Describe your Capstone Challenge and how you identified it. My Capstone Challenge is to help the teachers at Florence Carlton School review and understand the requirements of the Montana Indian Education for All curriculum requirements while providing support for implementation of lessons. I identified this need based on conversations with the teachers at Florence. Many teachers were passionate about teaching about our Indigineous People however they needed help sorting through the magnitude of information on the OPI website. The Florence teachers also wanted to collaborate across grade levels.
Describe your diverse stakeholders and how you selected them, such as colleagues, parents, students, association members, community members, state or local partners, etc. Working with administration, I chose to work with a representative from the elementary, middle school and high school. In addition, we invited the Red Sands Singers to present at our flag assembly. The assembly was attended by all teachers and students throughout our K-12 school.
Why is it important for your diverse stakeholders that the Capstone Challenge be addressed? In order to make this assembly happen, we needed support from our administration. Gathering information from Tribal Leaders is also a critical component. The teachers on my team did the research for each flag. We used students to present information on each flag at the assembly. Support staff provided a vital role in setting up the gym for the assembly and did the take down work.
In what ways will addressing the Capstone Challenge promote or support the foundational competencies? The Capstone Challenge promotes and supports the foundational competencies by exploring and challenging inequity for the Indigenous People in Montana. The greatest way to erase stereotypes and discrimation is through knowledge. Most importantly, our Montana educators must ensure we are teaching the correct information that is mandated by our state.
Is it your intention to broaden the existing vision, values and/or culture of the association or to create a cultural shift? Explain. It is my intention to continue to broaden the educational opportunities for our Montana students in regard to IEFA. I believe we need to have a cultural shift when it comes to IEFA. We need to step away from the idea that IEFA is a theme presented in November and then forgotten.
Why might this strategy be a viable solution for your Capstone Challenge? I believe that every year, teachers can add more lessons and content in regard to the IEFA curriculum.
On which two Overarching Competencies will you focus in addressing your Capstone Challenge? Why are they relevant? I will be addressing Continued Learning and Education and Interpersonal Effectiveness as my two Overarching Competencies in my Capstone Challenge. They are relevent because of the need to create a shared vision based on student needs. Additionally, it will be helpful to develop strong relationships with colleagues based on mutual trust and a shared vision for student learning.
If your foundational competency is not Explore and Challenge Inequity, please explain? Why is it important? My foundational competency is Explore and Challenge Inequity.
Which Leadership Pathway competency will you focus on in your Capstone Challenge? Why is it relevant? I will be focusing on the Collaborative Relationship Leadership Pathway Competency in my Capstone Challenge. It is relevant because I have engaged in collaborative discussion with colleagues about learning and teaching.
With whom will you work in addressing your Capstone Challenge? Who else might you recruit beyond your own cultural and/or professional identity group? I will be working with teachers, staff and administrators. I will be working with Indigineous Leaders in our neighboring communities. I want to work with the people that are part of the IEFA organization.
Which resources (such as, people, money, programs, time and space, etc.) do you have to address in your Capstone Challenge? What resources will you need? How will you obtain them? We need more members of the tribes to visit our school to educate the students. We could use money to purchase books and send kids on field trips. I will research grant opportunities to obtain these resources.