LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A new educational support center is now available to Native American and Alaska Native students and their families in the Clark County School District.
CCSD's Indian Educational Opportunity Program (IEOP) commemorated the opening of the support center Saturday morning with a traditional land blessing ceremony and powwow performance.
Located off Flamingo Road and Eastern Avenue, the building will serve as a hub for learning and culture. Students within IEOP receive academic support such as tutoring, school supplies, and a library, as well as opportunities to participate in university tours. Additionally, it serves as a place for families and students to gather to celebrate culture and hold meetings.
IEOP Coordinator Richard Savage emphasized the importance of such spaces, saying, “Anything that gives Native American students a fair opportunity to be more successful academically while also connecting them with their culture.” . He said, “Anything that helps students with their identity also helps with their academic performance.”
For IEOP member Liliana O’Neill, representation is important. She is a sophomore at Liberty High School, but she has been a member since seventh grade.
“It feels so good. As an Indigenous student, there aren't a lot of people like this or Indigenous kids in my school,” she said, encouraging others to join the program.
Her mother, Natalie O'Neill, agreed.
“Cultural identity is very important, especially promoting indigenous values,” she said. “IEOP is an opportunity for her to meet other children like her who share similar experiences. For those of us who come from Indigenous cultures, we are familiar with the barriers that education poses. ”
Meeting halls also help boost attendance, as the district reports that one-third of students are chronically absent.
This includes nearly half of all American Indian and Alaska Native students for the 2022-2023 school year.
Preliminary data collected in November 2023 shows 38% of Native students are absent this school year.
Brad Keating, executive director of CCSD's Engagement Unit, said more students are in class this year as a result of the engagement efforts that are the foundation of the new building, noting the worrying trends. Stated.
“We understand that attending school is difficult for Native Americans. We want our students to have fun in school, want to come to school, and excel every day. , we are working in every way possible to work together to break down these barriers,” Keating said.
CCSD's IEOP is a Title VI and Johnson-O'Malley grant-funded program.
Call 702-799-8515 or visit this link to participate.
