Licensed Partner Spotlight: National Indian Education Association

This month we proudly spotlight one of our Communities In Schools® (CIS®) Licensed Partners, the National Indian Education Association (NIEA). Together, we are working to ensure that every student, regardless of background or circumstances, has access to the resources, opportunities, and relationships they need to thrive in school and life. Through this collaboration, we are driving positive change with NIEA’s activation of Tribal Communities In Schools (TCIS).  

NIEA, a CIS Licensed Partner since 2023, has been championing educational equity for Native students across the country for over 51 years. In communities across Maine, Oklahoma, and Northern California, this partnership merges NIEA’s expertise in advocating and promoting culturally grounded education with CIS’s proven integrated student support model. Together, we are recruiting and supporting more site coordinators that connect students with comprehensive support systems while honoring Native traditional knowledge and values. 

This partnership has been mutually beneficial. At CIS, we recently updated the CIS Data Management (CISDM) system to better capture tribal affiliation when collecting student demographic information. Previously, Native students were broadly categorized as “American Indian” or “Alaska Native.” This limited scope failed to reflect the diversity and depth of student identities. Being able to include their tribal affiliation goes beyond a data collection issue.  It is a means to ensure that our systems reinforce our practices of better understanding the individual identities, culture and affiliations of each student in order to better serve them. 

This update is about so much more than data; it’s about recognizing our work starts with relationships and relationships start with acknowledging every student’s individuality and honoring where they come from.

Michael Huang, CIS National Vice President for District and Community Engagement

Through this focus on relationships, NIEA and CIS aim to uplift students, honor cultural identities, and work in partnership with communities to remove systemic barriers. This partnership exemplifies an ongoing journey of mutual learning in pursuit of student success. 

This collaboration with CIS is creating educational spaces that recognize and value Native students’ identities from day one. We’re excited to see that these students feel seen, respected, and empowered as they connect with their roots and explore their futures.

Donna Richey, NIEA Tribal Community Programs Director and TCIS Manager

Learn more about NIEA.

Learn about licensed partnerships.