Overview
The Office of Indian Education (OIE) administers federal and state programs to meet the educational and cultural needs of Native American students. The office implements A.R.S. 15-244, Indian Education Act, providing outreach to all of Arizona’s local educational agencies (LEAs) on reservations and urban areas with high populations of American Indian students. OIE provides technical assistance in collaboration with all units at the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) that interface with these LEAs. Conferences and training, as well as parental involvement activities, are also provided onsite and at ADE.
The Deputy Associate Superintendent, for the Office of Indian Education, serves as a liaison between the tribal education departments and the ADE. The Deputy Associate Superintendent works via partnerships with outside agencies to provide resources for Native American students and facilitates the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s initiatives to benefit the academic achievement and cultural awareness of Arizona’s indigenous youth.
Serena Denetsosie
Deputy Associate Superintendent, Office of Indian Education
602.542.5235
Deborah Begay
Tribal Policy Specialist
Terri Beeler-Saucedo
Tribal Grants Specialist
602.542.2345
ADE Constituent Services
Constituent Services serves as the first point of contact between the public and the Department. We focus on answering the questions and needs of the public, while also being the centralized triage service internally for the agency.
602.542.7378
COVID-19 Resources for Indigenous Communities
ADE’s Office of Indian Education is working with tribes across the state to support the continued education of students in our tribal nation communities. The following resources include additional supports for tribal communities and families.
General Resources
The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona compiled a list of COVID-19 resources for their tribal members. Note: Many resources available on this page apply to indigenous peoples who are not part of an ITCA member tribe.
Arizona State University compiled a list of COVID-19 resources for indigenous peoples. The resource list contains a variety of indigenous centric resources.
The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) is tracking the latest information they’ve received from tribes regarding COVID-19 responses and resources. See the Tribal COVID-19 tracking document for hotline numbers, travel restrictions, and general guidance.
Arizona Department of Child Safety compiled a contact list for social and human service directors in each of Arizona’s tribal nations.
The National Indian Education Association has a COVID19 resource page for indigenous communities and schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education.
Pandemic EBT(P-EBT), as introduced in H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, provides assistance to households with children who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals, while schools are out of session due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Arizona P-EBT Pandemic School Meal Replacement Benefits program is a partnership between DES, the Arizona Department of Education, and the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Learn more HERE.
Indigenous Educators Unite Resources
UofA Indigenous resource: https://studentsuccess.arizona.edu/resources
Hotlines
- Arizona Department of Health Services: 1-844-542-8201
- Arizona COVID-19 Hotline: 211 or 877-211-8661
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
- Crisis Text Line: Text “START” or “HELLO” to 741741
- Teen Lifeline: Calling available 24/7. Texting available 12pm-9pm on weekdays and 3pm-9pm on weekends.Peer counselors are still available from 3pm to 9pm every day.
- 602-248-8336 (TEEN)
- 800-248-8336 (TEEN)