Research from the National Indian Education Association
Native Perspectives from the Classroom
National Native Educator Landscape Analysis
Bringing together state educator data and findings from 1,029 survey responses, the National Indian Education Association’s National Native Educator Landscape Analysis examines educators’ experiences and identifies opportunities to strengthen educator recruitment, support, retention, and leadership.
Native educators bring knowledge, relationships, and leadership that strengthen learning for Native students. The report explores the experiences of Native educators and non-Native educators serving Native students, with findings and recommendations for educators, school leaders, Tribal education departments, preparation programs, education agencies, and partners.
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What readers will find
- Educator retention and support Perspectives on working conditions and professional support.
- Culture-based education Barriers and opportunities for culturally grounded teaching and learning.
- Leadership and professional growth Findings on leadership access and educator development.
- Native language educators Recommendations for language educators and those supporting their work.
- Tribal communities and leadership The role of Tribal communities in strengthening the Native educator workforce.
Find a place to begin
Start with the section that connects to your work, then share the findings with colleagues and partners who can help put the recommendations into practice.
| If you want to explore | Start here |
|---|---|
| The report’s purpose and approach | Introduction and context Pages 4–14 |
| Native classroom teacher experiences | Pages 15–25 |
| Native administrator experiences | Pages 33–41 |
| Indian Education staff perspectives | Pages 50–56 |
| Native language educator perspectives | Pages 57–60 |
| Recommendations and next steps | Pages 70–81 |
About the research
The national survey received 1,029 responses, with 228 unique Tribes represented among Native respondents. The survey findings reflect the experiences of participating educators rather than estimates of all Native educators.
The report also presents state educator counts for 39 states, reflecting the records and definitions described in the report. The state counts and survey findings are separate sources of information that together help build a fuller understanding of the Native educator workforce.
Supporting Native students means supporting their educators.