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The San Carlos Unified School District (SCUSD) is working to help students in the district and educate parents to give them the skills they need to help their children succeed.
Through the Parent Educator Program, SCUSD offers tools and support to help ease the burdens many parents face on the San Carlos Reservation.
“Not only are we reaching the students, but we’re meeting with their parents to feed, educate and support them and give them the skills to help their child be successful,” says SCUSD Assistant Superintendent Shawn Pietila. “It’s an important aspect of our outreach to try to improve the situation the students are in, to help make their lives easier and their chance for educational success better.”
The Parent Educator Program was established in 2018 by SCUSD Superintendent Dr. Deborah Dennison, with the curriculum initially funded by a grant from First Things First and the San Carlos Apache Tribe. The program was designed to benefit students and their parents as well as District staff members and the San Carlos Apache community at large.
In addition to parenting classes, there are resources meant to create a network of support to help solidify the family foundation. There is also a focus on teaching San Carlos Apache culture, history and language in order to keep that heritage alive and give parents and students a stronger sense of community.
The program includes monthly parent events at each of the District’s schools, community events and even parenting classes for incarcerated parents, who receive certificates for the completion of the parenting courses offered.
Utilizing resources from the Native American Fathers and Families Association (NAFFA), the District offers the 12-week Fatherhood is Sacred/Motherhood is Sacred Program that “defines the purpose of life, brings understanding of the sacredness of the role of a mother and father and explains the importance of how valuable our native heritage is to our people.”
The 14-week Linking Generations By Strengthening Relationships Program helps parents “build on their current capacity to engage in healthier relationships with their partners, children, workplace and their community.”
Also from NAFFA is Addressing Family Violence and Abuse, another 14-week program intended to “stop the violence and abuse by teaching correct principals of devotion and support to uplift and help those who choose to use violence and abuse in their families.”
Additionally, the Parent Educator Program receives funding through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to help students overcome the challenges related to homelessness and also accesses resources through the Arizona Adverse Childhood Experiences Consortium (ACES).
“The NAFFA classes are designed to define the purposes of life and bring understanding of the sacredness of the role of a mother and father,” says Lead Parent Supervisor Cheryl Haozous. “It explains the importance and how valuable our Native Heritage is to our people.”
Haozous began her career a the SCUSD as Communications Director in 2014, but has been leading the Parent Educator Program since its inception.
San Carlos Apache language and culture are integral to the Program and are popular with the students, their parents and even grandparents.
The Apache parenting class incorporates Apache history and with lessons of pre-reservation themes, principles and techniques. Seth Pilsk, from the U.S. Department of Forestry, has provided material for classes and Ken Duncan from the Yellow Bird Productions leads regular Monday and Wednesday night classes where he shares Apache songs, stories, arts and crafts, history and the Apache language.
“It’s such a soul soothing class,” Haozous says. “In a recent class, we had our kids introduce themselves in Apache, say where they came from, their clans and grades and every single kid knew how to do it in Apache. This is a crucial part of our identity.”
Jaymee Dean, Parent Educator for the SCUSD Intermediate School, who is set to begin one of the NAFFA courses, says the cultural aspect of the program helps parents get involved, but it also brings together generations of San Carlos Apaches around a shared cultural identity.
“The parents come in and get really involved with, ‘how do you say this, and what does that mean?’ Dean says. “The grandparents actually fill in when we can’t pronounce some of the words, and they’re very good at helping the other parents say it as well.”
The Parent Educator Program works to educate parents, grandparents and guardians, but also partners with San Carlos Apache Healthcare, assisting parents in establishing a “medical home” and “dental home” for their children to ensure access to consistent health care.
They also do occasional home visits to distribute clothing, hygiene items and other necessities and help address truancy issues.
Education aside, there is one thing that always brings participants together and that is food.
“You mention food and everyone’s ears kind of perk up, and they’re like, what kind of food?” says San Carlos High School Parent Educator Shanice Chatlin. “The kids are so eager for clothing and shoes, just so excited, but when you say food, they’re willing to stand there and listen or talk a little longer.”
Journalist, writer and editor who has worked for community newspapers for more than 15 years. After four years at Davis-Monthan AFB and a few years living in Tucson, moved to California to find his fortune. He is happy to be back in Arizona, in the mountains he loves.
