Indigenous Knowledge to Grow Successful STEM Teachers (IKGSST)

Revolutionize STEM education for Indigenous students by joining the 2025-2026 cohort open to K-12 STEM teachers, support staff, and administrators within the Four-Corners region (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah).

Using Indigenous Knowledge to Grow Successful STEM Teachers: An AISES and Fort Lewis College Initiative

The Indigenous Knowledge to Grow Successful STEM Teachers (IKGSST) program is open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous K-12 STEM teachers, support staff, and administrators within the Four-Corners region (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah) and aims to revolutionize STEM education for Indigenous students by achieving three key goals.

First, we strive to boost STEM teacher retention in high schools serving Indigenous communities, ensuring that students have consistent access to passionate and dedicated educators.

Second, we aim to amplify the impact of these STEM teachers on educational equity, bridging gaps and creating more inclusive learning environments.

Lastly, we focus on enhancing Indigenous student success through a unique academic model that centers on Indigenous Knowledge and values, fostering interconnection, inquiry-based learning, and place-based pedagogy to significantly improve proficiency in STEM subjects.

Benefits

Graduate coursework in Education from FLC (three credit hours) focusing on Indigenous methodologies and pedagogical skill development
In-person professional development training (45 hours) at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado that hosts cultural wisdom keepers and subject-matter experts who facilitate the workshops through an Indigenous lens
$500 stipend for completing the program
Housing and meals, in addition to mileage reimbursements, are provided during Professional Development on-site meetings
Funding provided for up to three PK-12 STEM teachers to attend the AISES National Conference
Tuition scholarship and course/PD materials are provided by the IKGSST project

Program Expectations

Attend all weekend-intensive PD workshops
Attend all course sessions, and complete readings and assignments
Communicate any concerns about potential absences or missing assignments to your professor
Participate in sharing your experiences and comprehension of the course and PD content with AISES-FLC staff and in group discussions with your cohort
Be a collaborative member in the holistic development of the cohort

This program is not currently accepting new applicants.

Program Timeline

EARLY APRIL

Application opens

JUNE 6

Application closes

JUNE 30

Communication of status is sent

SEPTEMBER 19-21

Program Opening Weekend Intensive Professional Development Workshop I

AUGUST-APRIL

Hybrid Course: Independent work and attend (10) Thursday evening meetings between August 2025-April 2026

FEBRUARY 20-22

Mid-Program Weekend Intensive Professional Development Workshop

MAY 15-17

Concluding Weekend Intensive Professional Development Workshop

Overcoming Educational Disparities with Culture-Based and Land-Based Education Models

Indigenous students are one of the most disadvantaged groups in the country in terms of educational achievement, particularly in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Indigenous college students are severely underrepresented, leading to even more dramatic underrepresentation in the STEM workforce. This underrepresentation is due at least in part to student lack of proficiency in STEM disciplines during high school. However, lack of proficiency is not simply an individual student issue but rather a product of historical and contemporary prejudice, colonization, and ongoing devaluing of Indigenous knowledge and ways of being, especially within education settings. IKGSST provides professional development training in Culture-based and Land-based Education models centering on Indigenous Knowledge as a foundational framework for STEM teaching (CBE), which boast statistically significant best practices that “positively impact student outcomes” (Kana’iaupuni, Ledward, & Jensen, 2010) and drive academic success for Indigenous K-12 students.

The IKGSST is funded by the Office of Indian Education, US Department of Education in connection with their Native American Teacher Retention Initiative, and The New Schools Venture Fund.