Native Educated Teacher Successfully Taught Academic Rigor
Background
For the past 30 years, the American Indian Resource Center, Inc. has operated five education personnel training programs. Four were funded by the Office of Indian Education and one was funded by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. Approximately 117 Indian students have graduated with a Bachelor, Master, or Doctorate degree from these programs.
Funding for the NETSTAR program has been provided by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Indian Education. A partnership between American Indian Resource Center, Inc., Northeastern State University, Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, Kenwood Public School, and Rocky Mountain Public School ensures that program participants will achieve successful teaching careers.
What does the NETSTAR Program Provide?
- Tuition and fees
- Books, laptop, and other equipment
- Living expenses
- Seminars for Success
Is the NETSTAR program a scholarship?
No. Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the Office of Indian Education, U.S. Department of Education. A part of this funding requires signing of a payback agreement. Once you begin teaching, you will enter into a service payback plan. If you do not complete the program, you will be required to pay back all funding from the USDE.
What is meant by payback?
All participants must perform work-related payback or provide cash reimbursement to the U.S. Department of Education for the training received.
Work-related payback means students teach in a school with a significant Indian student population. If a participant is on the program for one year, then they must teach in their field of study for one year to be considered fully paid back.
Cash reimbursement occurs when a participant does not find employment within 12 months after their participation in NETSTAR has ended. The amount paid back to the U.S. Department of Education is the same amount as the total amount of funds spent on them by the NETSTAR program.
A signed agreement, stating the payback requirements, must be signed by each participant before participating in NETSTAR program activities. Induction Services are not considered part of the student payback obligation.
NETSTAR would not be successful without the partnership of Northeastern State University’s College of Education.
NSU’s faculty focuses on preparing professionals who are teaching scholars, educational leaders, and developers of human potential. Teacher candidates are committed to excellence in their fields and making a difference in their communities.
The College of Education offers six undergraduate degrees. All education programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and at the state level by the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (OEQA).
NSU has outstanding undergraduate programs and provides various methods of course design, including traditional face to face instruction, blended hybrid courses and online coursework. NSU is recognized as a leader among other institutions in Oklahoma by providing a significant number of highly effective classroom teachers.
For more information, please contact Krista Boston, Program Director, at (918) 456-5581.