NIEA Committees

Every year, the NIEA President appoints a committee Co-Chair from within the Board of Directors and allows the committee to select the other Co-Chair from among its members. These Co-Chairs will lead the committee and its work by:

1. Align work of the committee with the Organization’s strategic direction and tactical plans;

2. Prepare and post with the Secretary a written report no later than 5 business days prior to the next Board of Director’s meeting;

3. Work with the 2nd Vice President to notify the President of actionable items needing action by the Board of Directors;

4. Ensure conducive, positive working environment for Committee; and,

5. Have at least five (5) members present at each meeting to transact Committee business (e.g. Quorum).

Governance

The Governance Committee will support the establishment, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of NIEA’s Strategic Plan and tactical plans by: a) Strengthening the organization by working alongside the Executive Director to establish, implement, monitor, and report NIEA’s governance; b) Overseeing the Board of Directors’ candidate selection, election, and orientation; c) Strengthening the Board of Directors’ capacity to operate knowledgably, proficiently, morally, legally, and appropriately; d) Reviewing and aligning the activities of the Board of Directors and organization with its policies and procedures; e) Periodically reviewing and refining NIEA’s Constitution, Bylaws, policies, and procedures, and when appropriate, provide a process for revisions that include membership; f) Conducting with the President NIEA’s annual Board of Directors’ and Executive Director’s review and provide a general report to the membership; g) Overseeing the Board complaint and resolutions processes; and, h) Conducting other duties as assigned.

Members:
Kimberly Daingkau-Begay, Co-chair, Rachael Watson, Mischa Jackson, Lydia-Ruth Mansfield, Sylvia Hussey

To contact a committee member please email niea@niea.org.

Meetings occur monthly, every second Friday, at 12pm EST

Advocacy

The Advocacy Committee will support the establishment, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of NIEA’s strategic direction and tactical plans by: i. Strengthening the Organization by working alongside the Executive Director to establish, implement, monitor, and report NIEA’s forward direction through its advocacy; ii. Monitoring, reviewing, and providing commentary to National, State, and Local legislation that impacts Native education across the United States; iii. Activating with the Organization legislative and policy work that supports and advocates for the education of NIEA’s constituency – American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians; iv. Overseeing the resolutions process at NIEA’s Convention in-line with the Organization’s policies and procedures; and, v. Conducting other duties as assigned.

Members:
Slyvia Hussey, Co-Chair, Sonya Skan, Alicia Begolin

To contact a committee member please email niea@niea.org.

Meetings occur monthly, every second Wednesday, at 3:00-4:00 pm EST

Fiscal

The Fiscal Committee will support the establishment, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of NIEA’s Strategic Plan and tactical plans by: a) Strengthening the organization’s by working alongside the Executive Director to establish, implement, monitor, and report strategies to increase NIEA’s financial sustainability; b) Overseeing the organization’s financial status, reporting, and accountability; c) Ensuring the financial solvency of the organization; d) Expanding funding sources to support the growth of the organization; e) Providing to NIEA’s membership reports (2 annually) on the organization’s fiscal performance; f) Overseeing the organization’s annual financial audit process; g) Monitoring personnel policies and procedures in respect to the well-being of the organization’s staff; and, h) Conducting other duties as assigned

Members:
Sonya Skan, Co-Chair, Mischa Jackson, Sylvia Hussey, Alicia Begolin

To contact a committee member please email niea@niea.org.

Meetings occur monthly, every third Wednesday, from 2:00-3:30 pm EST

Membership

The Membership Committee will support the establishment, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of NIEA’s Strategic Plan and tactical plans by: a) Strengthening the organization’s by working alongside the Executive Director to establish, implement, monitor, and report strategies to increase NIEA’s membership; b) Conducting local and regional sessions with NIEA’s constituents to increase their involvement in NIEA’s strategic direction; c) Overseeing the creation of new and selection of the annual NIEA awardees (e.g. Educator of the Year, Elder of the Year, others) – and providing a slate of award nominees to the Board of Directors for vote; d) Engaging and communicating with NIEA’s constituents to generate powerful networks that support native education across the United States and throughout the world; e) Increasing strong relationships between NIEA and partner organizations; and f) Conducting other duties as assigned.

Members:
Alicia Begolin, Co-Chair, Tracy Peterson, Lori Quigley

To contact a committee member please email niea@niea.org.

Meetings occur bi-monthly, every third Monday, from 12:00-1:00 pm EST

Native Control of Native Education

The Education Committee, led by 1st Vice President Dr. Hugh Burnam, will support the establishment, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of NIEA’s Strategic Plan and tactical plans through its three (3) sub-committees:

Native Educator Education Development

1. Strengthening the Organization by working alongside the Executive Director to establish, implement, monitor, and report NIEA’s education strategies; 2. Working with the Organization to increase the accessibility, quality, and quantity of Native approaches to curriculum, instruction, assessment, and classroom practice; 3. Enhancing the accessibility, quality, and quantity of Native approaches to teacher preservice/education, educational leadership, and educator professional development; 4. Increasing viable and sustained ways to ensure the renormalization of Native language education; 5. Conducting other duties as assigned.

Members:

Tracy Peterson, Co-Chair

To contact a committee member please email niea@niea.org.

Meetings occur monthly, every second Monday from 2:00-3:00 pm EST

Native Educational Systems (NES)

1. Strengthening the organization by working alongside the Executive to establish, implement, monitor, and report NIEA’s education strategies; 2. Supporting Native charter schools – networks, creation/development, curriculum, teacher/leadership development, etc; 3. Creating and sustaining native accreditation models that validate native education; 4. Building and expanding capacity, quality, accessibility, and quantity of tribal education – early childhood education, higher education; 5. Improving programs, initiatives, policies, and funding that supports Native approaches to educating NIEA’s constituency in public education systems; and, 6. Conducting other duties as assigned.

Website Here

Members:

Rachel Watson, Co-Chair

To contact a committee member please email niea@niea.org.

Meetings occur monthly, every first Wednesday, from 4:00-5:00 pm EST

Native Research, Assessment, & Evaluation (NRAE)

1. Strengthening the organization by working, alongside the Executive Director to establish, implement, monitor, and report NIEA’s education strategies; 2. Advancing research on Native ways, language, methods, well-being, and other areas that impact the education of NIEA’s constituency; 3. Strengthening assessment of Native students, families, and communities beyond deficit models to strength based, indigenous epistemological, Native axiological and ontological, and other Native-grounded approaches; 4. Improving systems of evaluation that ensure equity, sovereignty, and respect for Native education; and, 5. Conducting other duties as assigned.

Members:
Hugh Burnam, Co-Chair

To contact a committee member please email niea@niea.org.

Meetings occur monthly, every third Tuesday, from 4:00-5:00 pm EST