ROLE FOR FIRST ALASKANS FOUNDATION

Although focus group participants did not directly address a role for the First Alaskans Foundation, their comments can help inform possible roles for the Foundation. Many comments from focus group participants underscored the suggestions made by the education experts in the executive interviews. These are a good starting point for delineating the role of First Alaskans Foundation.

The experts recommended that the Foundation act as an "advocate for education at a high level and work to unite efforts of the many organizations dealing with Native issues involving education." Many of the key issues raised in the focus groups directly involve funding or state policy. These include competitive teacher salaries in the villages, program diversification, expansion of curriculum options in villages, consideration of regional schools, development of Alaska Native language and culture curriculum, more school counselors, expansion of early childhood programs, and more district and village school funding. These all could be positively influenced through an advocacy and coordinating role from a central statewide base.

The experts also saw this advocacy role as communicating with communities about what effective education can do for their people. That role is consistent with the results of all of the research components, including the focus groups, which emphasized the vital role of the community, schools, and parents in improving education for Alaska Native children. The focus groups indicated some possible priorities for communities - involvement in teacher recruitment, hiring and welcoming of Alaska Native teachers, and partnerships between businesses and the schools.

Other recommendations included involvement in local school board training to enhance board effectiveness in hiring decisions, meeting curriculum standards, and working to establish programs to mentor teachers, orient them to Alaska Native culture and needs, and recruit more Alaska Natives to become teachers. These roles are consistent with and highly supportive of the importance the focus group participants placed on setting higher standards for both students and teachers, especially in the villages.

Return to the Issues in Alaska Native Education: Focus Group Research

Return to the McDowell Final Report

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