OIE BiWeekly

Join us at the 3rd annual OIE Summit in Phoenix, where the AZ Office of Indian Education brings together educators, tribal staff, parents, and partners to spark innovation and improve academic outcomes for Native American students in Arizona. Explore new possibilities in education through culture and community collaboration in 24 engaging breakout sessions, and exciting Cultural expo featuring special guests. This event is vital for education staff and community members eager to expand their networks and make a meaningful impact.

📆 September 8-10, 2026

📍Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass

📣Theme: Embracing Culture, Community, and Innovation in Education

🏨Hotel room block rate available. Visit our website for more details.

🚨Conference registration deadline August 24, 2026. Secure your spot today! 🚨

🎓 Class of 2026 Sticker Giveaway – OIE 🎓

The Office of Indian Education still has a few Class of 2026 stickers available! It has been so heartwarming to sign these congratulatory cards and mail them to our Arizona graduates. We love celebrating our students’ achievements, so if you would like your favorite grad to receive a surprise, you can request a sticker and a congratulatory card from OIE.

If you’d like us to recognize a graduate in your community, please fill out the form to have a special note and sticker sent their way.

✨ Offer available through July 17th – don’t miss out on sharing the celebration!

Questions? Email indianeducation@azed.gov

All Arizona kids and teens ages 18 and under are eligible for free meals through the Summer Food Service Program at participating schools and community sites across Arizona during the summer break.

Meals may include breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks depending on the location. No applications or paperwork are required. Children simply need to be present to receive a free, healthy meal.

Learn more by visiting Summer Meals - Arizona Food Bank Network

The Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona is offering a no-cost webinar series held on the fourth Friday of each month, focused on strengthening communication between Indigenous youth and elders.

This month’s session, “Protecting Our Relatives,” will be presented by Melchor Solis on June 30, 2026. The webinar supports the safety, dignity, and inclusion of all relatives while honoring and respecting gender diversity within traditional communities.

To register for the webinar series, please scan the QR code provided.

Questions?

Contact Kelly R. Vallo, Project Manager at Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. at kelly.vallo@itcaonline.com

Read it and Eat is a monthly program that provides early literacy opportunities and introducing families to healthy, affordable, easy cooking lessons, story time and crafts. Participating families will take home a bag of groceries. This program offered once monthly at NATIVE HEALTH Central, NHW Community Health Center, and NATIVE HEALTH Mesa.

Watch Native Health's Events Page or their social media sites (Facebook/Instagram) for upcoming dates!

For more information contact Gabby at (602) 279-5262, ext. 11011 or email: ghernandez@nachci.com.

NAFFA invites you to their 2nd Annual College and Vocational Fair on Tuesday, September 22, from 9:30–11:30 a.m. at the Heard Museum in Phoenix. Students will explore colleges, careers, financial aid resources, and enjoy museum exhibits, refreshments, and engaging activities supporting future success.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out:

jillm@aznaffa.org or 480-833-5007

Codefy is a social impact venture that provides a culturally relevant 12-week software development training program at no cost for young adults (18-29 years old) from Native American & Alaska Native communities.

To register scan the QR code in their flier. Application Deadline is July 15th, 2026.

Questions? Email info@codefy.org or visit codefy.org for more program information.

Register at Hopi Tribe WIOA Program Applications - The Hopi Tribe. Application deadline is August 7th, 2026

For more information call (928)734-3534 or email mjohnson@hopi.nsn.us

Nominations for the 2026 AIEA Educator Awards are officially open! Join AIEA in recognizing the many educators, leaders, and community members in our state who have done substantial work to empower our students and promote Indigenous languages, values, cultures, and tribal sovereignty. Nominations close July 30,2026.

Click here to submit your nomination: www.AZindianEd.org/Awards

Receive free, expert-led trainings on how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in children and adolescents—empowering you with practical skills to make a meaningful difference.

Available for professionals, parents, and guardians who work with Indigenous youth and families.

Trainings are 2 half-days from 9am-1pm or 1pm-5pm.

To receive trainings, contact Kelly R. Vallo, Project Manager at Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. at kelly.vallo@itcaonline.com

Learn to recognize and respond to signs of suicide risk using the TALK method to provide immediate support, explore available intervention resources, and play an active role in creating a safer community.

safeTALK trainings prepare individuals—regardless of prior experience—to become effective suicide-alert helpers.

Each training is approximately a half-day session.

