Buffalo Bill Memorial Association Indian Education for All Teacher Professional Development, Outreach, and Interpretive Programs 2022

FAIN: ZED-283393-22

Buffalo Bill Historical Center (Cody, WY 82414-3428)
Gretchen Henrich (Project Director: May 2021 to present)

The retention of five staff members to further develop and implement a teacher training program in Native American studies.

On March 10, 2017, Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead signed House Bill 76/House Enrolled Act 119, which aims to educate all Wyoming students about American Indian tribes of the region, including the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes. The resulting education standards are required to be implemented beginning in the fall of 2021. However, the state has not allocated funding for professional development of Wyoming's social studies teachers. The Buffalo Bill Center of the West's Native Education Outreach Specialist has turned full attention to developing and delivering a program that will provide the state's educators the knowledge and support they need to deliver this cultural content adequately. The Center and tribal and education partners created a six-module Professional Development program which is currently being provided to two cohorts of teachers and will offer four cohorts programs in 2022. Early feedback shows the program and content have been very well received.