Independent School District 196 is hiring: American Indian Education - Cultural

Overview

American Indian Education - Cultural Family Advocate role at Independent School District 196. This is a .5 FTE (half-time) position on a 10-month calendar, with 8 hours per day. Effective start date: ASAP. Application deadline: September 10, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.

Application details

Application procedure: All candidates apply online at www.district196.org as an External Applicant.

Responsibilities

• Work with eligible American Indian Education students and families to increase and support positive experiences, educational outcomes and cultural learning opportunities.
• Advise school staff in understanding the culture and perspectives of Indigenous families and act as a liaison between the school district and families in facilitating an understanding of school values and expectations.
• Provide in-school support and advocacy to assist students with cultural adjustment and social emotional development.
• Assist in implementation of programs and activities to enhance school engagement, academic achievement and career & college readiness. Activities include student advising, student leadership groups and in-school cultural and language learning opportunities.
• Provide teachers and staff with culturally relevant curriculum and community resources including information on the various Indigenous nations represented in their schools.
• Identify and address cultural competency, equity and inclusion issues with district staff.
• Represent the district in community organizations and functions and keep the district informed of community concerns.
• Attend Native American Parent Advisory Committee meetings monthly and Tribal Consultation meetings with the Tribal Nations Education Committee.
• Maintain professional relationships with families, staff and administrators to develop intervention strategies to enhance school success.
• Act as a liaison between parents and schools via email, phone, and home visits; facilitate family participation in conferences and other school/district activities.
• Collaborate with staff to support student development in academics, arts and athletics (Triple A) and living our mission of lifelong success.
• Identify and provide culturally relevant curriculum and community resources.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years post-secondary education in related field; B.A. preferred in education, behavioral sciences, social work, American Indian Studies or related field.
• Prior experience working with Native American students and their families in an educational setting.
• Experience working in K-12 school system.
• Experience working effectively with and understanding the needs of Native American populations.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, including cross-cultural communication.
• Experience developing and presenting professional workshops, especially with regards to Indigenous pedagogy and the Minnesota state standards.
• Experience developing and leading culturally relevant activities such as Dakota & Ojibwe language classes, drum & dance classes and other cultural learning opportunities especially with regard to the L/N/Dakota and Anishinaabe peoples and cultures.
• Available for flexible work schedule, including evenings, weekends, and summer hours.
• Must have reliable transportation to travel between sites as necessary.
• Strong interpersonal skills.

Job Summary

• Knowledge and skills in advising American Indian Education students.
• Assist in implementation of programs and activities to enhance school engagement, academic achievement and career & college readiness. Activities include student advising, student leadership groups and in-school cultural and language learning opportunities.
• Provide in-school support and advocacy to assist students with cultural adjustment and social emotional development.
• Help provide support in a variety of situations and conflicts that may arise due to cultural differences, and refer to professional staff when appropriate.
• Act as a communication liaison between parents and schools through the use of email, phone calls, and home visits. Facilitate family participation in conferences and other school & district activities.
• Work professionally and cooperatively with school staff to support student’s full development in the school system and consult with parents, teachers, and administrators to develop intervention strategies to enhance school success.
• Provide teachers and staff with culturally relevant curriculum & community resources including information on the various Indigenous nations represented in their schools.
• Inform and educate district staff on issues around cultural competency, equity and inclusion.
• Represent the district in community organizations and functions. Keep district informed of community concerns.
• Attend and participate in the Native American Parent Advisory Committee meetings once a month during the school year and bi-annual Tribal Consultation meetings with the Tribal Nations Education Committee.
• Attendance and participation at American Indian Education events and staff development and/or trainings.
• Other duties as assigned.

Reports To

American Indian Education Program Coordinator and Director of Equity and Inclusion

Compensation

According to contractual agreement.

Equal Opportunity Employer

As required by Title IX and other state and federal nondiscrimination laws, District 196 does not discriminate in employment or in any of its education programs and activities, including vocational opportunities, on the basis of sex, race, religion, color, creed, national origin, marital status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or genetic information. District 196 provides equal access to designated youth groups. The district's Title IX Coordinator is the Director of Human Resources, Joel Milteer (651-423-7859 – joel.milteer@district196.org). Other officials designated to respond to inquiries regarding the district's non-discrimination policies are the Director of Elementary Education (Jeremy Sorenson, 651-423-7782 – jeremy.sorenson@district196.org), the Director of Secondary Education (Eric Hansen, 651-423-7712 – eric.hansen@district196.org), and the Director of Special Education (Janet Fimmen, 651-423-7629 – janet.fimmen@district196.org). The mailing address for all directors is 3455 153rd Street W, Rosemount, MN 55068. Title IX inquiries may also be referred to the U.S. Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Asterisked categories indicate employment-related discrimination and harassment.