S moke S ignals
MARCH 1, 2019
13
Native American student
enrollment up in Willamina
By Paul Daquilante
Yamhill County News-Register
WILLAMINA – Native American
students total 40 percent of K-12
enrollment in the Willamina School
District, Superintendent Carrie
Zimbrick told the school board on
Monday, Feb. 11.
There are 335 Native students.
By grade level, 46 percent of sec-
ond-graders are Native, followed
by 44 percent of fourth-graders, 47
percent of sixth-graders, 44 percent
of 10th-graders and 47 percent of
11th-graders. Seventh grade ranks
the lowest at 26 percent.
The Native graduation rate was
81.8 percent last year compared
to 71.4 percent the previous year.
Overall, the district’s 2017-18
graduation rate was 83.1 percent,
a significant improvement from 69
percent in 2016-17.
“There’s been an effort to work
as a whole to make major improve-
ments,” Zimbrick said. “The district
has made a commitment and the
teachers have quality resources.
“There were pieces missing previ-
ously. They (instructors) were not
provided with the best resources
they needed to do the best job. They
did not have all the professional
development they needed.”
The staff shares a common edu-
cation vision at the present time,
Zimbrick said.
Zimbrick said she believes Native
enrollment will continue to grow.
The Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde is expanding, she said. There
are more employment opportu-
nities and families have quality
housing options on Tribal land to
choose from. Combining that with
education offerings from the Willa-
mina School District and the Tribe
has made it attractive for families
to remain in the Grand Ronde and
Willamina communities.
The Tribe is extremely supportive
of its youth, Zimbrick said. There
is strong representation in the
Willamina district from a staffing
standpoint. She recognizes that it
is a strong partnership.
Zimbrick also stated the district
wants to keep Tribal members who
are choosing a career in education
close to home, and hopes to see qual-
ified candidates apply for teaching
positions when they become avail-
able. As an example, she mentioned
Justine Flynn, the liaison between
the Tribe and the school board who is
working toward her master’s degree
in education. Zimbrick hopes she will
apply for a position in the district if
there is an opening that fits her.
Just two of the district’s 54 staff
members are Native: high school
Dean of Students Bart Baldwin and
elementary school teacher Shannon
Mode.
The Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde and
the American Museum
of Natural History are
now Accepting youth
applications to participate
in our Annual Tamanowas
Ceremony and Museum
Internship Program.
APPLY/
Open to High School females that
meet the following qualifications/
Enrolled member of the Confederated
Tribes of Grand Ronde
Current Sophomore, Junior,
Senior in High School
G.P.A. of 2.5 or above
Oregon Resident
WALK-IN DENTAL APPOI NTMENTS FOR KIDS <6
NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY FOR DENTAL CHECK-UPS FOR KIDS 5 AND
UNDER WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE SEEN AT THE TRIBAL CLINIC.
JUST COME ON IN!
We will check your child’s teeth during any of our clinic hours without an ap-
pointment. Dental check-ups are recommended beginning with the first
tooth!
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Dental Clinic
Phone 503-879-2020
Application Deadline/
March 15th, 5pm
Application is available online/
grandronde.org
For more information contact/
Travis Stewart
travis.stewart@grandronde.org
Hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri 8:00—5:00; Thur 9:30-5:30
Ad created by George Valdez