An organization that aims to support Idaho's Native communities issued a statement Tuesday about the “reprehensible firing” of Johanna Jones, the state's longtime Indian education coordinator.
State government for more than 10 years Indian education Coordinator Johanna Jones is no longer employed by the Idaho Department of Education, EdNews confirmed Thursday. Jones left the position on June 13, according to Transparent Idaho.
She was one of two state employees assigned to Indian education. The other is Patty Sanchez, who is listed as the state Board of Education's academic program manager.
“We consider this a targeted disgrace to a proud educator.” press release Idaho Native American Federation “At a time when programs that bridge the cultural education gap for Idaho’s Native/Indigenous peoples, as well as those for other communities, are under attack … it is not a good sign that (IDE) has chosen to replace one of the most respected and staunchest advocates for Native education in Idaho.”
Scott Graf, IDE's director of communications, said state leaders decided to promote Jones from his former coordinator position to the position of director, which entails “an expansion of duties and responsibilities.” In an email to EdNews, Graff wrote that the change “is the result of (Superintendent Debbie Critchfield)'s engagement with tribes over the past 18 months and a direct result of her desire to better meet their educational needs.”
Director positions were advertised this spring and candidates were interviewed. “Ultimately, the process did not result in successful hiring,” Graf wrote. “The position has been re-advertised and we are actively recruiting candidates.”
After no hires were made after an initial search, state officials, stakeholders and tribal community members mutually agreed to cancel the annual Indian Education Summit planned for early August, Graf wrote. The goal of the summit is “to help American Indian students achieve academic success by providing educators with knowledge they can use in the classroom.”
Check out EdNews’ coverage of the 2023 India Education Summit
The coalition announced it was suspending cooperation with the Summit in a press release condemning Jones' firing.
“We have not lost hope for the future of Indian education in Idaho,” the press release states. “We will also honor the invaluable contributions and dedication of our former Indian Education Coordinator and continue to prioritize and center the voices of tribes and Native communities.”
The summit's schedule will depend on “when the Indian education commissioner is hired,” Graf said, adding that the ministry plans to continue hosting the event for the next few years.
Greg Wilson, Critchfield's chief of staff, will serve as interim director of Indian Education until the position is filled.
IDE contacted the tribe to request assistance in the search. Graf is also considering “adding a second Indian education position to our department,” but that would require legislative approval, Graf said.
The reorganization of the state's Indian education department and programming took place as underlined in the data. Amazing Performance Gap Tensions between Indigenous youth and the general population are growing, and Indigenous education leaders are urging the state to do more to support Indigenous students.
EdNews reached out to education leaders or spokespeople for the Nez Perce, Coeur d'Alene and Shoshone-Bannock tribes Thursday morning but did not hear back as of Thursday evening. We will update this story as comments become available.
Idaho is home to five federally recognized tribes, including the Shoshone-Paiute and Kootenai.
Additional resources: Explore EdNews' 11-part series “Still Here: Tribal fighting seen in Idaho classrooms.”