Nebo Indian program raises graduate rates

SPANISH FORK — When Eileen Quintana started her part-time job as Title VII American Indian program coordinator, her task was to try to teach American Indians to live in two worlds — the white man's world and their native world.

Now, nine years later, Quintana and Rees Elementary teacher Brenda Beyal, both Navajos, have seen high school graduation rates among the Indian population soar from 37 percent to 97 percent in the Nebo School District.

For that, Quintana recently received an award from Forest Cuch, director of Utah Division of Indian Affairs for the summer school program, which Beyal teaches.

The Indian program operates Tuesday and Thursdays at the old Grant school in Springville after regular school classes have been dismissed and in June during the optional summer program. Quintana brings in specialists to work with Beyal, teaching youngsters from preschool to age 18 a wide range of subjects, including Navajo, English, math, history and other subjects from an Indian's perspective. The goal is to help them graduate and function in both worlds. Many go on to college.

Most students are Navajo, but a smattering of Paiutes, Shoshonis, Goshutes, Cheyenne River Sioux, Utes and Chippewas also attend. Title VII, an American Indian grant program, dates to the 19th century and is one of the last remaining Indian treaty rights, said Quintana.

Nebo School District officials hired Quintana nine years ago when the district broke off from a combined Indian program with the Alpine and Provo school districts.

Quintana took a simple approach to starting the Nebo program. First she found the students, their grade and attendance records, then began visiting them at school and helping them with their homework. But the program didn't really take off until she began teaching in terms of their culture.

Quintana hired Beyal and started a summer school. Now working full time, Quintana usually has about 100 students with funding of about $187 per student. Writing grants to fund after-school programs and workshops is one of her duties. The after-school programs are every Tuesday and Thursday during the school year.

The first summer school in 1998 had a budget of just $11,000 and 13 students. Originally the summer program was intended for elementary schools, but because Indians are so close-knit, when the children came, their families came with them, she said. "So we decided to offer them something to do (by expanding the program).

This year's summer school saw more than 100 American Indian students from preschool to age 18, said Grant building administrator Susan Booth.