The Diné Education Bulletin

Hello, readers, and welcome back for another recap of news and other events and updates from the Department of Diné Education!

It has been a flurry of activity around here since the last issue, and perhaps not in the ways we expected. While our staff have alerted their communities to remain vigilant and alert, the past few days have served as a key reminder of the importance of a safety plan.

It was in the spring of 2023 that DODE under the leadership of former staff Dr. Ferlin Clark formed the Navajo School-Community Safety Task Force. Since then, we've amassed a bevy of partners at the school, community, and state levels with the unified goal of enhancing the safety protocols within our schools and communities. We have held dozens of virtual meetings and a number of safety summits all with the goal of keeping our students and teachers safe.

And through the opportunities given to us with the task force, we've come to see how safety can be much broader than one might initially think. We've come to see and show others that safety doesn't stop in the classroom or the halls of a school, it extends to outside on the premises to the streets and neighborhoods of each nearby town. It can include external factors beyond local control like developments at the federal level or even turns of nature.

I think sometimes we can get a bit irritated at being told things that we already know or have been told countless times, but I always tell our safety team staff that reminders never hurt. And should we find ourselves in a crisis, we may realize that those tidbits we were told repeatedly could end up being what helps us get through those incidents. Kinda helps provide a sense of perspective too, doesn't it?

Some of the recent stories I'd like to share speak to the importance of having a safety plan and knowing what to do, and there are of course some other local highlights. Maybe see what you may learn or even relearn as you look through them.

Cody M. Begaye

Even though we're a month into fall, the rainfall has stuck around from the summer. While we are grateful for this moisture, it is unfortunately been the cause of many issues.

The most recent rainfall the week of October 19 across the Navajo Nation led to dozens of roads being washed out and towns and communities being hit by flooding and difficult travel conditions. Students and schooling have also been impacted, which is why we've continually shared updates as well.

The Chinle Incident Command Center met October 23, bringing together numerous Navajo Nation departments and leaders, Council Delegates, chapter officials, emergency management workers, county representatives, the American Red Cross and other partners to discuss immediate community needs.

These are some of the latest updates provided by President Buu Nygren:

• Rock Point: Fifteen homes have been flooded, and Apache County provided assistance. Continued water flow remains a concern.

• Black Mesa: Several roads, including N8066, N8028, N8034 and N8065, have major access restrictions, making it difficult for residents to get around.

• North Many Farms: N18 has washed out near residential entrances, and at least one flooded home was reported.

• Emergency housing: The Navajo Housing Authority has identified available emergency housing units in Ganado, Burnside and Nazlini that could help families displaced by flooding.

• Shelter support: Supplies and cots from the Chinle Presbyterian Church shelter are being moved to Rock Point.

• Sandbagging efforts: Navajo Housing Authority personnel are being mobilized to help with sandbagging in Chinle and Rock Point.

President Nygren’s administration also has community representatives on the ground assessing road conditions, delivering sandbags and food boxes, and coordinating assistance.

Meanwhile, the Division of Social Services’ Department for Children and Family Services is preparing and delivering food boxes to Dennehotso and Kayenta.

Diné officials are asking chapters to continue submitting requests for resources and reporting road damage so response teams can better identify and address community needs.

The Incident Command Center will meet again on October 24 as flood response and recovery work continues. We will share updates on the DODE Facebook as needed.

Our partners within Navajo Police Department and other state law enforcement have provided invaluable knowledge to our Safety Task Force. They understand the importance of a swift response within our schools, especially when the students can do their own part as well.

This is why we want to highlight this recent account. Navajo Police responded to a reported threat at Thoreau High School on the morning of October 21 after a student allegedly threatened to bring a gun to school.

The Crownpoint District received the call after another student heard the threat and reported it to their parents, who then contacted local police.

Officers quickly responded to the school and contacted two students. No weapons were found on either student or anywhere on school grounds. However, both students were arrested on charges of criminal nuisance and disorderly conduct and booked into the Navajo Department of Corrections facility in Crownpoint.

The Navajo Police Department issued a statement thanking the student who reported the threat and praised their officers for responding quickly and safely. Police also noted that other schools in New Mexico received threatening messages on social media that day, but the Thoreau incident did not appear to be connected to those reports.

We commend the school staff and Navajo Police for their efforts in keeping our children safe. As a reminder, students, parents and community members should always remain alert and cautious. If you hear about a potential threat or notice suspicious activity, report it to school officials or law enforcement. Then be sure to verify information before sharing it on social media or with others.

It is up to all of us to make our schools and community safer, and we thank each of you for your help.

The recent concerns of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) activity on or near the Navajo Nation led DODE safety leaders to design and dispense the following posters.

We are always glad to showcase our brightest minds when they represent our Navajo Nation on the big stage, and students from local universities and schools got to do just that last week.

Hundreds of Native students and professionals from across the country gathered in Portland, Oregon, October 15-17 for the 2026 AISES National Conference, an event for educators to recognize and celebrate Indigenous achievements in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The three-day event hosted by the American Indian Science and Engineering Society drew more than 3,500 from tribal nations across North America, and local leaders like President Buu Nygren traveled to cheer on our Diné students and accomplishments.

Students pursuing STEM degrees got to connect with scientists, engineers and other professionals. Their discussions focused on education, career opportunities, emerging technologies and ways to help more Indigenous people succeed in STEM fields. These are important challenges to face amid the ongoing economic challenges both locally and nationwide.

The conference provided plenty of opportunities for students to explore their career options and figure out their best skills and interests, including a college and career fair, hands-on workshops, research presentations and networking with universities, employers, tribal enterprises and government agencies.

In his post, President Nygren praised the Native students and professionals who are making their mark in science and engineering and encouraged them to keep pushing forward.

“It’s been inspiring to meet so many talented Native American and Navajo students, engineers, scientists and professionals who are doing incredible work in their fields,” Nygren said. “Keep studying, keep working hard, and keep representing us.”

The conference also celebrated Indigenous cultures and identities, highlighting how traditional knowledge and modern innovation can work together. As we've highlighted in past issues, our language and culture are among our most valuable treasures. Any chance we get to help younger generations preserve and keep them alive are ones we must take.

For the Navajo Nation, encouraging more Indigenous students to pursue STEM careers is an important step toward building a future workforce of engineers, researchers, health care innovators and technology professionals who can bring their skills and knowledge back to their communities. Not just so they can fill key roles, but so they can pass on what they know and allow a cycle of learning to continue.

We congratulate everyone who got to attend the show and present our students in a bright light. Expectations will be high for next year's show!