debra onsae

My responsibility was teaching 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade curricular content to elementary students. I was responsible for the daily lessons for each grade level I taught. I taught 3rd grade for most of my 13 years teaching at Christensen Elementary School. I served on the superintendent's advisory council for a year as a teacher representative,

My role as an elementary school teacher at Tuba City Public School was teaching students the content & skills for third grade for 8 years. After 8 years of teaching the 3rd grade curriculum I taught 4th and 5th grade for 4 years. My last year at the school I taught a 6th grade class. 13 years of teaching in a school where a majority of the students were Navajo and Hopi students in small native community.

As academic advisor in the F.U.S.D. my role is to support the academic progress of the Native student population at the elementary level. I serve students in two schools, Marshall Elementary and Sechrist Elementary School. I communicate with the teachers to see what areas of instruction students need support in and I focus on reinforcing those skills in my tutoring program. I monitor student growth or progress by collecting student test data from the RTI specialists. I attend colloborative team meetings on behalf of Native American students. I support the team efforts of the teachers as we discuss student gains/progress. I also document absences and make attendance reports to the Indian Education supervisor, I make parent contacts when there are excessive absences which hinder a student's academic program. Mainly my role is be the positive support for all native students at my school sites. I advocate for parents so they are better connected to the school, the teachers, and school/district community programs.

Activities and Societies: TCHS - Cheerleading, National Honor Society, Track and Field ASU - Native Student Activities NAU - Multi-cultural Program, Northern AZ Writing Project, AZ Science Teachers

Language curriculum development for Hopilavayi classes on the Hopi reservation and for Flagstaff Indian Support Program. Language research in tribal community. Instructor for summer language and cultural enrichment classes in tribal community and school setting. Retelling Hopi stories (oral and legends) and creating mini books for use by students in classrooms. Activities and Societies: Hopi teacher program mentor - preparing Hopi college students to be successful teachers, writing and developing Hopi lessons for elementary students to be utilized by Hopi Teacher Program. Cultural presenter for non-native students in the school setting and Hopi tour groups. Member of Hopi Women's Leadership Program under Hopi Foundation.