University of Phoenix and National Indian Education Association Collaborate to Offer Professional Development Courses
By Michele Mitchum
Courses designed to offer educators impactful and practical skills via online learning platform
University of Phoenix and the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) are pleased to offer a series of professional development courses designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of school administrators and educators working in community-based educational settings serving Native American students. The courses were developed by the University’s Professional Development (PD) group, subject matter experts and experienced educators, combining University of Phoenix's experience in high-quality online learning with NIEA's deep understanding of Native American culture and educational needs.
"We are honored to collaborate with the National Indian Education Association in offering these professional development courses,” shares University of Phoenix National Tribal Strategic Alliance Executive Patrick Horning. “By combining our resources and experience, we aim to empower educators with the knowledge and skills needed to create inclusive and culturally responsive learning environments for Native American students."
NIEA provides a wide range of culturally relevant educational resources for Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian teachers and education communities. A recent expansion of these resources includes culturally tailored teacher professional development courses that were developed and launched through a collaborative effort between the University of Phoenix professional development group and the University’s Tribal Operations Team. The collaboration between University of Phoenix and NIEA involved creating three new, custom courses for NIEA and providing access to existing virtual learning courses. The web-based professional development experience made it easy for NIEA to onboard learners and track key outcomes.
“Native and non-native teachers who educate Native American children must understand the relevance and importance of Native cultures and traditions, which is what inspired NIEA to develop these professional development courses,” Horton shares. “University of Phoenix is a long-standing supporter of NIEA and Tribal education and looks forward to collaborating with NIEA on this and future development of culturally relevant education resources and strategies that help improve the quality of our Tribal members’ education.”
NIEA Executive Director Diana Cournoyer affirms the importance of a partnership built on improving tribal education and educator capacity. “Launching this online professional learning series is the first of many as we expand our efforts to address teacher retention by filling in gaps in culturally grounded and Native centered professional development. NIEA and the University of Phoenix are trailblazing in the online learning space as we believe it is critical for ALL educators to build knowledge on teaching for, about, and with Native communities.”
Key features of the custom professional development courses include:
· Cultural Competency Training: Educators will learn how to incorporate culturally responsive teaching practices, respect cultural diversity, and develop strong relationships with Native American students and their families.
· Curriculum and Instructional Strategies: Participants will gain valuable insights into designing and delivering culturally relevant curriculum and instruction, enabling them to create engaging and meaningful learning experiences for Native American students.
· Community Engagement: Educators will learn about the importance of building partnerships with Native American communities, parents, and tribal leaders to create a collaborative approach to education and support student success.
The professional development courses are available online through University of Phoenix's innovative learning platform, allowing educators across the nation to access the courses conveniently and at their own pace. Participants will receive certificates of completion from University of Phoenix and NIEA.
Learn more here about professional development opportunities from NIEA.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life® help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.
