It Takes a Tribe

An avid reader herself, Carmelo said she even reads at home to her 18-month-old nephew.

These top achievers — and other preschoolers who won awards for reading hundreds of books — show the tribe's new education efforts are paying off. Programs designed to engage parents and grandparents in their children's education — and help them get an early jump on academic achievement — are doing just that.

Passing out generous gift certificates and huge trophies help the tribe make a very public point. Such educational accomplishments — along with nearly every imaginable smaller one — need to be rewarded, tribal officials believe, so that the children and adults will continue their efforts.

Fort McDowell's year-round program of school celebrations, incentives and rewards is a calculated part of the grand new educational plan.

Here is the philosophy:

Children need to be encouraged every step of the way, to know that their teachers, their tribe and their community are behind them. Parents, grandparents and other community members need to outwardly show their support for these young learners. And those supporters also need to be recognized so they will continue to back the tribe's efforts.

And so during the school year, the tribe passes out special 'Hman 'shawa pencils for good behavior, features lists of Star Students on the walls of the lunchroom and even rewards parents with prizes if their children show improvements in their behavior, grades or attendance.

At year's end, the school makes a big deal of the preschool, prekindergarten and kindergarten graduations and holds awards ceremonies for its first, second and third graders. Everyone gets not only a diploma or certificate, but a medal selected just for him or her: "Best Math Student" or "Best Art Student" for the older kids. "Outstanding Achievement in Coloring," "Most Athletic" and "Best Improvement in Expressing Himself" for the preschoolers. The teachers find a good quality in each child, something to celebrate. This year, a boy who liked to wander all over the classroom earned a "Best Explorer" award.

Those with perfect attendance records at any grade level receive new bicycles from the Fort McDowell Kiwanis Club, whose members include tribal president Pattea and education head Torres.

And every summer the tribe sponsors the Education Department banquet, where generations of tribal members jam a casino hall to honor achievements by students of all ages from any of the 100-plus schools they attend.

Gift certificates to malls and eateries accompany the awards, which are handed out for academic achievement, academic improvement, participating in extracurricular activities and perfect attendance.

The lure of special commendations for their kids is, quite simply, working.

Tribal members turn out in large numbers to celebrate the students' accomplishments. Even with the wealth that the casino has brought to formerly poor families, the promise of a reward still brings out the parents and relatives to celebrate.

One mom, Charlene Corbins, flew in from northern California to bring her three children, aged 10, 11 and 12, to last year's banquet. They had received an invitation notifying them that their good grades had earned them awards. One boy had earned the top Wassaja prize for getting all A's in core subjects.

"This was the first time we've been invited," Corbins said. "I thought it was a good time for them to see how the tribal education program is and appreciate what they have."

It was direct proof that Torres' monitoring efforts were paying off. With her database of Fort McDowell students, she could track how these tribal children were doing in their Fremont, California, schools. And then she could invite them to celebrate their accomplishments with their own people.

At these large gatherings, Torres takes every opportunity to not only praise the children, but to boost the self-esteem of their parents and elders as well. Many of them may not have had formal educations, but she commends them for supporting the younger generation's efforts.

"We are proud of you, all of you," she told the crowd at last year's banquet. "We are proud of your parents. We are proud of the elders."

Later, she reminds them that the Yavapai never gave up during a troubled history. She urges tribal members to keep that spirit as their children go through school.

"Be smart," she says. "If you need help, come to us. Let us help you. Come and participate in the programs we offer. Be proud of who you are. Never forget who you are."

Torres says these banquets and ceremonies are accomplishing what is intended: Kids are proud of themselves, and the community is embracing their success.

"Look," she said recently as she poured punch at this year's awards ceremony and graduation for 3- and 4-year-olds. "We had about 150 people show up today to celebrate 41 graduates."

It was nearly triple the turnout for the same ceremony last year.

Everywhere there are signs these new tactics are paying off.