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The History of Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School |
Nov. 2006 Ground breaking of Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School
“Our Way School”
All of the Seminole children attending public elementary schools in Okeechobee and Moore Haven are allowed to remain on the reservation every Friday to attend a tribally run cultural school, which the students affectionately call “the Indian School.”
The school was a result of the parents concern that the Seminole children were losing their language and cultural knowledge.
During the school year of 2001 – 2002, the Brighton Cultural, Education, and Library staff spent that time preparing for their language and cultural school. Time was devoted to planning classes and lessons, selecting teachers, and developing teaching materials.
Also at this time, six education staff began a two-year program, “Native Language Certificate Program”, at the Florida Gulf Coast University. The focus of this program was instruction in teaching languages and developing materials. These individuals later became the lead instructors in the Pull Out Program. The project was accomplished under the leadership of Dr. Susan Stans, who was in dual capacity as a consultant for the Seminole Tribe Education Program as well as a professor at the Florida Gulf Coast University (Fort Myers FL).
School opened in September 2002 with approximately 40 students who regularly attended the Seminole Elementary School in Okeechobee.
In subsequent years, the Pull Out Program has expanded beyond the “wildest” expectations of the Brighton community. The enrollment increased yearly to over eighty students attending in the current school year of 2006-2007. Always with the continued support of the Tribal Council, the language/cultural program has been able to meet the needs of the community. When overcrowding became a major problem, modular buildings were purchased so two classrooms could be added. In the second year of operations, a Cultural Education Program Specialist was hired. She works with teachers in developing lesson plans to be in compliance with the Sunshine State Standards and coordinates all activities on Fridays when school is in session. When there are visitors from local schools and school boards, they are amazed at the quality and quantity of lesson plans that have been developed by the staff.
The school day is broken down into classes and by grades (K – 5th). The classes currently being taught are in Seminole History; Reading and Writing the Creek Language; Arts and Crafts; Language Arts; Health/Family Services, and Recreation.
In light of the tremendous popularity of the one day a week school, the community decided to take yet another major step in that of establishing a school on the reservation, a school where students could be provided daily cultural and language teachings. The Tribal Chief Executive Officer, Ken Fields, and the Education staff from Brighton and Hollywood offices met with Mrs. Phoebe Raulerson (now retired) at Okeechobee Library in January of 2005. She advised that we should pursue establishing a charter school with cultural and language teaching being a major component for the school. She advised them that she expects to be appointed to the State Board of Education by Governor Bush and that she would assist and advise them as needed in her new capacity.
Charter School Associates, Inc. of Coral Springs, Florida was selected as the consulting firm to assist the Seminole Tribe in establishing the charter school. On July 18, 2005, the Tribal Council of the Seminole Tribe of Florida passed a resolution approving the establishment of the charter school at the Brighton Indian Reservation. The Charter Agreement with Glades County was approved by Glades County School Board on December 08. 2005. A not for profit corporation, Pemayetv Emahakv, Inc., to govern all operations of the Brighton charter school (and any future schools) was established in August of 2005.
After months of red tape, getting land set aside by the Tribe, getting all the required environmental and governmental permits, selection of architect, contractors, etc., the ground breaking ceremony was finally held on November 17, 2006. Sandra Barker from the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe was selected by the Board of Trustee to be the Chief Executive Officer of Pemayetv Emahakv, Inc. Construction of the school has been underway for a while with a target completion date of July 1, 2007 and school will open in August 2007 for the 2007-2008 school year. The school will provide all academic core classes as required by the State of Florida as well as provide daily classes in Seminole culture and language.
Submitted by Louise Gopher, Director of Education, Seminole Tribe of Florida For more information visit us on-line at www.pemayetvemahakv.com.
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