Indigenizing Pedagogy Teacher Training & L/Dakota Language Learning Opportunity
What are we offering?
Rochester Public Schools American Indian Education and the Multiingual Learning Department are partnering with Re-Root Academy (Wahútkaŋ Okíziya Owáyawa) to offer Indigenizing Pedagogy trainings & Dakota language courses to the RPS community.
Who can join?
All community members: current and future teachers, staff, AIPAC members, community members, and partners.
Register your interest at tinyurl.com/LangTeachRPS26.
Why join?
Teachers of all subjects and languages will increase student engagement, ownership, and critical thinking through project based learning and other empowering and land-based methods.
Rochester Public Schools is located on Dakota land, so we are committed to honoring and engaging with the Dakota people by learning and teaching Dakota language, and by supporting decolonial pedagogies in other languages and courses to uplift all members of our community.
This is a first-of-its kind opportunity to learn these methods, become a speaker of the Dakota language, and become a tribally approved, licensed teacher of Dakota language or another Indigenous language. No previous experience is needed, and people of all ages, nations, and backgrounds are welcome to join!
Develop as a professional or become a teacher!
The program starts June 15 and runs through May 2027, with courses in lesson planning, curriculum writing, classroom management, and more, as well as Novice through Advanced Dakota language.
Participants who complete both the teacher development and language courses will be eligible for tribal approval to become licensed Native American Language & Culture teachers.
You may choose some courses or all
CEUs available for Indigenous History, Language, & Culture
OR Stipends available for outside contract time
This work is supported by an MDE Native Language Revitalization Grant.
Schedule
Summer Courses (June 15 - Aug 14, 10:30-12 Central, T, W, Th)
Lesson Planning for rapid language acquisition
Effective materials design
Project-Based Language Immersion curriculum development
Fall Courses (6:30 - 8pm Central, T & Th)
Decolonial immersive classroom management
Developing and implementing decolonial proficiency, summative, and formative assessments
Spring Instructional Support (Flexible Scheduling)
1:1 instructional coaching
Lesson planning support
Curriculum development and materials development support
For questions, reach out to Natalia Benjamin at nabenjamin@rochesterschools.org or Guthrie Capossela at guthrie.capossela@rochesterschools.org.