For Superintendent Dr. Christine Fitzgerald, attending a national gathering of Native educators offered an opportunity to listen and learn from the experiences of others.
Fitzgerald joined six San Juan School District colleagues in Buffalo, New York, for the National Indian Education Association’s 57th Annual Convention and Trade Show, held October 7–10. The conference brought together Native educators, students, Tribal leaders and advocates from across the country.
This year’s theme, “Strength in Community: Building the Future Together,” focused on the shared responsibility to support Native students and build education systems that honor Tribal sovereignty, language and identity.
Fitzgerald emphasized the opportunity to listen, hear different perspectives and consider how those experiences could inform the district’s work with students and families.
The San Juan School District team included Brenda Whitehorse, Bilingual Director; Christine Rock and Nellie Tohtsonie, Navajo Language teachers; Wendy Haws, Curriculum Specialist; Jeff Fitzgerald, Grant Director; Toni Pelt, NYCP Language Specialist; and Fitzgerald.
The group represented several areas of the district’s work, including language instruction, curriculum and grant support. The conference provided a setting for colleagues to learn alongside educators from other Native-serving schools and programs.
Throughout the convention, sessions, keynote presentations and cultural experiences addressed Native education. A dedicated Educator Day focused on practical strategies and shared learning grounded in community experience. The gathering also offered opportunities to discuss the relationships among schools, families and Tribal communities.
During their time in western New York, the San Juan team was invited to visit the Seneca Nation Cultural Education Center. The visit added a cultural learning experience to the group’s conference participation.
For a district serving Navajo students and families, the conference’s focus on language, culture and identity connects directly to the work happening in San Juan classrooms. It also reinforced the value of listening to the communities schools serve.
The team’s time in Buffalo offered opportunities to build relationships, exchange ideas and reflect on how San Juan School District can continue supporting Native students and their learning.