The Cherokee Nation Education Services’ Indian Education Professional Development ᏗᏕᏲᎲᏍᎩ (di-de-yo-hv-s-gi or Teacher) Cohort seeks to increase the number of qualified Native American teachers entering public school classrooms in school districts in the Cherokee Nation Reservation and beyond. This project began its recruitment efforts in Spring 2026, and ten (10) teacher candidates have been selected to receive program services through the final few years of their undergraduate coursework and first two (2) years of classroom teaching.
Teachers in the cohort will receive wraparound services, including advanced support through living allowances, additional scholarship opportunities, technology stipends, professional development, and traditional cultural engagement. Additionally, during the last two years of the project, the participants will be provided with induction support as they begin teaching at local education associations with high Native student populations.
Requirements
Contact info
Natasha Santana, Project Director natasha-santana@cherokee.org teachercohort@cherokee.org(918) 453-5000, ext. 5985
Funding for this program is provided by the U.S. Department of Education – Office of Indian Education. The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the Department of Education. However, this content does not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education and should not assume endorsement by the Federal government.
