Indian Education
APS Indian Education Department
The Indian Education Department provides special programs to students and families who have submitted a Form 506 and Certificate of Indian Blood (CIB) to the department.
There are several resource teachers available at various elementary, middle, and high school to provide academic and cultural enrichment to Native American students.
The Indian Education Department (IED) was established as part of the Albuquerque Public School district in 1974, with the primary purpose for advocacy and representation for the 115 different American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribes enrolled in the school district. There are approximately 5,650 or 5.1% AI/AN students currently enrolled in APS.
Indian Education Teacher
Cari Kerkhoff
Employee Title
Title(s)
Resource Teacher
Employee Contact Information
School Email
Indian Ed. Links
Welcome to the Indian Education Program at Governor Bent!
I have had the pleasure of serving as the Indian Education Resource Teacher at Governor Bent since 2010. During that time, our program has grown to include schoolwide events such as our annual Rock Your Mocs Celebration in mid-November.
In 2017, our fifth-grade Indian Education students created a Tree of Life mural to celebrate their heritage and culture. Over the years, students in fifth-grade Indigenous Studies classes have added their handprints to the tree. It now has over 180 handprints representing students from over 30 different Tribes, Nations, and Pueblos! The mural is on the east wall of our Administration Building facing Woodford Drive and can be viewed from the sidewalk just outside the school grounds. The next time you’re in the vicinity, I hope you’ll take a moment to stop by and have a look.
The heart of our Indian Education Program at Governor Bent is in the academic and cultural enrichment classes offered in our Indian Ed. Classroom.
Reading Intervention classes supplement learning for selected students through individual and/or small group instruction. Classes integrate culturally-relevant teaching methods and materials to strengthen students’ self-esteem and academic skills.
Indigenous Studies classes aim to build self-esteem, cultural knowledge and pride, and a sense of community among peers.
I look forward to continuing my work here with our wonderful Governor Bent students, families, and staff. Please feel free to contact me for more information about Indian Education Department programs and resources or if I can be of any assistance to you and your child.
Cari Kerkhoff
APS Indian Education Resource Teacher
Governor Bent Elementary
Indian Education Images
