeting with American Indian Student Services and Education faculty. Participants have also met with representatives from iDPi, ArtPlace, and Creative Start-Ups to enhance entrepreneurism in Zuni.
The most important intended long-term outcome of the program is to have more Zuni community members serving as teachers in ZPSD, and for those teachers to incorporate Zuni History, Language, and Culture into their teaching in engaging, meaningful ways.