Cultural Expression
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Grace-Based Teaching
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Indigenous Knowledge for Effective Education Program
Indigenous Knowledge for Effective Education Program (IKEEP) at the University of Idaho prepares and certifies culturally responsive Indigenous teachers to meet the unique needs of Native American students in K-12 schools. IKEEP scholars are part of a teaching cohort committed to innovation in indigenous education.
Native American/Alaskan Native youths experience greater academic success when their cultures, languages and community values are included in classroom pedagogy.
With the support of the University of Idaho’s MOU Tribes (Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Confederated Tribes of the Yakama Nation, Kalispel Tribe of Indians, Kootenai Tribe, Nez Perce Tribe, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Shoshone-Paiute Tribes and Spokane Tribe of Indians), the purpose of IKEEP is to recruit, prepare, certify and place culturally responsive American Indian educators into teaching positions in schools with high populations of Native American students. IKEEP supports scholars from additional Tribal communities as well.
“Indigenous students need to see themselves [...] in front of the classroom, in the hallways, in community, but also see how they can balance the classroom, the community, the culture.” IKEEP Alumna
What is IKEEP
Indigenous Knowledge for Effective Education Program (IKEEP) at University of Idaho was established in 2016 to prepare and certify culturally responsive Indigenous teachers to meet the unique needs of Native American students in K-12 schools. IKEEP scholars are part of a cohort model that is committed to innovation in Indigenous education excellence. Today, IKEEP has expanded its framework towards a wraparound service model called “IKEEP Pathways,” which seeks to mentor, support, and develop Indigenous scholars who are committed to strengthening the education outcomes of Indigenous youth. This year, IKEEP is offering dual credit courses for high school students, supporting its first cohort of IKEEP apprentices, first cohort of educational leaders towards principalship, and third cohort of teacher education scholars, and is designing professional development systems to reach educators statewide. IKEEP’s pathway model heavily relies on collaboration, partnership, and relationships with Tribal communities towards sovereign-affirming education outcomes.
Native American/Alaskan Native youths experience greater academic success when their cultures, languages and community values are included in classroom pedagogy.
With the support of University of Idaho’s MOU Tribes (Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Confederated Tribes of the Yakama Nation, Kalispel Tribe of Indians, Kootenai Tribe, Nez Perce Tribe, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Shoshone-Paiute Tribes and Spokane Tribe of Indians), IKEEP recruits, supports, and places culturally responsive American Indian educators into teaching positions in schools with high populations of Native American students. IKEEP supports scholars from additional Tribal communities as well.
The Nez Perce and Coeur d’Alene Tribes partner with IKEEP to increase recruitment of regional Tribal scholars to all IKEEP pathways, collaborate to provide specialized professional development opportunities for IKEEP participants via regional Indigenous pedagogies summits, and assist with providing induction services for newly placed teachers and administrators. Consortium tribes also partner in offering professional development workshops for faculty and K-12 educators in regional LEA’s and institutions of higher education.
IKEEP maintains a general advisory committee and an educational leadership advisory committee to incorporate regional stakeholders and partners into program design and execution. Please see complete lists of the advisory members on the “meet our staff” page.
View our IKEEP story.
IKEEP Pathways
With the generous support of Idaho workforce development funding, IKEEP has initiated the development and rollout of IKEEP pathways, a long-time vision to fill major gaps in the education system that underserves Indigenous students. The pathways are a wraparound service model that introduces high school students to Indigenous education, apprenticeship in Indigenous education for underclassman, educational leadership preparation for principal certification, and sovereign-affirming PD for K-12 educators.
Designed as an introduction to Indigenous education for high school students, IKEEP for Young People is the first pathway and provides high school students with dual credit opportunities to explore education pathways that are supportive of serving Native students and their communities. Mentorship from Indigenous educators, hands-on, land-based learning experiences, and an introduction to the importance of land, place, and community education practices to improve learning outcomes for our youth are central elements of this pathway.
Sites offering IKEEP for Young People courses include:
- Moscow High School, Moscow School District
- Lakeside High School, Plummer-Worley School District
- Lapwai High School, Lapwai School District
- Shoshone Bannock Jr/Sr High School, Shoshone-Bannock School District
IKEEP Apprenticeships give underclassman undergraduates from 4 Idaho colleges and universities, an opportunity to participate in the IKEEP educator framework through semester summits, and regional Indian Education conferences, along with stipends to support their participation.
IKEEP Apprenticeship Packet
IKEEP Apprenticeship Application
IKEEP Pre-Service Teacher Cohort is the original IKEEP model established in 2016. The pathways ecosystem will strengthen the success of Indigenous pre-service teachers by building authentic professional learning communities, because we are nurturing school systems to have the funds of knowledge to serve Indigenous students and their communities through sovereign affirming, pedagogically sound schooling practices.
IKEEP Indigenous Education Leadership Cohort is designed to prepare Indigenous education leadership cohorts to apply for principal certification. These are the leaders we need in schools across Idaho serving on or near tribal nations to nurture and sustain school ecosystems of support.
Professional Development for Educators offers professional development, both online and in-person to all schools in Idaho seeking opportunities to improve their pedagogical approaches, instructional practices, and understanding of sovereign-affirming education supportive of Indigenous student outcomes and community wellness.
IKEEP seeks to strengthen and sustain respectful, reciprocal, and responsible relationships with Indigenous scholars and Tribal nations through an interdisciplinary approach to building the capacity of Indigenous educators and leaders across the region. IKEEP is committed to supporting Tribal sovereignty through education, research, and professional development models and frameworks that furthers the nation building goals of our MOU Tribes.