New federal initiatives focus on Latino, Native American education
The Latino and Native American communities should soon see increased educational opportunities catered to their specific needs, if a new appointment and recently signed executive order by President Barack Obama are successful.
The administration began the month of December with the president signing an executive order to create the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education. The new effort, aimed at improving the educational resources and outcomes within the communities, will be spearheaded by William Mendoza. Since the start of the year, Mendoza has been working as a senior advisor to the secretary on American Indian and Alaska Native education policies.
“We’re delighted that Bill will continue to lead the Administration’s efforts to expand opportunities and improve educational outcomes for all American Indian and Alaska Native students,” Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. “His exceptional leadership in reinvigorating collaboration between federal agencies, educators and tribal leaders will be invaluable as we move forward in addressing the challenges that face our American Indian and Alaska Native students.”
Mendoza, who is Oglala and Sicangu Lakota, says increasing communication between federal, local and tribal leaders will be a key component of his new job along with getting dropouts back into the education pipeline and improving access to training that will lead to sustainable careers, especially those in the STEM fields.
“We’re working hard to reduce the American Indian and Alaska Native student dropout rate and making sure students who stay in high school are ready to start their career by the time they complete college,” Mendoza said. “The Obama Administration is also committed to strengthening the capacity of TCUs [tribal colleges and universities], which play an important role, often serving as anchors in some of the country’s most remote areas.”
Days after the Native American initiative was made official, Duncan named Jose Rico as the new director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. Rico has worked within the administration over the last two years and will see his role expand in the new position.
“For the last two years as the Initiative’s deputy director, Jose has helped create an active national network of Latino community leaders to increase the academic success of Hispanics to meet President Obama’s 2020 college completion goal,” Duncan said. “We’re fortunate that Jose will take the helm at the Initiative and lead the Obama Administration’s efforts to improve educational opportunities for Hispanics.”
Rico says improving graduation rates for the Hispanic community will be a focus due to its incredible importance to the nation’s education agenda.
“Hispanic students have graduated at lower rates than others for a long time, making it impossible for America to advance if they continue to fall behind,” Rico said. “Improving Hispanic educational excellence isn’t just a Latino problem. It’s a challenge for all Americans.”
Before coming to work for the administration, Rico was principal of the Multicultural Arts High School in Chicago. Duncan, who was the Chicago Public Schools CEO at the time, named Rico as founding principal of the school in 2005.