To receive trainings, contact Kelly R. Vallo, Project Manager at Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. at kelly.vallo@itcaonline.com

The Title IV-A team will be hosting Funding for the Future - A Title IV-A Leadership Workshop, which brings together federal programs directors, district leaders, and school leaders to strengthen their knowledge and application of the ESSA Title IV, Part A grant. The purpose of the workshop is to provide professional learning on Well-Rounded Education, Safe and Healthy Students, and the Effective Use of Technology through a variety of session choices that include Arts Education, School Safety and Security, and Title IV-A Grant Evaluation and Monitoring. For more information, visit their website at https://www.azed.gov/titleiv-a/title-iv-leadership-workshop

Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (Summer-EBT/SUN Bucks) provides $120 in grocery-buying benefits to low-income families with school-aged children who lose access to free or reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) during the summer.

Important Resources from ADE Health and Nutrition Department

School Administrators must submit eligibility and enrollment data to ADE: How to Report Students for Summer EBT assists with uploading data to the SUN Bucks Data Portal.

Outreach to families: SUN Programs Communications Toolkit | Food and Nutrition Service

SUN Bucks eligibility screener for parents, with a built-in application (targets CEP schools): (English or Spanish version)

The Canopy for Kids grant, led by the City of Phoenix with ASU and Watershed Management Group, supports schools in expanding shade and sustainability education. Selected teams receive professional development, stipends, and campus installations like native habitats and trees. Applications are open for educator teams for the 2026–27 school year.

The program dates are as follows:

Applications Close: Jul 20, 2026

The Native American Fatherhood and Families Association, with Kid in the Corner, offers a free, culturally adapted mental health program for Native students in grades 4–12. This three-session program promotes kindness, reduces stigma, and connects youth to support while encouraging open dialogue and stronger community connections.

Contact us at 480-833-5007, email Jill Mendoza at jillm@aznaffa.org or visit www.kidinthecorner.org to learn more.

The National Rural STEM Learning Summit will take place September 3–4 at Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona. This event brings together rural educators, administrators, and community leaders for keynote speeches, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities focused on advancing STEM and shaping its future in rural communities.

Visit Arizona Rural STEM Summit to learn more and register.

Don’t miss Ready, Set, Elevate - A webinar series to explore ADEL.

First session: July 15th at 1:30-2:30pm | Mastering ADEL & PAASport

Second session: July 21 at 1:30-2:30pm | Masting Lesson Plan Companion

Third session: July 23 at 1:30-2:30pm | Shine with SPARKL student activities

Register at adel.azed.gov

For more information contact: K12standards@azed.gov

Join the Teacher Leaders for Native Futures (TLNF) National Community of Practice Webinar Series, a free monthly opportunity for Native-serving educators hosted by NIEA and NAU’s Institute for Native-serving Educators. The series features expert-led discussions on effective practices, timely topics, and resources that support Native education. Sessions are held via Zoom on the second Tuesday of each month from 4:30–5:30 p.m. PT. Register once to receive access and reminders for all upcoming sessions. All Native-serving educators are encouraged to participate.

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4rUPq1cIQjGdb3I1thSKyA

Additional questions? Email niea@niea.org

Fall 2026 Indigenous Leadership Academy – General Cohort

Applications are currently open for our General Cohort, which begins in August 2026. Designed for Tribal citizens and community leaders working to advance Tribal self-governance, sovereignty, and self-determination, this cohort offers an Indigenous-centered curriculum that strengthens leadership practices, expands professional networks, and equips participants with practical skills to serve their communities.

• Application deadline: Tuesday, July 21, 2026
• Program begins: August 2026
• Start your application now: https://asu.questionpro.com/a/TakeSurvey?tt=0mZC502ViMkECHrPeIW9eQ%3D%3D

Indigenous Leadership Academy – Water Sovereignty Cohort

In partnership with the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Morrison Institute, the Indigenous Leadership Academy is proud to present a specialized cohort focused on Tribal water sovereignty. This collaboration brings together leading Arizona State University institutes to deliver a leadership program grounded in Indigenous values and focused on advancing water sovereignty and proactive governance for Tribal Nations within the Colorado River Basin.

• Launch date: October 3, 2026
• Applications open: Monday, July 20, 2026

NOTE: For the Water Sovereignty Cohort, we encourage Indigenous individuals from Tribal Nations within the Colorado River Basin to apply.

Join one of two identical 45-minute virtual Lunch & Learn sessions to learn about the Indigenous Leadership Academy, both cohorts, the application process, and ask questions. Register here:

https://asu.zoom.us/meeting/register/nJ6QQMUJSOeK0B7LwxfugQ

• Friday, July 10, 2026 | 12:00 p.m. MST
• Friday, July 17, 2026 | 12:00 p.m. MST

Additional program information, eligibility requirements, application materials, and frequently asked questions are available on the AIPI website at https://aipi.asu.edu/ila.

OIE Website | OIE Connect Webinar | OIE Annual Summit

Join OIE Email Listserv

Questions? Email indianeducation@azed.gov