Graham County Indian Education
Our Mission
The mission of the program is to provide all Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) enrolled students with a quality education within the North Carolina Public School system and to promote Cherokee cultural/language opportunities that promote academic achievement that prepare the students for successfully future endeavors so that they can be successful educationally and culturally.
The GCIE program has had the opportunity to provide a host of services to students attending all Graham County Schools. Our K-5 Tutor has provided intervention services for students who were struggling in classes. This year we celebrated the nine enrolled members who graduated this year with six going for advanced degrees. We also supplement the High School with a Cherokee History teacher to advance the knowledge or our people to students at Robbinsville. And staff attend the Graham County Indian Parent Committee Meetings three times throughout the school year. Tribal students make up around ten percent of the population in Graham County Schools. This past year we were able to build on our Summer Arts & Crafts Camp as well as our Middle School Native Cultural classes.
Goals
– Improve communication between Cherokee families and Graham Schools.
– Increase academic achievement.
– Improve school attendance.
– Provide aid to parents, and students.
– Increase high school graduation rate.
– Assist graduates in applying to the military and to colleges.
– Work collaboratively with Tribal Programs to ensure students receive maximum benefits.
– Promote an appreciation of Cherokee culture and heritage.
– Provide instruction to produce awareness of Cherokee History.
Objectives
– Have Indian Heritage Month in November and be available throughout the year when a teacher or administrator have needs wanting to promote Cherokee Heritage in their classrooms.
– Partner with GCS in their endeavor to keep our students safe in a drug and bullying free environment.
– To keep Summer Arts & Crafts Program for Snowbird Youth which will bring in local crafts experts to teach youth.
– Junaluska Leadership Council will have its first meeting in the month of September at RHS since Covid 2020.
Office Hours
Mon: 7:45am - 4:30 pm
Tues: 7:45am - 4:30 pm
Wed: 7:45am - 4:30 pm
Thur: 7:45am - 4:30 pm
Fri: 7:45am - 4:30 pm
Sat & Sun: Closed
