Mission

Our children and young people are sacred, so all staff and students of Pryor Schools will empower each other so that our students will be educated, successful, and responsible citizens.

Mission

In partnership with parents and community we will provide equal opportunities for students to acquire the knowledge and skills that foster responsible choices. The school community will nurture, challenge, and guide students towards achieving their maximum potential.

About Us

Foundations, Inc. is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the quality of education of our nation’s children by strengthening the skills of educators.

We believe that supporting educators is the best way to improve experiences for our children both in school and afterschool. We rely on proven practice and evidence-based research to ensure that the advice and tools we provide are effective. Through support services, professional development, and educational resources we are creating a brighter future for every child – every day.

Apsáalooke name is Akbaaítchesh, One Who Keeps Things Good

Tribal Affiliation: Apsáalooke

Luella Brien, a member of the Apsáalooke (Crow Tribe of Indians) and known by her Apsáalooke name, Akbaaítchesh (One Who Keeps Things Good), serves as a parent representative on the STEP parent work group. She is a descendant of healers, educators, leaders, and storytellers. Luella graduated from the University of Montana, School of Journalism in 2006 with a BA in Print Journalism and is also a graduate of the 2002 Freedom Forum's American Indian Journalism Institute. Additionally, she was recognized as a 2004 Chips Quinn Scholar, a 2004 Associated Press Diverse Voices Scholar, and a 2024 Maynard 200 Fellow. Luella has extensive community involvement, including serving as a media consultant for the Crow Tribe, a former communication arts instructor at Little Big Horn College, and a former outreach coordinator and tribal tourism manager. She is an advocate for storytelling and Apsáalooke history as the foundation of cultural tourism, believing that tourism can foster understanding between cultures. Currently, Luella is the Executive Director of Four Points Media, and the editor-in-chief of Four Points Press. She resides on the Crow Indian Reservation in Southeastern Montana with her twin sons, who are college students, and her high school-aged daughter. Luella enjoys beading, sewing, and constructing Apsáalooke-style moccasins, primarily crafting for her children, nieces, and nephews. Her passion for creating, inspired by her mother and grandmother, was reignited after having children in 2003.

Tribal Affiliation: Northern Cheyenne

Evelyn Roundstone, a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, serves as a parent representative on the STEP parent workgroup. She holds a Bachelor of Science in K-8 Education with a minor in Early Childhood. Evelyn’s professional experience includes roles as a Head Start teacher, grade schoolteacher, coach, and Upward Bound Director, as well as serving as Manager of Rosebud Lodge, a children’s emergency shelter. Actively involved in her community, she participates on various boards within the Northern Cheyenne community, serves on the Chief Dull Knife College Board, and mentors youth through the Montana Youth Challenge program. Evelyn’s personal philosophy emphasizes the importance of youth and cultural preservation: “Our children are our future; I support the youth in their positive endeavors. I have 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. I want them to know the many positives of our culture, which help us care for and support others and ourselves.”

Tribal Affiliation: Apsáalooke

Veronica K. Spotted Bear, a member of the Crow Tribe from the Arrow Creek District in Pryor, serves as a STEP parent work group member. She has 34 years of experience in education and currently works as a Reading Intervention Specialist at Arrow Creek Elementary in Pryor, Montana. Veronica is married to William Big Day and is the parent of three children and grandparent to seven. She is also one of six siblings.